Page 42 of Gossip Game

He smacked her thigh with his. She nudged hers against his in response. Their nonverbal sparring continued back and forth until Noah placed a hand on her thigh.

And left it there.

She tried to jerk her leg away, but he spread out his long fingers and anchored her leg where it was. His lips turned up slightly at the corners as he shoveled some potato chips into his mouth with his free hand. Charlotte stole the last chip off his plate in retaliation.

“Hey!” He tried to grab it back.

“Mm,” she said as she chomped down on it.

The room was quiet by the time Charlotte remembered they had an audience. Ainsley and Maisy were both staring at them curiously. Alex arched an eyebrow at her brother as she bit back a smirk. Meemaw donned a self-satisfied grin.

Charlotte abruptly pulled her leg from his grip, her body instantly missing the warmth of his palm. She dropped her gaze to her plate, attacking what remained of her chicken salad with gusto.

“Behave,” Val scolded her son.

It didn’t go unnoticed by Charlotte that Val took the opportunity to touch Noah every chance she could get. A tender brush of her hand along his back as she passed behind his chair when she was refilling the bowl of potato chips. A caress of his biceps when she reached past him to hand Ainsley her sippy cup. Now, she tousled his hair as she stood and cleared the plates.

It must have been difficult for Val during those long years when Alex was sick, devoting most of her time and energy to her ailing daughter. Charlotte couldn’t imagine having to choose between Vivi and Gray. Her stomach rolled at the thought. Noah’s mother was clearly making up for lost time with her son.

Charlotte wondered if he even noticed. Noah was so good at diverting attention away from himself. It astounded Charlotte that he believed he didn’t deserve it. Even when he was outperforming most every other quarterback in the game. Case in point: tonight’s honor.

Her heart ached for the man sitting beside her, who was still holding on to the traits of his childhood. Still denying himself the spotlight he deserved. She wanted to rest her hand on his thigh in comfort. If only she trusted herself.

“I’m sure your father would like it if you stopped by the high school this afternoon,” Meemaw said as she tossed her keys across the kitchen table to him. “The boys would love a pep talk before tonight’s game. Before you hurry off, fetch Charlotte’s bag, and bring it over to my place.”

“Your place?”

“Noah, she is not sleeping on your top bunk,” Val said.

“Charlotte can have my old room. But that means the girls will have to sleep with you, baby brother.” Alex’s offer didn’t really sound like a legitimate one.

“Nonsense.” Meemaw strode toward the door leading to the breezeway that adjoined the two houses. “I told everyone a real live princess will be sleeping at my house. And that’s what is happening.”

“Meemaw, Charlotte isn’t—” Noah started to say.

Charlotte shushed him. “It’s your grandmother’s birthday. If she wants me to be a princess, then I’m a princess.” She turned and curtsied to Meemaw. “Which makes you the queen.” Maisy and Ainsley giggled. Charlotte mimed tapping them both on the head with a wand. “And you are both ladies-in-waiting.”

Maisy grabbed hold of Charlotte’s hand while Ainsley curled her sticky fingers around one of Charlotte’s.

“Come on.” Maisy tugged them toward the breezeway. “Meemaw’s guest bed is really bouncy.”

“It’s a big bed, too. Plenty of room for both of you. And I take my hearing aids out at night, so whatever you get up to, I won’t hear a thing.” Meemaw said with a wink.

“Christ,” Noah moaned behind them.

TWELVE

“Is she here with you?” The receptionist practically squealed the question at Noah when he stepped into the front office of the high school.

“Well, hello to you, too, Mrs. Weaver. And no, my sister isn’t here with me. She stayed at home with the girls.” He knew damn well Elisa Weaver wasn’t asking about Alex. “Is my dad in his office?”

She rolled her eyes before gesturing with her chin in the direction of the assistant principal’s office. Scott Hudson served triple duty at the small high school as its football coach, athletic director, and assistant principal. His brown eyes lit up when he spied his son in the doorway. He waved Noah into his office.

“I’m glad he was able to get his grades up, too, Mrs. Thompkins,” his dad said into his cellphone. “We need him on the field tonight.” He made the “hurry up” gesture with his hand as Mrs. Thompkins continued to gush at the good news. “Yes, of course. Great. Yes. We’ll see you tonight then. Goodbye.”

Noah’s dad blew out a sigh of relief after ending the call.

“You made her day,” Noah said.

---