Page 40 of Shattered Oaths

I stand up straight, licking my dry lips. “You look beautiful, Bells.”

Understatement of the fucking century.

A pretty pink blush creeps into her cheeks and she smiles. “Thank you. So do you.”

I chuckle and she stutters. “I-I mean you look… nice.”

Placing a hand on my chest, I feign wounded. “Only nice?”

Bella rolls her eyes, moving toward me and taking the beer out of my hand. “Shut up. You know what I mean,” she says before taking a swig from the bottle.

My eyes zone in on her lips as they touch the rim mine had touched only moments ago and I swallow hard as my mind races back to the night we shared the bottle of my dad’s whiskey in my bedroom.

Suddenly I’m eighteen again and realising that I’m obsessed with my best friend’s little sister.

Only this version of her is different.

She’s older. Sexier. And a whole lot more confident.

Running a hand over the back of my neck, I look down at Bella and clear my throat. “Did you, uh, want one?” I point at the beer.

She shakes her head, using her finger to wipe a droplet that escapes the corner of her mouth. Her tongue darts out to lick it off the digit as she responds, “This one is fine.”

My God, I’m going to die.

It’s a completely innocent move but for some reason, with her standing this close and looking at me the way she is, it feels downright erotic.

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out and I just stand there staring at her, watching as she finishes my drink and places it back on the counter, utterly clueless to the effect she’s currently having on me.

“Ready?” She asks, snapping me out of the delirious trance I had fallen under.

Clearing my throata second time, I nod. “Yeah.”

CHAPTER 17

BELLA

As soon as we pull on to the grassy field that the drive-in movie theatre is being held on, I know why Noah suggested coming almost an hour early.

Various cars and trucks are parked all over the place. Some people have laid blankets on the ground with pillows and picnics set up around them while others have opted for the comfort and warmth of staying inside their vehicles.

Advertisements play on the large screen while people chat amongst themselves and set up their spot for the evening.

The sky is a deep shade of pink and purple as the sun sets but it’s still warm out considering its only May. There are a number of food trucks lining the edge of the field, and the smell of fried food and donuts linger in the air.

I close my eyes and suck in a deep breath, soaking it all in as Noah finds somewhere to park.

I used to love coming to the drive-in in my teen years. It was an annual thing for Rosewater Creek, but a fewyears ago they stopped doing it. I don’t know why, because it was always a hit and judging by the turnout tonight, I’d say I’m not the only one to have missed it.

Noah swings the truck around, turning in a circle before backing up slightly and my brows pinch at the view of the entrance. “You’re facing the wrong way.”

He smiles so wide it’s almost blinding, turning to face me. “No. I’m facing the right way.”

I look at him in confusion, not understanding. How the heck are we supposed to watch the movie if we’re facing away from it?

“I have a surprise for you,” he says, putting the truck in park and unbuckling his seatbelt.

“What kind of surprise?”