Chapter 4

FOUR

Noelle

“Let’s go out to dinner,” Ansel says as I close his laptop and lean back on the couch.

“Okay, where did you have in mind?” I ask easily.

I expect him to say one of our old favorites like Nosh Diner or maybe to grab tacos or a burger, but he surprises me.

“How about Palmer’s Steakhouse?”

“The fancy place?” I ask in surprise, and he grins.

“Yeah. Have you been before?”

“No, I mean… that’s a date place,” I tell him, and I wonder why I’m whispering.

“Yeah, let’s go there.”

He stands, and I stare up at him.

Wait. Does that mean that this is a date?

No, it can’t be. I mean, he’s never once treated me like he’s wanted more. Must just be my fantasy.

Still, I can’t help but hope.

I want to ask him, but he’s already headed upstairs to get ready and I have to hurry after him. It’s probably a good thing. If it wasn’t, then things would be so awkward between us, and if it is…well, I’d probably get too nervous and end up messing it all up.

He heads into his room, and I pause before I head into my room. I run through all of the clothes that I brought and realize that I might be severely underdressed.

“Um, Ansel?” I call, and he pokes his head back out.

“Yeah?”

“I don’t think that I have anything to wear for something as fancy as Palmer’s.”

“We can stop by your house,” he offers.

“No!” I shout, then wince. “No, I don’t want to go back home. Lord knows who is there and what they would make me do while I was back home.”

“I’d be there. We could be in and out,” he says, and I smile.

He’s right. The only time that I’ve ever seen my stepdad afraid was when Ansel stood up for me. Ansel is tall and towers over everyone, my stepdad included. I’m not sure if it was the height thing that had Paul scared, or the look in Ansel’s eyes. It was like he had been pushed to the edge, like he would do anything to keep me safe, and that scared my stepdad.

It made me fall even more in love with Ansel. No one has ever stood up for me. Not that I can remember, anyway. Ansel has always had my back. He’s always looked out for me and taken care of me. He’s always wanted what was best for me.

“I…I just don’t want to risk it. I don’t want to have to go back home so soon,” I tell him softly, and I can see the anger and sadness swirling in his eyes.

Ansel is the only one who knows how bad my home life is. My friends, Ginger, Cora, and Lilou, they all might assume it’s bad, but Ansel is the only one who has met my parents and Kevin. He’s the only one who has seen how they really treat me, what they really think of me.

“Alright. Manci’s or Toasty Buns?” He asks me, and I smile.

“I’m good with either. Thanks,” I say as I reach out and wrap my arms around his waist.

I lean my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat as Ansel hugs me back.

“We’ll take care of your family,” he promises me. “You don’t have to stay with them.”

I want to believe him, but I don’t have many options. I’ve been trying to save up for years to move out of their house and get away from them. Every time I’m close, something happens. My car breaks down, the roommate that I found falls through, or most likely, my family finds my money and steals it.

I’ve tried banks and like a hundred different hiding spots, but it doesn’t matter. They always manage to get their hands on it.

“Come on. Let’s go eat,” he says, and I nod, pulling away from him.

I change into a warmer sweater, pull on my boots, and then follow him downstairs. He holds my coat out for me, and I grin as I slide my arms into the sleeves.

“Thanks.”

He nods, and we head outside. It’s been snowing off and on all day, and I grip the railing as I head down the icy front porch steps.

“I’ll have to shovel tomorrow once it’s stopped snowing,” he says, and I nod.

“I can help.”

“That’s’—”

“Oh!” I gasp as I slip on the last step, and Ansel reacts quickly, reaching out and pulling me into his chest.

My hands land on his chest, and we stare at each other in surprise for a heartbeat. Ansel’s eyes heat, and my mouth goes dry at the look in their hazel depths. The wind whips his chestnut hair around his face, and my fingers itch to reach up and smooth it back into place.

“Thanks,” I whisper softly.

“Anytime,” he says just as quietly.

Staring at him, I can’t help but wonder if maybe it’s possible that he has feelings for me, too. Could he like me? Could he love me like I love him?

He’s probably just looking out for me like he always does, I tell myself.

“Let’s go eat.”

I nod, and he holds my hand as we head over to his truck. He opens the passenger door for me, and I hop in and buckle up while he starts the truck and blasts the heat.

“So, tell me everything that I missed in the last four years,” he says, and I blow out a big breath.

“Well, Lilliana and Foster finally ended up together,” I start.

“About damn time.”

“I know, right? His twin, Ford, is married to her best friend, Cameron, now too.”

He nods, and I try to think of what else to say.

“They closed down The Yum Yum Tree.”

“What!?”

“I know. I was devastated.”

“What else?” He asks and I chew on my bottom lip.

“I don’t know. I wrote or texted or told you all of the other stuff already,” I admit.

We pull into Toasty Buns, and we both hop out.

“Careful,” Ansel says, reaching for my hand, and I let him hold it as we head for the door. As we go, I can’t help but wish that he loved me too. As more than just a friend.