“Let me tell Mason I’m leaving so he doesn’t flip out.” I stop. “Well, he may still flip out, but at least he’ll know where I am.”
Noah grins, taking backward steps. “I’m going to grab my keys.”
We part, and I only have to spin, take a single step right, and my brother’s within sight, as always, with Brady and Chase at his side.
I head for them.
Brady spots me first, and a low whistle slips from him as he turns to face me fully.
“Ari Baby!” Brady holds his arms out, and I slip into his embrace.
He attempts to lift me in the air, but Mason shoves his shoulder down, making him laugh.
“What’s up, sister?” Mason raises a brow, cutting a quick glance in the direction I came from. “You look like you got something to say, and I bet it’s not hello.”
“Hi again. Missed you for the last hour. Sorry a second time about the game.” I chuckle when he gives me a playful roll of his eyes, jerking forward to kiss my temple.
I smile. “I’m just letting you know I’m riding with Noah to take his friend home. I’ll be back later. I think.”
He lifts his beer bottle to his lips, staring over the brim as he takes a drink. “Just you?”
“Just me.”
“You can’t take Cam with you?”
“She’s with Trey.”
“Right.” He nods, eyeing me.
My brother knows I’ve been hanging out with Noah alone and I’m standing here alive and well today. He didn’t throw a fit when I went with Noah before, but this is different. It’s night; people are drinking; he’s drinking, which makes him more protective and paranoid, but he knows where Noah lives, likely has a plan of kicking his ass already mapped out in his head should he feel a need to do so. I guarantee that is the only reason he doesn’t press me more. “Answer your phone if I call you.”
“I will—”
“Why can’t you wait here?” Chase pushes off the wall. “Why do you need to go with him to take some girl home?”
Mason’s head yanks toward his friend, and Brady coughs, turning to the side to hide a laugh.
I force myself to meet Chase’s stare. “I want to go.”
“Why?”
My pulse jumps into my throat, and I shake my head. “Why do you care?”
His eyes narrow, and he steps closer… and my brother follows.
Chase shakes his head, pushing past me. “Whatever. I’m going for a refill.”
Mason points his frown at me. “What’s his problem?”
“He’s your friend. Ask him.”
“He’s our friend.”
“Right.” I’d almost forgot. “I have to go. Noah’s waiting.”
“Yeah, all right.” Mason nods and I spin, annoyed as I head for the door, where Noah waits, but the annoyance slips away as I find him waiting there for me, a hoodie in his hand.
“Ready?” he asks.
I nod, turning to Paige with a smile. “Hi again.”
“Hey, I’m glad you made it.” She beams, slipping out the door. “Noah was about to have a pity party.”
I look to Noah, and he winks down at me.
I don’t know why, but my whole body heats, so I quickly slip out the front, welcoming the cool air.
As we reach Noah’s truck, Paige pulls the door open, but she steps back, nodding her head for me to go in first, so I do. We head toward the opposite side of campus, and surprisingly, it’s not awkward.
Paige picks up with the conversation Noah said they were having, asking my opinion, and I do my best to offer a solution that might help. It’s kind of cool, being included in a discussion they could have cut short or picked up at another time.
Once at her building, she climbs out, turning back to us with a wave, and we watch as she disappears inside it. Noah waits for the door to close behind her completely, and then we’re pulling out of the parking lot.
He pulls into a gas station, and we both choose Icees, despite the chilly air. We climb back into the truck, but when I take the seat by the door, Noah looks over, jerking his chin the slightest bit, his lips curved at the corners. So, with my stomach threatening to tangle into a thousand knots, I slide over until we’re thigh to thigh.
“Can I take you somewhere?” he asks.
I nod, pulling my straw between my lips, and his eyes follow the movement.
It’s with a deep breath that he faces forward and off we go.
We drive with the radio off for a little over thirty minutes, before Noah pulls off the main road, parking on the shoulder.