He wants to make sure I know I can say no and the idea will be tossed out, just like that.
I don’t have to share him; it’s my choice.
Warmth spreads throughout my chest, but it doesn’t stem from a blush. It’s on the inside this time.
Noah’s lips begin to curl before I even nod, but I do. I nod.
“Okay, Noah’s it is. Now, let’s go before more people get here and try to follow us or something,” Cam chirps as she pulls me along, as if she knows where she’s going.
I lead us to the right, and we step aside, so Noah can unlock the door. He lets us go first, so I head up the stairs.
Inside, I curve into the living room, pulling the string hanging from the fan to turn the light on, and Noah flicks the switch by the stove.
Noah peels his jacket off, setting it over the small chair, and I drop my sweater on top of it.
He opens the fridge to grab some beers for the others and a water for himself, while I grab the menus in the drawer below the microwave. I hop up on the countertop and he leans over, reading the options aloud to me, even though he knows I’m reading them in my head.
“We could do the family pack and get a little of everything like last time?” Noah suggests, taking a long pull from his water bottle.
“Yeah, but not the shrimp. I swear it was raw.”
He grins and pops open a bottle, handing it to me. “We’ve been over this. You can’t consider shrimp sushi.”
“Of course, I can.” I laugh, pointing the neck of my bottle his way before bringing it to my lips.
A shuffle grabs our attention, and both our heads snap up, finding our forgotten guests standing there, frozen in the entryway, staring at us like we’re mutants.
My stupid cheeks rush with heat and I dip my head, trying to get my hair to cover it.
Noah clears his throat to hide his smile and stands tall, blocking me from my friends. “Beer?”
“Hell yeah, man.” Brady darts forward then, tugging Cam along, his arm wrapped around her shoulder. He steps around Noah on purpose, raising a strong blond brow my way.
I offer a tight-lipped smile, but then Brady winks, and my shoulders ease a little.
“Cam, there’s Mountain Dew, too.” I hop off the counter, and Noah slides a few feet left, so I can reach inside the fridge to grab her one.
“Yes, please.” She tugs her hoodie off, sneaks me a smirk as she sets it down on top of mine and Noah’s.
“Sit wherever you want. I’ve got YouTube TV and Netflix or there’s a shitload of DVDs in the drawers.” Noah pulls his phone from his pocket, readying to call in our order.
Frown in full effect, Chase disappears around the short wall into the living room, and when I look to my brother, his eyes narrow.
He’s angry, but something tells me it has nothing to do with the situation, and everything to with the fact that I know his teammate’s studio well. He knew we hung out here sometimes—no reason to share exactly how often that ‘sometimes’ is—but knowing and seeing are a lot different. There’s no telling what’s running through his mind right now. He’s taken a step or two back lately, and honestly, I’ve been grateful. I know it’s in part because he’s so busy right now, but staring at him, I’m pretty sure he’s regretting it. I think he might be a little hurt, almost feeling like there’s a part of me he doesn’t know, and, I don’t know, maybe there is.
Mason takes lazy steps toward us, blindly digging into his wallet.
“Here.” He hands Noah two twenties. “Toward the food and don’t say you got it.”
Noah nods, taking the cash, passing Mason a beer in trade.
Mason accepts, glancing around the room. “This place is cool.” He looks back to Noah, tipping his drink. “Thanks for inviting us up.” Pulling Cam along, he rounds the wall to the living room.
“You got ESPN?” Brady shouts.
Noah chuckles, looking to me.
“Go. I’ll order.”
He winks, joining them while I place our order. I stay in the kitchen a minute or two after hanging up, and then with a deep breath, I pile into the small space with my oldest friends, choosing the open seat beside my newest one.
Where the boys have to wait until their coach releases game film on Mondays, Noah has early access to the website, so he pulls it up, and signs into his captain’s account. Just like that, the awkward tension I might be the only one feeling is gone, and I couldn’t be happier.
This has the boys on the edge of their seats, watching their own game as if they didn’t have the best seats in the house, and it’s not long before our food is delivered.