Chapter Sixteen

Sara It was late in the afternoon by the time arrived back at campus. I wanted to find Noah quickly, but I wasn’t sure where to go and search. Would he be in his room? Or out? I thought about calling him before I decided not to out of shame. It took me two weeks to finally build up the courage to try and call him.

What would I do if he didn’t pick up my call? It had been days since he last tried to contact me.

It was a busy time on the campus. People were walking around, either coming in from activities they’d done outside or going out to have fun. Since it was the weekend, a lot of students did stuff like going to the movies, going out to eat or to sightsee. I noticed a few people look at me as they passed me, but ignored it as I looked around, wondering where I should start to look. Maybe I should start with the dorms, Noah was surprisingly not the kind of guy that liked going out much…

Then, I heard it.

“Hey, isn’t that her? The girl that’s with that Sext Me guy?”

I overheard the two girls that I’d just passed say. I’d noticed the way they watched me, so I knew I was the person they were talking about. I blinked, paying attention even though I didn’t want to. I’d gotten used to people and the way they talked about me behind my back, but this seemed to involve Noah too. I knew not to look right at them, they’d stop their gossip and I wanted to know what this was all about.

As much as I would rather ignore it all, I was worried. Besides, I hadn't been paying attention much, and what if Alicia and Caroline really did spread rumors about me because I didn’t pay them?

“That Sext Me guy, right? I guess she really was paying him? Because nobody has seen them together lately and now it’s suddenly back in action. It wasn’t cheap, to begin with, but now? I heard she’s rich, too.”

“Wow, I’m so jealous…”

My expression blanked out in panic at the first part. Did people really think I paid Noah for his time? Even though it wasn’t all we did, because there were days we met up just to hang around each other, everyone would think Noah was fucking me for money. This wasn’t the kind of rumor that would be easy to kill.

Crap.

It would be hell if it spread.

Then, the rest of it registered in my mind, and I was confused for a second, then I was angry. Sext Me was back online? Just because our parents were married and I had a hard time with that?

That fucking dog!

I ignored that it was my idea to go our separate ways as anger flooded me . I wasn’t over him, and already he was getting other girls to pay him for sex? I’d only ever paid that first time. If he really did need money, then was he still doing this before I walked away from him?

No way, right?

I didn’t want to believe it, but it was the worst kind of news to hear when I needed to talk to him. I stopped hesitating and headed for his dorm room. If I didn’t find him in there, then I’d keep calling until he picked up.

When I knocked on his door, it was opened up by one of his roommates, a guy I’d only seen a couple times when I was leaving Noah’s dorm room. We’d pretty much stuck to going to my place after that. Since he knew me, he walked back inside, leaving the door open for me. I went in. Noah was there, reclining back on his bed. His roommate sat at the desk, staring at his computer, though he was so still, I knew he was listening in.

I didn’t care.

Noah was reclining in his bed with an arm behind his head, looking relaxed with his other hand holding his phone up to his face.

“Who is it,” he said, looking up, only to freeze.

He blinked, looking at me in surprise.

“Sara,” he murmured.

Him saying my name just made me even angrier. “I’m gone for five fucking minutes, and you’re fucking other girls, Noah?”

He blinked some more, looking stunned. Slowly, he sat up.

“Um, not exactly,” he said. “It hasn’t been five minutes, Sara. It’s been over two weeks since you last spoke to me. I tried calling, coming to your room, tried to find you around campus. You didn’t want to know what I had to say, so you shut me out. Remember?”

He said it all so calmly that my anger had nowhere to go. Because it was all the truth, I was the one that put the distance between us, so he had every right to do whatever he wanted. If it had been long enough, and I’d gotten over it, I would have felt a little sad and then ignored it, but that wasn’t the case. Still, I couldn’t help feeling hurt that he’d gotten over me that quickly.

Even if we weren’t formally dating, didn’t I mean anything to him at all?

“Hey, get out.”

I stiffened, thinking he meant me, but he was eyeing his roommate, who didn’t even move at the order. Noah frowned.

“Dude, I know you heard me. You can come back later; please get out for now.”

The roommate sighed, then got up with an aggrieved look at Noah. He closed the laptop and picked it up, before walking out of the room.

“I’ll be back tonight,” he warned, then closed the door behind him.

Noah and I were left alone in the room, and suddenly, I felt awkward. I kept my gaze on his chest because I was too afraid to see whatever expression he’d have on his face. I fidgeted a little, shifting on my feet, playing with my fingers. When he didn’t speak, I broke down first.

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “For pushing you away like that. I know it was the wrong thing to do, but I’ve been so confused, I didn’t know what to do. My mother showed up and told me she had a new husband when I didn’t even know she was seeing someone, and it just had to be your dad. They’re living together at my home now…”

“I was just as surprised as you,” he said. “I knew he met someone, but I didn’t think it went as far as marriage. I only met her a day before I realized she was your mom. Then you wouldn’t even talk to me, Sara. So why are you here?”

I winced. Did he want me to leave?

It was understandable that he was angry. I had been myself not too long ago, but now, I was just worried. I should have more faith in Noah, but it wasn’t like I could blame him if he actually did go back to being paid for sex.

“Did… did you…” I tried to ask, my voice lowering to a whisper. I couldn’t force the whole thing through the lump in my throat, but he understood me.

Noah sighed. “No, Sara, I’m not doing that again. I told you already, I retired. That hasn’t changed. People have just been talking about it since… well, if you haven’t heard of it, then that’s fine.”

My eyes rose to his face. He wasn’t looking at me. His hands were tucked into his pockets and wore an awkward expression. I wondered what had happened, before I decided it didn’t matter.

It had been two weeks since we had been alone with each other. My body moved on its own, took a few steps forward, but I didn’t stop. I moved in front of him and reached my hands up to cup his cheeks. He looked at me and moved as I tugged him a little lower, going to the tips of my toes to press my lips against his, giving him a short kiss.

“I missed you,” I admitted, pulling back to meet his conflicted eyes.