It Had to Be You

twenty eight

THE voice didn't register in my mind as Adrian's lips left mine, leaving them tingling as he trailed down to my neck, causing my skin to burn under his touch. Footsteps pounded upstairs and Adrian pulled back. Our eyes met and our breaths mingled as we fought to catch it. His lips were swollen, and his dark hair stood up in different directions. At the sight of his flushed face, I only assumed mine looked the same.

But I didn't want this to stop.

"Norah?"

Adrian stepped back and I moved from the wall, bracing myself as mom descended the stairs in nothing but her silk bath robe. Her messy bun had fallen, creating a nest of hair and her mask was pushed to her forehead. Her light eyes narrowed at Adrian standing in our doorway.

"What is he doing here?" Mom demanded, her eyes not straying from him. "Your father said you were out with Caroline."

"There was, an, um-"

"Caroline couldn't drop her off because she had to run to Target, and she wouldn't have made it in time if she had to take Norah home." Adrian jumped in and I mentally sighed in relief.

"What did Caroline need at Target this late at night?"

"Tampons." I blurted.

Mom nodded, seeming to buy it. "And there weren't other friends that could've taken you home?"

"It was on my way." Adrian said.

"Oh yes, you're living in that stingy apartment downtown." Mom brushed off, a look of disgust flashing across her face. "That still doesn't explain what you're doing in my house and why you both look like a mess."

"She forgot her bag." Adrian whisked my bag from the floor and held it in his hand.

"You didn't steal anything from it, did you?"

My eyes widened and I heard Adrian scoff. "No, I didn't."

"Well, then, be on your way." Mom dismissed him, turning back up the stairs. "Norah, it's time for bed."

"Yes, ma'am." Adrian handed me my bag and with a brief smile, he was out the door, jogging back to his rusty truck. I locked the door behind him before following my mom up the stairs. Shutting my door softly, I braced myself against it, biting my lip softly.

Kissing Adrian Tate had felt so wrong yet so right.

I hopped in the shower, finally laying into bed at an indecent time in the morning. Rolling over to check my phone, one notification pinged on my screen and I squinted behind my glasses.

Adrian: I'm home. Sweet dreams, Norah

Turning on my morning alarm, I rolled back over, falling asleep with the simplest smile on my lips.

...

It was three o'clock in the afternoon and I needed another cup of coffee. Staying awake in class had been a challenge and I found myself dozing off more times than I could count. I must have fallen asleep during biology because Alex kept poking me in the side. Rehearsals could run until all hours of the night, and if I was going to survive, I needed another cup of coffee.

"What is that? Like your fourth cup?" Caroline questioned from beside me, watching as I mixed together another cup. "What time did you go to bed last night?"

"One something." I said, leaving out the part where I was constantly tossing and turning all night, my mind racing over my kiss with Adrian. Every time I looked at him, the memories of his lips on mine, my neck, and that feelings of his hands on my waist resurfaced. Throughout the school day, I tried to keep my cool and I may have thrown out a few more juvenile insults than I have in a while, but he took in each one with an amused smirk.