Page 57 of The Last Good Man

“I see that smile and your eyes burning as if you are about to go on a hunt. It must be a woman.”

Noah shifts in his seat and closely looks at me.

“Where do you see all that?” he asks, grinning.

I shoot my arm up, wrap my fingers around his neck, and pull him down.

“You don’t need to see shit. Eat another cookie,” I say, and we both laugh.

“Okay,” my mother says. “Don’t keep him up all night,” she adds, looking at me. “He needs to go to school tomorrow morning.”

“No worries,“ I say before she leaves the kitchen.

JAX

As soon as my mother exits the room, Noah puts the half-eaten cookie down and peers at me. This time, he doesn't smile, only looks at mewith curiosity.

“Who is she?”

I grab my beer, tilt it against my mouth, and empty it.

He doesn’t move.

“How doyouknow it’s a woman? It can’t be what our mother said.”

I slide my elbows onto the table, shift my eyes to him, and run my fingers through my hair.

“You act differently,” he murmurs, and I give him a questioning look.

“Tell me,” he says, stubborn. “Who isshe?”

“Why do you need to know?”

“She must be someone special if you’re playing with us.”

“I’m not playing with anyone.”

Grinning, he wags his finger at me.

“You’re not fooling anyone. I know you’re dying to tell me abouther.”

“Sure. You’re fucking with me, brother.”

“Does it work?”

“No.”

A few seconds pass while he studies me, full of hope.

“Even if I wanted to tell someone, it wouldn’t be you.”

“Why?”

“You’re running your mouth too damn much.”

“I swear I won’t do it this time.”

“Like I believe you.”

---