Bittersweet // Complete

09.

Chapter 9

Still keeping my eyes on Noah, I grabbed the cup in my palms, instantly relieved with the warmth of the drink rushing up my palm. Hoping it was not a plain black coffee, which I detested, I gingerly took a sip, pleasantly surprised it was to my liking. A caramel latte with an extra pump of caramel, and a generous helping of cream. Caramel was the best flavor of coffee, and no one could convince me otherwise.

"How did you know?" I raised my coffee at him.

"I'm very good at extracting information from people," he winked, but offered no explanation.

"And my address?" I wasn't even sure if I wanted to know that.

"Do you really want to know?" We reached his car, and he promptly unlocked it. I hurried in, ready to escape the winds.

"Yes," I said before my mind could say no.

"I followed you home for the entire week," He shrugged, as if it was normal.

"You're a fucking psycho," I stopped dead in my tracks, "There's no way you could have."

"But I did," he laughed, "You're very slow on your bike." He kept walking ahead and I had to catch up to know more.

"That's some seriously fucked up behaviour, you know?" My head was reeling, and I didn't know what to say. In the closed confines of his car again, I was hit with the smell of his strong cologne again. I didn't know if it had a specific name, but I wish I knew so I could buy a bottle. The cologne, the sage and the coffee were intoxicating me, and I breathed deeply to memorise the scent.

"I'm kidding," he said amused by my panicked expression, "I asked Daniel. You're friends with him, right?"

I sighed in relief. Daniel would get an earful from me later, but this alternative was better than every illegal possibility, and the idea that he was stalking me.

"How long have you known him?" Noah's weak attempt at conversation while driving was pitiful, but I gave in anyway.

"Around six months."

"He asked me a lot of questions about it before he gave me your address. And he's the one who told me about the caramel latte."

I nodded in understanding, looking over at the time on the dashboard.

7.45pm

Only an hour and 15 minutes to go.

As if Noah could sense my thoughts, he clicked his tongue, "I still have twenty minutes extra. Did you pee?"

A blush rushed to my cheeks instantly. Was I supposed to respond to that? I chose not to, staring out of the window as he drove down the busy streets again.

"Well, it's not much of a date if you're acting like a mannequin," he sighed, "I haven't been on a lot of dates, but usually people talk-"

"That's the thing though, I don't want to be here. I don't want to talk to you."

Noah made a frustrated sound, running his free hand through his hair, "You want me to drop you home?"

No.

"Yes," I returned to look out of the window.

"You're clenching your legs again. It'll be a hell lot easier if you just say you want me."

I unclenched my legs, annoyed that he would know this about me. No way was Noah Sterling getting the satisfaction of turning me on, even if my body was buzzing with electricity.