My phone beeps, the timer for my mile going off, so I slow my strides.
As soon as I pull my earbuds from my ear, my phone vibrates, so I free from my armband.
I smile at my screen and open Noah’s text.
Romeo: I had eggs for breakfast.
My feet come to a complete stop, and I grin as I message him back.
Me: Billy Ray Cyrus Achy Breaky Heart.
Romeo: Really?! How do you even know who he is?
He’s totally smiling right now.
Before I can respond, another text comes through.
Romeo: It’s from Hannah Montana, isn’t it? You were one of those crazy girls who cried when little Miley grew up to be…my kinda Miley.
He sends a little winky face, and I bust up laughing, partly because he’s right, mostly because this conversation is ridiculous, but that’s exactly why it’s so much fun.
Me: Liar. Miley’s too wild for you and you know it. I feel like you’re more of an Emma Watson kind of guy.
Romeo: You sure?
I suck my stomach in, a small cackle slipping from me.
Me: No, I guess I’m not… but I still win. Again.
Romeo: I’ll stump you, Juliet. Just wait.
I grin, locking my phone back in place, and finish off the rest of my lap since I couldn’t manage to trim anytime off my mile like Mason challenged me to.
Monday morning, when I woke up, Noah had texted me saying the coach gave Mase a shout out after the team’s film session that morning. I texted him back Sage the Gemini—Good Thing.
His response was a bright smile, I know it.
That night, I got another message, claiming he saw something odd at the grocery store—peanut butter flavored Oreos. I sent back the link to KC and JoJo’s Tell me it’s real.
Ever since then, it’s been a game between the two of us. He hits me with something random, and I prove Trey’s words right. I am, in fact, equipped with a jukebox. Like I said, it’s fun, lighthearted and I’m pretty sure the sole purpose is to simply make each other laugh in case one of us needs it. It’s not the only time we talk. Like this morning, I sent him a picture of my shoes after I mindlessly walked into a mud puddle, a broken sprinkler left behind, and he sent back a photo of the notes he was taking in class.
No big deal, just us chatting a bit like new friends will.
Wiping my brow, I step off the track and head for the girl’s locker room for a quick shower before meeting Brady for my promised study session.
I’m dressed back in my jean shorts and burgundy long-sleeve and headed for the library, not fifteen minutes later, braiding my hair along the way.
I spot Brady’s behemoth body the second I walk in the door, and quickly tie off my hair as I rush over to save the poor student helper who has no idea what she’s in for if I don’t rescue her. Her rigid stance and the way she’s clutching those books to her chest tells me she’s not ready for all the Lancaster charm, but the wide sparkle in her eyes scream she wishes she were.
He sees it, which is why he’s inching his way closer, towering over her small frame.
Big dummy.
I step up and slap my hand on his shoulder. He doesn’t flinch in the slightest, doesn’t even look back at me. “Welcome to the party, Ari Baby.”
The poor girl’s eyes shoot even wider, and she drops her gaze to the stained carpet beneath her feet.
“Come on, big guy.” I laugh. “Time to study.”
“I’m tryin’ to study.” His body sways slightly, trying to hit every nerve with his little innuendo. I can only guess his grin has turned feral, because when the girl peeks up at him, her fair cheeks turn a bright cherry red.
“I should go,” the girl whispers and sidesteps out of Brady’s cage before darting away, disappearing behind the closest bookshelf.
Brady stands tall, exhaling loudly. “Almost had her.”
I laugh and shove him toward the open tables. “No, you didn’t.”
He grins but doesn’t argue.
We drop into the seats, and Brady pulls out two water bottles and four ham and cheese Lunchables, setting them on the table between us.
I laugh, quick to open a pack and stack my first bite. “Always coming in clutch.”
“You know I got you.” He winks, digging in.
We get lost in the world of psychology and before we know it, it’s late in the evening. The library is quickly filling up with a whole new breed of human, the obnoxious procrastinators, and those forced here for after-hours tutoring.
I slump against my chair, and Brady mimics my position.
“My brain is done, Brady.” I drop my head onto his shoulder, and he rests his on top of mine.
“Right back atcha.” He tosses his pencil on the table. “Wanna eat?”
I laugh because with Brady, it’s either football, food, or, well, sex. I nod. “I could eat.”
“Cool.” He gently nudges me off and stands, shoving his books back in his backpack. “Let’s meet the boys at the burger place off campus.”
I must hesitate too long because he stops mid-pack and stands to his tallest height. His earthy green eyes narrow in on me. “Don’t give me no lip. You’re coming.”
I huff and shift to stand. “Can’t you just come to my house?”
“Don’t want to.”
“We could go to that pizza place down the road?”
“Fine. I’ll see if they want to go there.”
“Brady…” I drop my eyes to my bag.
He sighs and walks around my chair, enveloping me in his one-of-a-kind, big bear hug. “Not gonna lie, you’re pissing me off a bit here, Ari Baby. But I got eyes, I know some shit went down with you and Chase and you’re trying to steer clear, but that ain’t fair to the rest of us. We’re your boys, you’re our girl. Suck it the fuck up or I’ll end up laying out my best friend.”
A sorrowful laugh slips from me. “I don’t want to make it awkward for anyone and it’s kind of… hard for me.”
Brady tenses slightly. “I know.” He drops closer to my ear to whisper, “Good thing you’ve got that game face down, huh… need you to put it on for me right quick.”
I pull back, as he does, and frown up at him.
He gives a subtle nod before his attention lifts over my head.
“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.
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.
“Smart woman.” I smirk, resting my chin on my elbow against the counter.
“Yeah.” He chuckles, but it’s a weighted sound that makes me look from the food to him.
A small frown creases his forehead, but he doesn’t say anything, so I don’t ask what brought them there.
I want to, but don’t.
“Where are your plates and stuff?” I push up. “Least I can do is get those ready.”
“There’s a stack of paper plates above the microwave. Hope that works for you.”
“My mom said she had children so she didn’t have to wash dishes ever again. So yeah, paper plates are perfect.” I laugh and he joins in.
“Smart woman.”
“Right? It was a joke, but I can see the appeal.”
Noah chuckles as he turns the burner off and rinses his hands in the teeny sink next to the teeny stove. “Want to grab some drinks and I’ll clean off the coffee table so we can eat more comfortably?”
“Yep.” I set the paper plates next to the stove, my eyes flicking to the small table against the wall. It’s a two-seater table, not quite big enough to fit Noah’s long legs under, let alone a second person’s.
“This place is pretty dope,” I shout. “From the outside, you’d never know it was here.”
He steps from around the wall that separates the kitchen from the living room. “Yeah, my coach calls it the perks of being team captain, but sometimes the space isn’t worth all the shit I have to deal with in the house. It does make it easier to try and keep the first years in semi-check, though.”
“So, you’re basically the designated party pooper?”
“Nah.” He pours the pasta into a large bowl and nods his head, motioning for me to walk ahead of him.
Snatching the plates, I lead us into the living room, listening as he explains further.
“I let them have their fun, it’s a part of the whole experience they earned by getting here. As long as they’re respectful and keep it to a minimum through the week, they know Saturdays are usually their free nights to live it up.”
I nod and take the seat next to him on the corduroy-looking couch, setting our drinks down.
“Now in the off season…” He shakes his head with a grin. “It gets a bit wild.”
“I bet.” I kick off my slides, folding my legs up. “Spring back home was nuts, but definitely more fun around the house. The boys weren’t so strict on themselves since football was over, which meant they weren’t so hard on us.” I shake my head with a grin. “Not that football was ever really ‘over.’ There were always camps or something or another, but no actual games meant we could party a bit.”
“Yeah, light training and no coach on your ass.” He laughs. “I’m just glad there’s a door at the bottom of the stairs instead of the top. Keeps the wild ones away, and I don’t have to worry about drunk people falling down and busting their heads open when they’re lost looking for the bathroom.”
“Come on.” He nudges my shoulder. “Scoop your plate first, so I feel like a gentleman.”
Leaning forward, I do as he asks, admitting, “And I was over here trying to be polite by waiting for your go-ahead, but fair warning, I’m known to eat like a man, so no judging.”
He chuckles. “Wouldn’t dare.” He clicks on the TV, turning down the volume, leaving reruns of The Office to play quietly around us.
Food piled high on my plate, I chew on the inside of my lip. “Thank you for this, Noah.”
“Juliet, look at me.”
My eyes slide his way and he smiles.
“Stop thanking me like I’m doing you a favor. I’m not. I saw you sitting there with Brady the second I stepped through the door. Went in specifically to find you, if you really want to know, and I was about to walk over to ask if you wanted to hang for a while when I saw Mason and Chase slip up behind you. All they did was beat me to the starting line.” He looks back to his food, and then, as if deciding to go with his last thought, he hits me with a sly grin. “Looks like I won.”
My hand comes up to cover my mouth as I laugh, and I flick my eyes to his. “So what you’re saying is… I’m looking at a winner?”
He turns to me with a mouth full of food and winks, pleased with my lyric of choice.
Giddy, I focus on my meal.
It seems Noah gets me.
I think I like that.
Once we’ve eaten, Noah tosses our plates into the trash and comes back to join me on the couch.
He’s quiet for a minute, and when I twist to face him, he does the same.
“You’ve never been here, have you?” he asks.
I sigh and drop back against the old cushions. “Nope. Now that you mention it, I feel like a jackass.” I shake my head. “They are definitely going to get their feelings hurt when they find out I came here today.”
“They’ve been waiting for you to come?”
“Mason and Brady have invited me so many times, but I just… haven’t.”
He eyes me. “Chase hasn’t been? Begging you to come over?”
Pulling in a full breath, I say, “No, he hasn’t. I can’t decide if he’s giving me the space I’ve made clear I need or if he’s giving it to himself, but either way, I’m kind of tired of it now.” I look down, scratching at the glitter polish on my fingernails. “I want to be able to hang out, watch movies and do absolutely nothing other than be with my friends again. Dumb right? Since I’m the one messing it all up to begin with.”
“You’re not messing anything up if you’re doing what feels right.”
“That’s the thing,” I say quietly. “It doesn’t feel right. Necessary, but not right. When we’d fight growing up, it was over the next day. We just don’t get mad at each other, you know? None of us. Annoyed, pissy, all the time, but not angry, like for real angry. It sucks, and we didn’t come to college together for this to happen during our very first semester.”
Noah doesn’t say anything at first, but once I look to him, he gets more comfortable. “How did that happen?”
My gaze drops to where his jean-covered knee now touches mine, and a small smile pulls at my lips. He doesn’t notice, he’s simply relaxed, and I realize I am too. My shoes are off, my legs tucked under me, and my body settled into the cushions as if I’ve sat in this spot a thousand times.
It sort of feels like I have.
I look up and find his insane blue eyes surveying me, and for some reason, I feel the need to look away.
“Ari?”
“Hm?”
Noah grins. “How’d your whole group end up at Avix?”
“Oh.” I laugh. “Right. So our counselors in high school thought we were crazy because, literally, the first day of freshman year, we went to the office as a group, notes from our parents in hand, and told them our plan, asking for schedules that would help make it happen. We took summer school every year to get ahead and just in case we struggled later. Once we agreed we’d make it happen, we started narrowing down schools based on what everyone wanted. None of us wanted to leave California, so that tightened the list, but we still applied out of state, just in case. We pretty much knew the boys would get in anywhere, so we looked for the best team versus the best child development program for Cameron. In the end, we chose Avix.”
“I didn’t hear your name in there.”
“You’re right, you didn’t.” I grin. “I didn’t care where we went.”
“Really?” He’s more curious than surprised. “Not a single stipulation?”
“Nope.”
The corner of Noah’s mouth hikes up. “Why do I get the feeling there’s a reason behind it that you’re choosing not to tell me.”
“Because there is.” I laugh. “It’s too embarrassing to share, but I will admit I did push for a fat house off campus, but my dad shot that down so fast. After the boys had their meeting with the athletic director, who was kind of a dick, by the way, we learned that was out regardless. Honestly, the level-three dorm we scored is perfect anyway.”
Noah grins, nodding.
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“How did Noah Riley, superstar quarterback, end up in Oceanside?”
“Haha,” he teases, as he looks away, only to turn right back.
At first, I wonder if he won’t share, but then he nods.
“I’m from near here, stayed around so I could be close to my mom.”
“Aww,” I coo.
Noah gives a playful glare, and I can’t help but laugh.
“I love that. It’s pretty much why we wanted to stay, too.” I lean back, wrapping my arms around my drawn-up knees. “She’s the real Master Chef, isn’t she? I know you told me she taught you how to cook, but I’d bet a dollar the recipes you use are hers.”
“A whole dollar, huh?”
“What can I say, I’m a broke college kid.” I shrug.
Noah chuckles, but it’s solemn, and I can’t help but search his eyes for more.
“You and your mom, you’re close.” My tone is gentle.
“Yeah,” he admits. “She’s all I ever had.”
“Here in Oceanside?”
His eyes find mine. “Anywhere.”
“Really?”
He nods.
“No siblings… a long-last dad, maybe?”
“Nope, neither. No cousins, aunts, uncles, not even grandparents. It’s just us.”
A small ache forms across my ribs. “That’s sad.”
He shrugs, looking away. “Normal for me. I never had more than her, so there was never anything to miss.”
“You must miss seeing her every day. You must get lonely here.”
Noah’s blink is slow, but he doesn’t say anything.
Now that I think about it, I never see him with anyone. It’s always him on his own.
I wonder if he likes it that way?
I can’t imagine life without my friends and family. It would be so hard if I didn’t have open arms to fall into when life got tough.
Who does he have in his life to catch him should he fall?
“So, you and Cameron,” he changes the subject. “Have you two always been best friends?”
“Since birth, yeah.” I laugh.
“She comes here often.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “Trust me, I know. She makes sure I’m aware.”
“Why don’t you tag along with her next time, make your way up here with me,” he suggests.
My cheeks grow warm, and he chuckles.
We stare at each other a moment, and his grin slowly fades. His tongue slipping out to wet his lips, calling my attention to his mouth, but only for a second.
I push to my feet. “I should go.”
“Yeah… I’ll drive you.”
I smile. “I can walk, Noah. I’m only across campus.”
He frowns, standing tall, forcing my chin to lift in order to meet his gaze. “You really think I’d send you down those stairs, into a house of twenty or more guys, and leave you to walk out alone?”
“You realize my brother and best friends are among those, right?” I smirk and his eyes narrow more, making me grin. “Come on. Walk me down, and if Mase isn’t around, I’ll take you up on that ride.”
“How ‘bout we plan for me to take you, but you can still see if Mason’s around for fun?”
My cheeks grow warm, and I laugh, leading us down the stairs. “Come on, Romeo.”
At the bottom, Noah reaches over my shoulder and unlatches the lock, pushing the door open before me.
A couple big guys nod at Noah as we slip out, grinning my way as if they know exactly what we were doing. Their grins are very Brady-like—a mix of proud papa with a naughty little twist. While Noah pauses to answer a question from one for them, I step through the entryway and into the common room area, allowing my eyes to travel the large space.
There’s a TV on both walls, a pool table in the center and a couple of couches pushed against opposite sides. The walls are a deep blue, a giant white Avix Sharks logo painted dead center. The mantel has trophies—hopefully they’re glued down—scattered along it, with a few abandoned beer cans, adding to the reality of a house full of college boys.
I grin, seeing the place for the first time. This is exactly what I’d imagined, maybe even a little cleaner than I’d have thought. Gliding my hand down the frame of the entryway, random beer bottle caps stuck all along the edges, I scan the area for Mason, but I don’t get far before a clipped voice breaks through from behind me.
“Thought you were going out for dinner?”
I whip around, coming face to face with Chase.
My breath freezes in my throat, and I cut a quick glance toward Noah, who’s still talking to his teammate. I force myself to look back to Chase, praying my voice comes out steady as I say, “Noah cooked for me instead.”
Chase scoffs. “Yeah, I bet he decided to get you up in his room last minute.”
My head tugs back. “Are you really acting like this right now?”
Chase slips closer, his voice a tense whisper for only me to hear. “What do you expect, Arianna?”
My chest tightens with anger, but beneath that is the ache, the sting. I blink, shaking my head. “Nothing.” I cut a quick glance toward Noah, who has yet to spot Chase, but is now moving toward me. “I don’t expect a thing from you, Chase. I learned my lesson.”
Chase’s brows crash, but he says nothing.
Thankfully, Mason walks around the corner in the next second, his eyes narrowing as he takes in our awkward face-off.
“Ari?” My brother swings his pinched gaze to Noah as he steps up beside me. “What are you doing here? Come to check out the place?” he asks me.
I don’t break it all down, instead sticking with the simplest of answers. “I was looking for you.”
He steps closer, propping his elbow onto the wall to block my face from the others, worry lines building across his face, but I shake my head.
I’m okay. Swear.
Mase nods.
“Can you take me home?”
“Yeah, I’ll grab my keys,” he says, right as a blonde girl tucks herself under the arm he has posted up. As soon as he looks down, he grins.
“You know what, it’s fine,” I rush out, a sudden, desperate need to get away creeping in.
“What, no.” He rolls his shoulder, essentially giving the girl the brush off. “It’s fine. Course I’m gonna take you.”
“I’ll take her.” Chase starts walking toward the door, as if his words are final, but my brother jerks forward.
“No, I’m good.” Mason shakes his head, giving the girl a quick glance.
I offer her an apologetic smile, glancing at Noah as he steps closer, and that breath I’m holding quickly turns into a lump I swallow past.
Nerves tingle along my skin as I wait, knowing what’s coming, and having no clue how it will unfold.
“I got her, man.” Noah grins easy. “Wanted to take her anyway. Told her so before we came in here.”
My stomach clenches at his direct admission, and I wait for my brother to snap back.
Mason swings his gaze my way, his frown hard and on me, but then he grins, swinging his attention to Noah. “Bet she turned bright red, huh?”
My mouth gapes, and Noah chuckles, but he doesn’t confirm. He keeps that knowledge for himself.
“You sure, bro?” Mason reaches out, and they clap hands in the way boys do.
“Positive.” Noah turns to me, nodding toward the door.
As I prepare to pass, my eyes slide to Chase.
He stands with his jaw set firm and pointed straight ahead, but he says nothing.
Why would he?
Noah takes me home, tells me goodnight, and leaves.
I lie down, another day ruined when tears I can’t hold back begin to fall.
