Book 3 Chapter 61


    Xaden''s POV.


    For the next few days, Noelle lets me sit next to her at lunch. Little by little, she starts to warm up to


    me. She even agrees to let me drop her home every day after school.


    She won''t let me pick her up, but I enjoy our ten minutes together alone at the end of the day.


    I want to spend as much time with her as possible. It isn''t only because she''s my mate, I also want to


    prove to her that I will be loyal. When I''m spending time with her, she knows that I''m behaving. The


    more time I spend with her, the more she can trust me.


    As usual, we go to the diner on Friday. Our booth is ready and waiting for us. Noelle scans over the


    menu and I point out the best dishes that I''ve had.


    We order and the conversation flows. Noelle rxes around my friends. It helps that Grace is rtively


    new to our group and she takes Noelle under her wing a bit, making her feel wee.


    I make a joke and my mate actuallyughs along with my friends. I''m bursting with pride for the rest of


    the meal.


    I made my mateugh.


    I never thought I''d see the day where I''m acting whipped over a girl. It''s always the other way round. I


    never usually care if I make a girlugh or not. It''s so different with Noelle, all I care about is seeing her


    happy.


    When we return back to school, I ask Noelle for her number so that I can text herter with the details


    of our date.


    It was too short notice to get into Olivier''s, so I booked it for next week in the hopes that she''ll agree to


    go on another date with me.


    Instead, I managed to get us in at this bistro that''s been in the town for like a hundred years.


    Generations of the same family have been running it and it''s really well.


    I drop Noelle off at her house and let her know that I will be back at six to pick her up.


    It''s torture going home and waiting for time to pass until I can go and see her again. I choose an outfit


    for my date and take a shower. I try and style my hair with some y stuff, which I never normally do.


    I''m making an effort for her, and I want her to see that.


    My phone buzzes and I get excited, hoping it''s Noelle. My heart sinks as I see that it''s from Shona, a


    girl I slept with a few months ago.


    I shudder just thinking about it. I open the text to be able to ess her contact. My eyes widen as I see


    the picture of her tits, pushed up to her chin by a silk bra.


    Fucking hell. What was I thinking


    I quickly go on to her contacts and select to block her number. Then, I go to my contacts page and


    spend the next ten minutes deleting every girls'' number on my phone except family, Noelle''s, Grace''s


    and Rory''s.


    Unable to resist, I text my mate when I''m done.


    I''ll be there in fifteen minutes. Can''t wait to see you.


    I''ll confess, I''m disappointed when she doesn''t reply.


    I drive over to her house five minutes early and park on the road outside. I give myself a mental pep—


    talk. I''ve got this, just be charming and smooth. You can flirt, Moretti, it''s fine.


    I hear the door open, and I look up. My mate ising out of her house wearing a tight dress with a slit


    up the thigh.


    Forget what I said about it being fine.


    It''s not fine.


    SHE is fine.


    Am I sweating I feel like I''m sweating…


    Fumbling with the car door, I eventually get it open and practically fall onto the pavement.


    ''Noelle…holy…you look so amazing,'' I blurt as shees over.


    She blushes and smiles. ''Thanks.''


    I get the car door for her and help her in. Then Ie round and get in, starting the engine.


    ''I''m sorry that I didn''t reply to your text,'' she says. ''I was having a bit of a panic about what to wear.''


    That makes me feel better.


    ''That''s okay. You look stunning, you made a good choice.''


    She ducks her head to hide her blush. ''So, what''s the food like at this ce''


    I tell her all about the long history of the bistro and their specialty dishes.


    When I park up, I race around the car to open the door for her and help her out. Hoping it''s not too


    forward, I ce my hand on her lower back and guide her towards the bistro.


    Soft music is ying when we walk in,plemented by the quiet chatter of the patrons. It''s a sweet


    restaurant, with candles and a single rose on each table.


    I state my name and we''re shown to our table. The waiter hands us two menus and we start browsing.


    ''Wow, it all looks good,'' Noellements. ''But I''m kind of craving beef.''


    ''I hope you''re talking about the food not the drama,'' I reply dryly, and she gives me a look over the


    menu.


    ''That was a bad joke.''


    ''It made you smile though,'' I retort, and she can''t argue with that.


    ''Are you ready to order'' A feminine voice breaks through our choosing.


    I look up and practically choke on air. Shona is stood in front of our table, holding a pad and pen in her


    hand. Her eyes narrow as she recognizes me.


    ''Oh, hey, Xaden,'' she says with a grin. ''Did you get my…um…text, earlier''


    I nce at Noelle in a panic. She is ring at Shona, but quickly directs that energy to me.


    I swallow hard and look back at Shona.


    ''Uh, no, I didn''t. I blocked your number,'' I tell her bluntly.


    Shona looks shocked and blinks a couple of times.


    ''Why I thought we had fun together…''


    Okay, I feel bad for being a dick to Shona, but she can clearly see that I''m on a date with Noelle.


    She''s human, so she doesn''t know about mates, but still, it''s obviously disrespectful to mention the


    nude she sent whilst I''m on a date.


    ''That was a long time ago, Shona. Anyway, I''m on a date,'' I respond firmly, gesturing at Noelle, who


    lookspletely unimpressed.


    Shona looks Noelle up and down and then turns back to me.


    ''What is she Your girlfriend''


    Noelle remains silent, but I can feel her eyes burning holes into the side of my face.


    ''Not yet, but I want her to be, and I''d prefer you not refer to Noelle as she, her name is Noelle. Could I


    politely request another waiter, please''


    I am praying for this dreaded moment to end.


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    I hope Noelle isn''t too mad.


    I handled that the right way Right


    Shona scoffs. ''Of course, enjoy your night,'' she says in a bitter way that tells me she doesn''t mean that


    one bit.


    As soon as she''s gone, I nce at Noelle.


    ''I am so sorry about her. It was a one—time thing, months ago.''


    Noelle stares at me for a moment, her expression unreadable. ''What did she text you''


    I swallow the lump in throat. Fuck, my hands are sweating.


    ''A picture. I blocked her as soon as ites through,'' I reply hurriedly. I pull my phone from my pocket,


    unlock it and open the contacts app. ''Look, you can see that I''ve blocked every girl on my phone.''


    I scroll through the contacts as Noelle watches, unimpressed.


    ''I blocked them all, it''s only you that I want, I swear it.''


    She''s silent for another minute. The longest minute of my life.


    Then, she sighs. ''I''m going to order the steak with tarragon. Is that a good choice, do you think''


    I let out a sigh of relief. Disaster avoided.


    The rest of the evening goes without a hup. We have a great meal, and, with a different waiter,


    Noelle rxes around me. We talk and get to find out about each other.


    I still don''t ask why she moved packs. The opportunity for her to boratees up several times, but


    she never takes them, making me think that it was for a personal reason. She obviously doesn''t feel


    ready to share that reason with me yet, and I''m not going to push her.


    She''ll tell me when she''s ready.


    I insist on paying for dinner. I drive her home and walk her to her front door with my hands in my


    pockets.


    I want nothing more than to lean in and kiss her, but I restrain myself. She doesn''t want me yet.


    ''I had an amazing evening. Can we do it again, next week''


    Noelle nods shyly. ''So did I. I''d like that.''


    ''Great,'' I respond, grinning at her. ''Goodnight, Noelle.''


    I give her an awkward wave and then start towards the path.


    ''Night, Xaden,'' she replies quietly.


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