I'm still trying to process Noah's question, the edges of it echoing inside my head like a pebble thrown into still water. Do you think you want to kiss a guy?
My heart is doing something weird—not quite panicking, but not calm either. I think I'm glowing. Or maybe that's just the heat creeping up my neck because—
Knock knock.
I flinch. My shoulder jerks slightly and Mellow stirs beside me, her little tail thumping against the couch cushion once before she goes still again.
Noah lifts his head. Without needing to say a word, he gently unhooks his arm from around me and gets up, smoothing the hem of his sweater as he walks to the door. I lean away just enough to make it look like I was just petting Mellow, my fingers brushing through her soft fur while I pretend I'm not red to my ears.
The door creaks open.
"Oh, Chloe," Noah greets in that calm voice of his.
