“Wud up, pussies! Come to scope the scene?” He grins. “’Cause if you did, I got dibs on the shy little redhead over there.” He hooks a thumb over his shoulder.
Great.
My heart rate spikes and I take in a shallow breath as the boys walk around the table, making themselves seen.
“Sister.” Mason’s smile falters the longer he looks at me, but I force one for his benefit.
“Brother.”
His eyes thin the slightest bit. “We’re going to get some food, thought maybe you guys were ‘bout done.” Mason looks to my half-packed bag. “Seems you are.”
Chase looks to me, but I keep my focus on Mason.
Shit. Think, Ari!
“Oh, well, uh, I—”
“Hey.”
My already accelerated heart goes into overdrive, yet I sigh in relief as my gaze flicks over my brother’s shoulder.
In that second, all three turn to face the man walking up behind them.
My brother grins wide, offering his team captain a fist bump. “Noah, what up?”
Noah meets Mason’s knuckles with his own, tossing a subtle wink my way when my brother says something else I don’t catch.
Noah chuckles. “Nah, man. Just came to get Ari.”
Oooh. Shit.
My pulse is jumping from my skin; it has to be. I’m too scared to look at my brother, so I don’t, locking eyes with Noah instead. His chin lowers, probably unnoticeably where the others are concerned. “Ready?”
“Wait, what?” Brady’s shadow crowds me from behind, and to my right, my brother moves closer.
Noah doesn’t move an inch, keeping his blue eyes on me. “Sorry I’m late, got caught up at the student center.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I keep up. “We barely finished.”
One side of Noah’s mouth lifts into a grin and I fight my own.
“Uh…” Mason drags out, clearing his throat, and I finally face him. He reaches up scratching at his head, his frown flicking between mine and my rescuer’s. They settle on me. “You got plans… with him?”
I start packing my stuff again as a reason to look away, unsure of his reaction and what he’ll do next. There’s honestly no telling.
“Yeah, I do.” Not exactly a lie as of now. “I didn’t know you guys were coming or I wouldn’t have made plans.” That was a definitely a lie.
Brady’s stance widens beside me, and I nearly tear off the zipper on my backpack due to nerves.
“Hold on a damn minute.” Brady, while quite calm, speaks slowly, so I’m not sure how to gauge him either. He looks at me, then Noah.
Noah doesn’t falter, but keeps his eyes strong as steel on Brady’s, respectfully so. Brady swings his puckered brow to me. “Want me to take your bag home?”
My shoulders ease. “I got it, Brady, but thank you.”
“Mm-hm.” He kisses my head and turns to grab his own things.
I think we’re getting off easy, but then a sudden, yet expected question comes from the most unexpected source. “Where are you going?” Chase asks.
Noah stands in silent support, stepping closer to take my bag when I begin to pull it over my shoulder, and with a tense smile, I look to Chase as if the sight of him doesn’t mess with my head.
“We haven’t decided.”
His green eyes narrow. “So why not come with us?”
Instantly, I seek out Noah, for help maybe, and while he doesn’t look away, he gives nothing more than a blank expression. It’s his way of allowing me to make the call and letting me know he’ll be there for whatever I choose, rather than choosing for me.
“Um…”
Noah’s eyes pierce mine.
I don’t know what to do. If I say yes, I might die a little more inside, and Noah did slide over in rescue mode, as if he knew I needed it. But if I say no, how will that look?
Why do I care?
“Ari?” Chase prompts, with a little less bite this time.
Noah must note the indecision in me because his blues become more vibrant with every breath he takes, and his chin rises a fraction of an inch, encouraging me to make a choice. A choice for myself.
Something in me settles.
“No, I don’t think so.” I face Chase.
“Why not?” The guy who pushed me away dares to ask.
“I don’t feel like it.”
His frown deepens. “That’s it, huh?”
Undeserved guilt curls around my muscles, but before I can respond, Mason—my crazy controlling, over-the-top brother, who normally asks these kinds of questions—shuts his best friend down.
“Dude, Chase. Back off her, man.” He scowls at him, flicking his gaze across his form. “She said she don’t wanna go.”
My mouth wants to gape open so hard right now, but I force it to stay closed, watching in… well, I can’t figure out if it’s horror or fascination, as Mason turns to Noah, gives him yet another fist bump.
Um… what?
“Get her home safe so I don’t have to go and get myself kicked off the team?” Mason’s face is dead serious.