Unraveled by Dani Matthews Page A

let
out my breath and say, “Friends. Only friends,” firmly before I pick up my pen
and the nearest paper.
    I'm
completely engrossed in my homework a while later when I hear Noah's car pull
up in the garage. A little zing of excitement shoots through me and then a good
healthy dose of apprehension. There's a reason for our plans tonight and it
wasn't all about fun. We had serious stuff to discuss and I'm dreading it.
    When Noah
walks through the door, I see that he has a new bottle of bourbon in his hand
and a bag full of groceries. He smiles briefly at me before he begins to put
everything away, so I go back to doing my homework. You can't exactly carry on
a conversation with a deaf person if their back is to you.
    “Why the
frown?” Noah asks from over my shoulder, making me start.
    I'd lost
track of time and I was currently working on my calculus homework and having
some issues with a few problems. A deliciously mouthwatering scent is wafting
throughout the kitchen and I see Noah has changed into a pair of shorts and a
vintage tee. He's standing behind my chair and he's peering over my shoulder.
    I glance at
him so he can read my lips. “I'm terrible at this stuff.”
    “Lucky for
you, I'm not.” He moves closer and as he leans over my shoulder, I can smell
the scent of his cologne. My eyes shut briefly as I remember being up close and
personal with his body and his scent. The feel of his warm skin against my
skin...the way he touched me...
    “Blayre?”
    I jump a
mile in my chair and my head almost hits him in the jaw. Holy crap. I'm
fantasizing about him while he's standing right there. This is ridiculous!
    Noah moves
back slightly and peers at me. “Where'd you go off to?”
    “Wouldn't
you like to know,” I retort lightly before I pick up the pen I'd dropped.
    “Yeah, I
would, but seeing as our fish is probably burning, I'll let you off the hook,”
he says and then he points at a couple numbers on the current problem I am
working on. “Right there is your problem. Try it again,” he says before he
moves away and heads for the stove.
    I peer at
the numbers he pointed at and I go back to starting the problem over to see if
I come up with something different this time. When I do, I study it and wonder
if I've finally got it right.        
    Noah happens
to walk over and take a look. “Now you've got it,” he says with an encouraging
nod before heading back to what he's doing.
    The next
half hour I continue working on my homework while Noah makes quick little
detours to check on how my calculus is coming along. When he sees something I
did wrong, he keeps his tone light and points it out, then he tries to explain
my error.
    I'm just
finishing up when Noah announces dinner is done and not to move all my
homework, we could eat out on the patio. I'm up for that, so I rise to my feet
and help carry plates and utensils out to the table. Once we are seated, I
thank him again for another wonderful meal.
    “I should
probably learn to cook,” I muse as I spear some fish with my fork. “I'll starve
to death once I'm on my own if I don't.”
    Noah smiles.
“I'll teach you. We'll start out with the simple stuff.”
    “Okay.”
    We fall
silent for a bit as we eat and then I hear a low buzz come from Noah and he
frowns, pulling out his cell phone. He glances at it briefly before sticking it
back in his pocket. When his gaze lifts to mine, I look at him questioningly.
“It's Marley,” he says as he reaches for his fork.
    “Aren't you
going to answer her?” I ask, trying not to feel jealous that another woman is
text messaging him. Marley is dating a friend of Tate's and I deliberately
remind myself that Noah is strictly just a friend and that I shouldn't be
jealous at all.
    “Nope. Not
when it involves trying to set me up with one of her numerous friends.”
    Okay, now
I'm glad he's not answering her, but...I still couldn't have him. Not like the
way I want him. I push the fish around my plate and glance