Bittersweet // Complete

25.

Chapter 25

"How are you planning on getting home?" Sophie squeezed me tight, probably not her best idea when I was stuffed up to the brim with cheese.

"I'm headed that way so I'll drop her," Noah answered before I could. The wind outside was picking up again, throwing Noah's hair for a frenzy. He pushed it back with one hand, without a care, the simple action looking impossibly attractive. Shaking my hair off my face, I turned to Sophie with a sour expression, "I'll text you when I reach home."

"You better," she pulled my cheek, before giving Noah a stinky look, "Keep her safe."

Noah drew a cross over his chest, "I will."

Eleanor had thankfully left with Jeff earlier, and I could only hope that it would solve at least half of my problems. I didn't want to entertain possibilities that were too far out of my reach, but in the unlikely event that Noah and I would be in a relationship, I wanted Eleanor to be happy too. Noah spent some time saying his goodbyes to his friends, and then walked me to his car. He reached out for my fingers once but I shied away from the contact, crossing my arms over my chest. My knees were stiff and freezing, and I couldn't be more thankful for his car's heating system.

"You get cold too quickly," Noah observed, taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves.

"Sorry," I mumbled, rubbing my palms and pressing them to my knees for help.

"No, don't be," I noticed Noah only ever put both hands on the wheel when he was taking a sharp turn, but he preferred driving with one hand, "It's one of the things that makes you so... you."

We were heading towards his house instead of mine, but I didn't complain. We should be done in an hour, at most, and at the end of this, even if Noah didn't want to drop me home, I could take the bus. It would be rather late at night, but I could take that alternative.

The silence stretched on till the elevators, when Noah and I kept helplessly staring at the numbers going up and up, praying the metal contraption somehow wishing we'd get there sooner. I let out a shaky breath when we finally came off, standing behind awkwardly till Noah unlocked the door.

"Your parents never seem around?" I asked, the question arising as I walked into the empty home.

"I don't live with my dad," He explained, "He's got a new family to take care of and apparently I'm not good enough for it."

"That's impossible," I didn't believe it, "how are you not?"

Noah shrugged, "Studying zoology and studying law isn't the same thing," he brought out a beer from the kitchen, "You want something?"

"I'm good," I answered, looking out of the window. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if I looked three months pregnant at this moment. The grey dress was resting flat on my stomach earlier, but with all the fries and the pizza I'd eaten, I was sure the bump was only going to get more awkward.

"I'd take you out to the balcony but you'd probably freeze. The view is nice at this hour," he laughed, settling on the couch instead. I sat down too, tucking my feet under me.

"So..."

I waited for Noah to say something beyond that, but he seemed lost for words.

"Well, are we going to talk about your friend?" I prompted him.

"Parker is not my friend," Noah's eyes were fiery, "He's just someone I have the misfortune of knowing."

"Even worse then, why would you share details of your sex life with an acquaintance?" I had to roll my eyes at that.