"Sorry. I lost track of time." It wasn't a lie, but he didn't appear to believe me.
"You're grounded for a week." He sounded both mad and relieved.
I'd expected the punishment, so I simply nodded as he stepped aside, allowing me to scoot around him to escape the cold. "Okay."
His eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. "Just okay?"
"I understand and will tell you next time," I promised.
My dad stood silently behind me as I headed for my room.
The punishment was worth it. I couldn't have known how much weight was behind that thought at the time. But I'd eventually discover Noah's love of silent films and his dreams to create independent films. I'd try to hide how they bored me to death as we watched them together.
Noah would become the most important person in my life. The one I'd do anything for.
Three
Rook
Eighteen Years Old
The boat rocked, dipping side to side as the murky waters of Lake Prosper lapped at the hull in a steady thump. The sun blazed high in the sky, leaving me sun-drunk and limp as it warmed my skin.
"I could stay out here all day," I mumbled lazily from where Noah and I lay across from each other on the taupe, vinyl-covered benches at the front of the boat.
While everyone was out messing around on rented jet skis skating over the waves caused by the strong breeze, we'd stayed behind.
It was two weeks after graduation, and we'd tagged along with a group of friends to spend the day on Jake's family's Tri-Toon.
The sound of the jet skis zipping by and the churning water left in their wake created a constant buzz that pulled me further into a fuzzy state between wakefulness and sleep.
"I never want to move," Noah agreed with a husky voice.
With effort, I opened my eyes and tilted my head toward Noah, who dozed with one arm draped across his chest and the other dangling at his side.
He'd changed so much over the last six years.
Noah was almost as tall as my six-two frame and had packed on lean muscle, most of which was visible since he was only dressed in red board shorts—nothing like the short, skinny kid I'd met in seventh grade.
His features had sharpened with a bone structure that could have been passed down from a Greek God. I eyed his strong cheekbones, straight nose, golden blonde hair that glowed in the summer sun and a toned body beneath his skin that had taken on a healthy tan as it always did this time of year. Ice blue irises were hidden behind his closed eyelids, and his full lips were slightly parted.
Noah had the appearance of an athlete, but the truth was he hated playing ball with me because he was lucky to hit the damn backboard before it rebounded with a jarring thud. The thought brought a goofy grin to my face.
Looks aside, he was still my Noah. The same boy I'd taken an immediate liking to and who sucked at sports.
"You lazy fucks going to stay up here all day?" A deep voice tinged with annoyance broke through the peaceful moment, startling me. I hadn't heard anyone climb back onboard.
My gaze landed on Jake who stood next to the wheel, dripping water from his cinnamon colored hair and army-green board shorts. I nodded. "I've considered it."
Noah's drowsy chuckle brought another grin to my lips.
"You two don't need to spend every second together." Jake scowled. "Shit’s weird."
He was being dramatic, of course. Noah and I had a life apart from each other. Sometimes.
Still, I shrugged, giving zero fucks what Jake or anyone else thought. In my free time I liked being around Noah and the easy way we'd always clicked.
"You're weird," I retorted smartly. In my defense, I was groggy as hell.
"Whatever." His attention briefly flicked to Noah and then back to me. "We're heading out soon. Barbecue at my place. You're coming, right?"
I noticed Jake didn't include Noah in the invitation, which came as no surprise. He never did, though he had to know by now I wouldn't ditch my best friend even if I wanted to—which I didn't.
Jake had never taken to Noah, but I had to give him a small measure of credit. He'd never outright said it at least. If anything, they were politely impartial to each other.
To be fair, Jake had been my closest friend when we were kids. But even before I'd met Noah, we'd drifted apart with my focus shifting to basketball and his to football.
When Noah and I headed off to college in a few months, I honestly didn't know if I'd keep in touch with Jake. We hadn't been close in a long time.
I shook off the thought. "I doubt it. I may just sleep for the rest of the day." The idea brought on a yawn, and I tipped my head back to catch more of the strong rays on my cheeks.
"Lame," Jake taunted before he walked off with heavier steps than necessary.
"You know he's not a fan of mine." Noah’s comment frustrated me. It wasn't a question, but I still wanted to refute it. I couldn’t. Maybe we shouldn’t have joined the trip.
"You know I don't care, right?" I replied, rolling my head to the side to study him and found him already facing me. "Does it bug you?"
He rolled his eyes. "I don't expect everyone to like me, Rook."
That was stupid. What was there not to like about Noah?
Before I could argue that point, a group of giggling girls tumbled onto the boat, making a lot of noise. I recognized one of the voices and cursed under my breath as I caught sight of Wendy headed my way.
Leaning over me, her shadow blocked the sun and a stream of water dripped from her long mocha-brown ponytail onto my chest, feeling more like ice than the warm waters of the lake.
Her gaze raked over me, something that might have gotten a reaction at one point if she hadn't damn near stalked me for most of senior year. "Jake said you aren't coming over after."
"Jake should be a news anchor," I muttered, and Noah laughed. "Sorry, Wen. I have shit to do."
"Just for a little bit?" she persisted, pursing her pink lips in a pout.
"I'm not really up for it." What I'd told Jake was the truth. I planned to crash as soon as Noah and I got home.
"I'll see you again before you leave for college, right?" She placed her dainty hand on my bare chest, and I gently removed it.
"Maybe." But not if luck was on my side.
"Rook…" She sighed with exasperation.
"Come on, Wen," her friend called, saving me from a pointless battle of wills. "Let's do shots before we go."
With a huff, she stalked away, leaving us alone again.
"You can go if you want," Noah said casually.
My eyebrows scrunched together as I met his eyes. "Why? Do you want to go?"
He shrugged. "Not particularly. I said you. Not me."
"Nah, I'm tired. I just want to stuff my face with my mom's leftover baked potato soup and snooze for the rest of summer."
"You're not going to get an argument from me.” Noah patted his stomach. “I love that stuff."
I cocked a brow. "Who said you're getting any?"
"Your mom did, when she was cooking it last night. She specifically told you not to eat it all and save some for me."