Broken Promises

40 | noah

"It's going to be fun," Blake says, trying to be persuasive. "Well, as much fun as a dinner with my family can possibly be."

I wish I could tell Blake that the last thing I want to do is go over to her house for a family dinner. I don't want to be questioned by her parents who will no doubt be judging me the whole time; I don't want to be put on the spot; I don't want to make her look bad. I want Blake to know I'm nervous because I want her parents to like me. I don't want to let her down.

"Please, Noah?" Blake persists. She puts her lips and bats her eyelashes at me playfully, all the while running a hand up my chest slowly. Her lips brush against my ear as she whispers, "For me?"

Blake has me wrapped around her finger, right where she wants me.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

"You had to play that card, didn't you?" I shake my head as I glance over at Blake. We're currently in my room, hanging out after school.

"I wouldn't have to if you'd just agree for once!" Blake counters, whacking my forearm with the back of her hand.

I pretend to be hurt as I ask, "Did you just hit me?"

Blake bites down on her lip, eyes dancing suggestively. "What are you gonna do about it?" she taunts, stepping away from me.

I reach for her waist and pull her toward me, ignoring Blake's cries of protest. In seconds we're on the floor, play-wrestling and laughing way too much.

"I got you!" Blake exclaims gleefully as she pins my wrists to the ground. She's perched on top of me, beaming triumphantly.

I study her for a moment, sure I've never seen anything more beautiful. Her smile is radiant, eyes something I can't look away from.

And I get to call her mine.

How did I get so lucky? How did someone like me end up with someone like her?

"How does that—" Before Blake is able to finish her sentence, I flip our positions so that she is the one beneath me. A cry escapes her as I take her wrists and pin them above her head, her expression shocked as she gazes up at me.

"It cute that you thought I'd actually let you win. Nice try, though."

Blake narrows her brown eyes at me, struggling to free herself from my grasp. "I want to slap you in the face right now."

"It's a shame you can't," I tease.

"You're not funny," Blake retorts, barely holding back a smile.

"Fine." I sigh and pretend to relent. "I guess I'll just let you up now." I free Blake's hands, only to pin them back down when she tries to sit up. "Sike!"

"Noah!" Blake cries. "Why are you so mean to me?"

"I'm not mean to you. I can be nice."

"Yeah?" Blake raises an eyebrow. "Prove it."

I angle my face toward Blake's, watching as her eyes flutter closed and her lips part in anticipation of mine. I brush my lips against hers, pulling back slightly before whispering against her skin, "Sike."

Blake's eyes fly open, her cheeks pink. "Noah!" she chides. I love the way she says my name, how she makes it sound like something beautiful. Or maybe that's merely the sound of her voice or the movement of her lips.

"I have an issue with you," I murmur, releasing her wrists.

"What kind of issue?" she asks, sitting up and running a hand through her hair.

"There are some moments where I just want to hold you in my arms and lay with you forever." Blake's expression softens at my words, the hint of a smile on her lips.

"Then there are moments where I want to pin you back against the wall," I whisper in Blake's ear, noticing the way her breath hitches. It's interesting to see the way she reacts to me; to know that every look, word, and touch from me has some sort of effect on her. It's a scary thing to realize as well, because if I can have that much control over her, I can't even begin to imagine how much power Blake Rhodes must have over me.

"See the issue?" I question.

Gazing into her eyes, I realize that I want a future with her. It's a big thought, and a scary one at that, but undeniably true. I can imagine surprising her with dates, getting down on one knee and sliding a sparkling diamond ring onto her finger, waking up next to her in the mornings, how she would look with a baby in her arms. Up until this very moment, I'd never though further than maybe two weeks from the present. But right here, right now, I see an entire future flash before my eyes. A future I want to be mine.

A future I want with her.

Gently, I press my lips to the side of Blake's jaw, leaving behind a warm kiss. I take my time leaving a trail of kisses down her neck, her cheek, the corner of her lips. As I lean down to kiss her lips, Blake shoves my chest backwards, pushing me away from her.

"We have a family dinner to get to, remember?"

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a/n: hi. :)