“Is it that obvious?” I mumble meekly.
“Is it supposed to be a secret?”
A heavy exhale escapes me, and I shake my head. “No, not really, but sometimes it feels like he really has no idea.” It’s not some girlish crush. It’s got roots, grown deep beneath the surface. It’s real.
“Trust me,” Noah assures quietly. “He knows.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because he’s been staring this way since the second I sat down.”
While my muscles lock up, I shake my head, denying what he’s trying to say. “It’s not what it might seem. They’re always watching, especially when the male species is within twenty yards.”
“It’s only him, Ari, and you’re the only person he’s looking at.” Noah lifts my hand, kissing the inside of my wrist, and when he pulls back the slightest bit, his eyes hold mine. His mouth opens, blowing a warm breath over the damp spot, and a tickle makes its way up my arm.
“Trust me, it’s not about me, it’s about you.”
“Exactly.” His eyes flick to mine and with cautious movements, as if I might withdraw, he reaches up, pushing my hair behind my ear. “Nothing, and I mean nothing, forces a man to face his feelings for a woman… than the interest of another man.”
“Interest, you say?”
Noah’s chuckle is instant, and I bite at the inside of my lip to keep from smiling. “You’re a handful, aren’t you?”
I pop a shoulder. “I try.”
Noah’s arm falls to his lap, and I tug my sleeves over my hands. “I bet you do.”
He stares a moment, his chest expanding with a full breath, and when his head jerks to the side once more, my brows pull in confusion, but I peek the way he’s pointed.
Sure enough, Chase is watching. Only this time, when I make it known I’ve seen him, he doesn’t look away, but I do.
I face Noah, searching for something to say, but words seem to evade me.
A moment passes, a low exhale slipping past his lips as he slowly pushes to his feet, and I find myself rising with him.
“I should go.” He nods.
“You don’t have to go,” flies from me before I can stop it, and I scramble to make sense of what I’m truly saying. “I mean, you haven’t even said hi to your friends yet.”
“Yeah. I really do. Besides, I saw the person I came to see.” He winks.
“Uh-huh, sure,” I mock myself, my lips curving to one side.
Noah remains perfectly still, staring at me for a long moment, and his hand lifts, as if he wants to reach out and touch me, but he doesn’t.
My skin prickles regardless.
“It was really nice to meet you, Arianna Johnson,” he whispers, and then he turns and walks away.
I stand there, my gaze glued to his back, and just before his silhouette disappears into the night, I jerk forward, calling out his name.
Noah spins, eyeing me curiously.
“I’m… glad you suck at catching.”
A loud laugh leaves him, the sound sending a strange vibration through my body. “Me too.” He beams, pausing in place as a small, covert smile pulls at his lips. “Bye, Juliet.”
“Juliet?” I question.
His grin grows impossibly bright. “If I’m Romeo, then you’ve got to be Juliet!”
“You know that was a tragic love story, right?” I shout, smiling all the same.
“Epic.” He turns, walking backward. “It was an epic love story!” He waves, and after a second’s hesitation, turns around. Noah Riley disappears into the darkness, and I stand there watching him go.
Chase
* * *
Pushing the sleeves of my hoodie up, I move toward the keg, my body and head facing forward, but my eyes on her.
Or maybe they’re on him.
Why does he keep trying to touch her? I swear, every time I look over, he’s got his hands an inch away from her.
Where the fuck is Mason?
Why isn’t he jumping on this fucker like he always does?
Like he would me.
The dick runs his fingers along the length of her hair and my skin heats.
Liquid splashes over me and I jolt, looking down to find my cup crushed in my palm, the contents overflowing onto my damn shoes.
“Fuck.” I jump back, flinging my hand to rid it of the cheap beer.
Brady scoffs somewhere nearby and I whip my head around to find him sitting on a boulder not three feet away, his eyes on me. He pulls his cup to his lips, glancing toward Arianna and back. Leisurely, he climbs to his feet, fills a cup, and holds it out with a firm frown. “Her hands are empty.”
The inquisition in his tone has my pulse jumping, and my eyes dart away with guilt.
But why?
What do I have to feel guilty for?
I’m just keeping an eye on her, and that’s because I care.
I’ve always cared. Shit, I care as much as him, as much as Mason.
Mason.
My muscles clench and I look back to the brown-haired girl at the edge of the party.