Perfect for You (2 page)

Ash wipes water droplets from my cheek. My limbs are still wrapped around him. I feel at home in his arms and have no intention of letting go any time soon. Should I tell him I love him? I really don’t want to be the first one to say it, but who does? Maybe he’s as nervous about saying it as I am. And I know I feel it. I do love him.

As I’m working up the courage, my eyes stray to the stars in the sky. There’s not a cloud in sight, and the bright pinpoints of light seem like they’re shining just for us. I look at Ash again. His face is partially bathed in the pool lights. He set them on dim to give us some privacy, while still making it possible to see. You don’t get moments much better than this one.

“What are you thinking?” I ask, combing my fingers through his hair. Part of me hates that I’m taking the girly way out of saying what’s on my mind.

“That you’re beautiful.”

I smile. “It’s the lighting. Really, I look hideous lately. That’s why I only allow you to see me at night. The darkness shields you from—”

He presses his lips to mine again. Normally, he loves when I go off on my wild tangents like this, but he clearly has other things on his mind right now. When he finally pulls away, he stares into my eyes. “You could never be hideous.” He runs his fingers over my shoulder, and I realize I have goose bumps. “Are you cold?” he asks. “Do you want to go in?”

I shake my head. “No, not yet. I like it right here.” I tighten my legs around his waist.

“I like it here, too.” He’s giving me that look again, and I can barely stand it. Does he really think I won’t say it back? Does he not know how I feel?

“Ash—”

“I love you, Meg.”

My goose bumps spread, and I forget how to breathe. He said it. He loves me. My pulse races, but Ash’s expression is one of worry. I haven’t said a word. I swallow hard, willing my body to start working again, to react.

“I love you, too.”

Relief washes over him, quickly followed by the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face. He kisses me again, and we don’t get out of the water until we’re both well past pruney.

Chapter Two

I stay in bed through lunchtime, happily dreaming of Ash. I even wake up with a smile on my face, and that smile widens when I grab my cell from the nightstand to find a text from Ash.

Ash: Miss you. See you 2night.

Even though the message is simple, and it doesn’t mention the L-word at all, I’m happier than a circus clown. Nothing can bring me down right now. Ash loves me. I love him. Everything is right in my world.

I hop in the shower and sing this old sappy love song Mom likes to belt out while she’s vacuuming. I’ve always laughed at her for liking the song, but today it seems like the perfect thing to sing. I’m different today. I’m the girl Ash is in love with.

Still smiling, I go downstairs and grab some coffee, which is cold from sitting for hours. Mom and Dad left for work a long time ago. I toss a few ice cubes in my mug and decide to go for iced coffee. Why fight it? My cell rings while I’m pouring myself a bowl of cereal. A quick glance at the screen tells me it’s my best friend Grayson calling.

“Hey, Gray!” Yes, I’m Little Miss Sunshine this morning.

“Well, someone woke up on the right side of the bed. Should I ask if Ash was in that bed?”

“No! But I do have news.” My voice is so bubbly I barely recognize it. “Ash told me he loves me.”

“No way! He said the L-word?”

“Yup!”

“When? Where? Tell me everything.”

I melt into the stool at the counter and tell her everything. The pool, the stars, the amazing make-out session, and of course Ash saying he loves me. When I finish she’s silent. “Gray? Did I lose you?” I pull the phone away from my ear and check the connection. Seems fine. “Gray?”

“I’m here.” Her voice is small, not happy at all.

“Why aren’t you jumping up and down with me? You’re my best friend. You’re supposed to be almost as excited about this as I am.”

“Did you say it back?”

“What? Yes, of course. Would I be this happy if I didn’t?” Something’s up. “What’s going on?”

I can practically hear her shrug. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just confused. I mean, you’re hanging out with Noah behind Ash’s back. I kind of thought…Do you even know what you want?”

“You thought what? That I’m into Noah? That just because he started talking to me, I’d break up with Ash?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

How can she say that? “Noah and I are just friends. We both play tennis, we think alike…” I’m not sure how much to tell her without making her more suspicious.

“That’s all?” she presses. “I know you better, Meg.”

“Fine. So, maybe at first I was excited he was paying attention to me. I’ve liked him for a long time. But I
love
Ash. Noah talking to me doesn’t change that.”

“Okay. If you say that’s all it is, then I believe you.”

“Do you? Because it would really suck if my best friend didn’t trust me.”

“I said I believe you. What more do you want?”

I shake my head. She’s totally killing my good mood. “I gotta go. I haven’t even eaten yet.”

“Meet you at the courts at three?”

“Sure. See you there.” I hang up and immediately text Ash.

Meg: Slept in. Can’t wait to see you later.

He’s at practice, which means any of the guys could pick up his phone or at the very least be there to read my text when Ash
opens it. I don’t want to use the L-word or say anything too mushy.

I put the phone down and eat my cereal. Just as I take the last bite, my phone beeps with a message. I grab it, thinking Ash is taking a bathroom break.

Got plans for today?

It’s not Ash. I don’t recognize the number at all. I text back.

Who is this?

Guess.

Noah? No, he doesn’t have my number. My fingers hover over the keys, not knowing how to respond.

Noah: It’s Noah.

Why is Noah texting me? Sure we’ve been hanging out, but only at the courts. We’ve never called each other or anything.

Meg: How did you get my number?

Noah: I have my ways. How’s your head?

I haven’t even thought about it. My late night swim with Ash sort of cured all my ailments.

Meg: Better.

Noah: Good. Let’s go to the water park.

Is he asking me out? He knows I’m with Ash. I can explain being at the tennis courts with Noah since he’s the best player on the guys’ team, but going to a water park?

Noah: What, do you have plans already?

Yes, I do. Gray and I have to practice, and I promised Ash I would go watch the Football Challenge tonight.

Meg: Kind of.

Kind of? Why did I text that? What the hell is Noah doing to me? It’s like my brain shuts off when I talk to him.

Noah: Pick you up in twenty.

It isn’t a question. He’s not
asking
me to go out with him. He’s
telling
me he’s on his way to pick me up. On his way here. My house. My mind is mush right now. A week ago I didn’t think Noah knew my name. Now, he knows my cell number and where I live. How is this happening?

I snap out of my mind melt and realize I’m not dressed to go to a water park. I race back upstairs and throw on a bathing suit. Instantly, my late night swim with Ash comes to mind. I should text Noah and cancel. This is a huge mistake. Ash isn’t going to understand this. Grayson isn’t going to understand this. Hell,
I
don’t understand this. What is it about Noah that draws me in? There’s something there, but I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe if I can figure out what it is, I can actually be his friend and this stupid crush would go away.

A car beeps, and I rush to the window. Noah’s black Camry is in the driveway. Damn it. I can’t back out now; he’s already here. I throw jean shorts and a tank top over my bikini and run a comb through my hair. Then I shove my cell in my pocket and run to the front door, stopping to take a deep breath before opening it. Last chance. I could text Noah back and say I’m not home. Tell him I have plans with Ash. I want to cancel on Noah. I do. But then I’ll never figure this out. I’ll never get over him.

My hand turns the doorknob, acting on its own. Noah is leaning against the passenger side door. His outfit is the perfect combination of sporty and…I force my mouth to close. Staring at Noah, it all makes sense—why I can’t stop seeing him. Why I keep reading more into things than what’s really there. Why I’m hiding things from Ash and Grayson. Noah isn’t just the guy I’ve had a crush on for years. He reminds me of my ex-boyfriend, Derrick. The first guy I ever thought I loved. The guy who cheated on me with that freshman transfer, Stacy Leeman. The guy who broke my heart into a million pieces. As Noah waits for me by the car, I notice every similarity between him and Derrick. The dirty blond hair with the messy-on-purpose look. The deep blue eyes. The confidence oozing from every part of his body. I’m in trouble.

Making this connection should send me running back into the house, locking the door behind me, but my legs move toward Noah. I lost Derrick, and I never really got over it. It’s hard to forget the guy who cheated on you and humiliated you in front of the entire school. Hanging out with Noah somehow gives me back something I lost sophomore year. Something Derrick took from me. But it still isn’t right. I don’t want to hurt Ash just to get my self-esteem back in check.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Noah smiles at me, and I can’t help thinking I’m not imagining things between us. Maybe he really does like me. I wrack my brain, trying to remember him calling anyone else gorgeous. One of his friends? Nope. Can’t remember a single time in my two years of drooling over him.

“Um, what’s with the sudden urge to go to the water park?” I’m trying to keep my voice steady, but it’s not easy when he’s looking at me like I’m the only girl on the planet. He opens the car door for me and only moves aside enough for me to squeeze in. My entire left side brushes against him as I slide into the seat. My breath catches in my throat, but not before I get a good whiff of his scent. I’m not sure what kind of cologne he’s wearing, but it might as well be called Swoon, because that’s what it’s making me do right now.

“I figured it’s a beautiful day and your last day of freedom before tryouts. You deserve a little fun.” He shuts my door and walks around to his side, getting in the seat next to me. “Plus,” he eyes me in the sexiest way possible, “I have a feeling you look amazing in a two-piece.”

That’s it. I’m a goner. I have to get out of this car. Right. Now.

Noah starts the engine and peels out. Dad’s going to freak if there are tire marks on his driveway. I quickly fasten my seat belt. Ash likes to drive fast, but nothing like this. “Too fast for you?” Noah asks.

Definitely, and not just his driving. All of this. His sudden interest in me. Us hanging out together.

“Are you trying to set a record or something?” I laugh. God, I hope he can’t tell how uncomfortable I am.

He licks his lips, and I melt into my seat. I have to stop looking at him like this. He’s not Derrick. He’s not here to make me feel better about being cheated on two years ago. And what I’m doing now is almost as bad. Sure, I haven’t kissed Noah or done anything else with him, but I’m convinced he’s not thinking this is just two friends going to the water park together. This is a date. At least in his mind.

“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?” Noah turns to meet my eyes.

I’ve totally zoned out. “Oh, sorry. I spaced for a minute.”

“Thinking about Ash?”

I relax a little when he mentions Ash. He’s acknowledging that I have a boyfriend, so maybe I’m freaking out over nothing. “Um, kind of. I promised I’d go watch the Football Challenge tonight.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll have you back in plenty of time.”

Even though he’s saying all the right things—
friendly
things—I have to be sure he sees this as an innocent outing. I can’t spend the entire day with him, wondering if he thinks this is a date. It will drive me crazy. “Why did you ask me to come with you today?”

He shrugs. “I thought it would be fun.”

Fun in a “two friends hanging out for the day” kind of way or fun in a “making out under the waterfall” kind of way? “So, we’re just having fun…as friends. Is that it?” Boy, I sound like a dork.

He laughs, a soft laugh that brings out the dimple on his cheek. “Do you always question things this much?”

Yes. “Do you have a favorite ride?” I ask, changing the subject from my extreme lameness to the water park.

“Tube Mountain, definitely.”

My eyes light up. “I love that one! Grayson and I always race to the bottom.”

“She’s the one you were playing tennis with, right?” Wow, he really does live in his own little popular bubble.

“Yeah.”

He nods. “You hang out with some interesting people.”

What does that mean? I wait for him to continue, hoping he’ll explain what he means in a way that’s not totally insulting to me and my friends.

“I didn’t mean to offend you. It actually says a lot about you. You don’t discriminate.”

“I don’t discriminate?” I twist in my seat to see him better. I’m trying to get some sort of read off his expression, but his eyes are glued to the road, and he’s not giving anything away.

“Yeah. You don’t care if someone is a jock, a nerd, or part of the popular crowd.”

No, I don’t. “I like having friends who are different. They’re more fun to be around.”

“Yeah, but you don’t fit into their groups. That must be tough. Not really belonging anywhere.”

“I think I fit in with the tennis crowd.”

“I’m part of the tennis crowd, and we only started talking a week ago.” He still isn’t looking at me, and I don’t know what to make of any of this.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying it’s nice that you care more about the person than what group they belong to, but that kind of leaves you the odd girl out.”

He does have a point. I’m not friends with any of Grayson’s other friends. They’re all into art—painting, sculpting, that kind of stuff. Not at all my thing. And Ash’s friends are all football players and cheerleaders. I don’t fit in there either. The tennis girls are great, but outside of the courts, we don’t hang out.