Noah (5th Street series)

Chapter 5 - Part 2

Her mouth involuntarily pulled to the side. "I'm sure it does, but don't you dare think you're going to be fixing everything. That's way too much work. I wouldn't dream of—"

"Roni."

She turned to see him looking at her with his eyebrows raised. Jesus, that was her nickname—her mother and some friends had been calling her that for years. So why did hearing him say it make her heart skip?

"I don't mind really. What with you letting me stay here, it's the least I can do."

"But—"

"No buts. I actually enjoy doing this kind of stuff."

Veronica let it go after he smiled and went back to work on the window. She glanced at the gadget on the counter. She was so out of it when it came to latest and greatest gadgets it wasn't even funny. Even her photography equipment was sorely outdated. Though it didn't stop her from creating masterpieces.

"Is this your iPod?"

Noah glanced back for a second to see what she was referring to. "Close. My iPhone. It's one of the first things I bought with my first checks as a trainer."

She lifted it, almost embarrassed that she hadn't the faintest idea how you would even make a call on one of these phones. Totally old school, her coworkers had called her phone a "dumb phone" as opposed to their smart phones, and that was over two years ago. She'd since graduated to one with a keyboard, but it was still considered one of the simplest phones out there.

"I don't get why people need such extravagant phones just to make a phone call or send a text."

Noah stood up and walked toward her. "Are you kidding? There is so much you can do nowadays with these phones you'd be amazed. I got it for all the apps that help me track my training progress, running, counting calories, you name it. But there is a lot more I haven't even touched on. I'm still learning."

Veronica tried to appear impressed, but he may as well be talking another language. Apps? In an effort to not embarrass herself by saying something stupid, she decided to change the subject. "You hungry? I'm starved."

"Yeah, I could go for a bite of something."

She pulled open her pantry. She was dying for a stack of pancakes, but technically, she was still on a diet. She'd been known to cheat here and there, but with him living here now, that was going to be nearly impossible. Instead of reaching for the box of pancake mix, she grabbed the bag of whole grain bagels and pulled the toaster out.

They ate together, sitting at her kitchen table. When they were almost done, he asked if she could give him a ride back to the gym to pick up his bike. "My friend has a truck, and he's gonna help me get some of my stuff moved in here." He must've mistaken her sudden change in expression because he quickly added. "Don't worry, I don't have a lot."

"Oh, that's not what I was thinking. It's just that it's still so dangerous to be driving your bike out in this weather. Maybe I could just drop you off at your friend's instead." The second she realized how motherly that sounded, she glanced away, licking the cream cheese off her bottom lip. When she turned back, he was staring at her lips. She immediately stopped licking and their eyes met.

He smirked. "Sure, it's actually closer if you drop me off at his place. He's right over on First Street."

She cleared her throat and picked up her cup, standing up. "What time did you wanna go?"

"As soon as you're ready. Looks like the break in the rain will only be for a couple hours before it starts up again."

She placed her cup in the sink then turned around, nearly jumping out of her skin when her hand grazed his arm.

"I'm sorry." He moved his cup away from her and took a step back. "I didn't mean to—"

"No, it's okay." Could she be any more prudish? All she did was touch him for crying out loud! She brought her hand to her forehead. "I was just ..."

"I didn't expect you to turn around so fast. I shouldn't have—"

"No, no," God, please make it stop. She could feel her face burning, and she was sure he could see it. "Don't apologize. I just didn't see you there."

She walked around him as quickly as she could. "I'll go get dressed so I can drop you off."

Rushing toward her bedroom, she prayed hewouldn't say another word. Thankfully he didn't. When she got in her room, sheclosed the door behind her and leaned against it, cursing herself inwardly.Supposedly she was the older, more mature of the two. How could she turn intosuch a bumbling idiot just from one touch? It barely even counted as a touch. Geez,what he must think of her already. And she still had months of this to lookforward to? Good Lord.

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