Page 46 of The Himbo and the Lord
“Really?” I wasn’t expecting that at all. “Yeah, I?—”
“You should just go in and get all your stuff sorted. I’ll wait out here.” He points to a wooden bench that looksoldold, then quickly looks back at me. “When you’re done I’m taking you to lunch. But maybe you won’t—wait, where are you from?”
It takes me a second to catch up, but when I do, I have an amused smirk firmly on my face, and I bet it won’t leave as long as I’m in Noah’s presence.
“I’m from New York.”
“City? Because that’s a big state. Everything’s big over there, isn’t it? I always wondered?—”
“Yes, New York City,” I interrupt before he can go off on a tangent in this hallway. I’ll happily listen to that tangent later, though. I’m curious now.
“Right, they have lots of different cuisines there, don’t they? You’ll be fine today, then.” Then he pushes my shoulder slightly. “Go on, then. In you go. I’ll be right here.”
Shaking my head, I do as he says.
I have a new friend.
* * *
“Oh, man. I love Indian food,”I groan, when Noah splays his arms in front of the little awning of the restaurant.
“Good, then we really can be friends.”
“Nah, the real decider will be how much heat you can handle.”
He sighs heavily and drops his head back, looking up at the sky as if asking for mercy.
“You’re one of those macho men who need to prove they’re tougher than anyone else, aren’t you?”
I’d be worried about the tone if I couldn’t clearly see the smirk he’s trying desperately to suppress.
“I am,” I say, notnotproudly.
“Good,” he smiles sneakily. “I am too. So you’re on. Come on now.”
He opens the door for me and I relish the smells as soon as I step in. I’m wondering what I’m going to get and inspecting the tables while we wait by the host’s stand, when my eyes land onhimand everything stops.
My feet are moving before I can even think about it.
“Ru,” I shout, probably louder than is necessary or appropriate, but I can’t control myself. I don’t want to control myself.
If I do, then I might screw things up again, and I don’t want that.
I want him to know the truth. I want him to knowme.
“Wha—” is all he gets out before his mouth clams shut.
“God, I never thought I’d find you on my first day here.”
“Find me?” he demands, clearly not as happy as I am.
“Yes, of course I wanted to find you. I want to explain. I just moved here and finding you is the most important reason?—”
“No,” he says loudly, and starts shaking his head. “No, no, no. Nope. This is not?—”
“Why’d you run, mate?” Noah asks from behind me, and what I see in Ru’s eyes has the hurt and disappointment evaporating. He looks jealous.
Soooooooo jealou?—
