Free Breaking Noah by Missy Johnson, Ashley Suzanne Page A

for them.”
    “Really?” I say. I’m surprised, because he doesn’t exude the rich-kid vibe. “They had bigger and better things in mind?”
    “Exactly.” He turns to me briefly, his blue eyes twinkling. “Dad is a surgeon and Mom is a lawyer. Teaching isn’t a grand enough profession for them. I might as well have told them I was dropping out of school to become a porn star. But I was determined to do something I loved and not go through life wondering.”
    “That’s a great attitude to have,” I murmur. I turn and glance out the window, watching the trees fly past us. I admire the strength standing up to his parents like that must have taken.
    Pulling into a spot just outside the theater, I reach for my door handle and feel Noah’s hand on mine. “Wait just a second. It’s only fitting, if you’re all dressed up like this, to allow me to treat you how a lady this beautiful should be treated.” My stomach flutters and I shouldn’t be feeling the things I’m feeling. In all my life, even when I’d gone to prom, my date never had bothered to be a gentleman, and now here I am, with a man that I loathe, being excited about a simple gesture.
    “Okay,” I whisper through the lump in my throat. Noah exits the car, walks around the front, opens my door, and extends his hand. I take it, a spark shooting straight into my core when we touch, and he helps me out of the car. Smoothing down the fabric of my dress, I glance at him, then at the ground, finally settling on the theater.
    There is a large crowd waiting outside the doors. I glance at my watch and see we’re about half an hour early.
    Noah sees my smile and laughs.
    “I guess it’s better than being a half-hour late, right?” He nods toward a little restaurant opposite the theater. “Feel like a coffee? We can wait for the crowd to dissipate a little bit.”
    “Good idea.” I grin. I reach for his hand, entwining his fingers in mine. His body tenses and I’m sure I feel him jump. “Sorry,” I grimace. “Habit.” If he can take me by surprise, I can do the same. I like it better this way. I’ve never been a fan of even playing fields. I’m more of an in-control kind of girl.
    “Dillon actually holds your hand? I’m impressed.” He chuckles.
    “More of a case of me holding his.”
Total bullshit.
I think the last time we held hands was at the beginning of our relationship—back when he was still trying to get in my pants. Now I couldn’t care less if he touched me at all. This was just another opportunity to mess with Noah that I wasn’t willing to pass up.
    We walk into the diner and choose a booth toward the back. Considering the sheer number of people here for this play, the place is surprisingly empty. We sit opposite each other as the waitress strolls over with a bored look on her face.
    “What can I get ya?” She sighs, tapping her pen on the notepad impatiently.
    “Maybe a menu to start with?” Noah suggests, a grin creeping across his face.
    She rolls her eyes dramatically and points to the front counter, where a stack of menus sit.
    “You were supposed to get one on your way in.” The words roll off her tongue as if we’ve completely ruined her night. I smother a giggle as she just stands there, staring at us.
    “Guess I’ll go get them, then,” Noah says. He raises his eyebrows at me and I snort, earning me a glower from…I squint at her nametag.
Anya.
    “So, it’s pretty quiet tonight, huh?” I say, trying to fill the awkward silence. Noah slides back into his seat and pushes a laminated menu across the table to me.
    “You ready yet?” she presses, ignoring my question.
    “Sure. I’ll have a black coffee.” She scribbles it down and turns to Noah.
    “Same,” he says. She snatches up the menus and stomps off, leaving Noah and me in disbelief. “With staff like her I have no idea why they’re struggling,” he jokes.
    “Yeah, total shocker.” I giggle, resting my arms on the table. My heart races as his