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.
Noah simply says, “Will do.”
Brady chuckles next to me, pulling me into a hug. “Funny how these plans popped out of nowhere, ain’t it, and the dude, too?” he whispers.
“Sorry,” I mumble into his sweater.
Brady hates lies. He’s our voice of reason in his own crazy, horn-dog way, and he pretty much just covered my ass. “Don’t worry about it. Had they asked outright, I’d have told ‘em. Lucky for you, they didn’t, so all’s good.”
I pull back and smile. “See you in class tomorrow.”
“I’ll be the sexy one in the front.” He grins and I smack his shoulder.
With a refreshing inhale and a new sense of ease, I turn to Noah.
He smiles, forcing one from me in return.
“Ready?”
Slowly, he nods.
“Bye guys,” I say but don’t look their way.
I fall in line with Noah, and together, we head for the nearest exit.
“Oh my god, Noah, it smells stupid good,” I say as I step out of the restroom.
I follow the sound of his soft chuckle into the little kitchen nook, right as he pulls a chicken breast off of the small countertop grill and begins slicing it into long strips.
“Where did you learn to cook?” I ask, peeking over his shoulder as he stirs the meat into the bowl of homemade chicken alfredo, he whipped up like nothing and in no time at all.
“My mom.” He smiles. “She had me help her with dinner every night, said I’d need to learn for moments like this.” He tosses me a wink.