Page 111 of Love to Hate You

He presses his lips into a tight line. “All you’re gonna do is screw him up, Daisy.”

My mouth tumbles open at the accusation and I whisper, “How can you say that?”

He jerks his shoulders into a shrug. “Let’s be honest, you have a shit track record when it comes to guys. You go through them like most people go through underwear. Carter doesn’t need that. Especially now.”

His words suck the air from my lungs making it impossible to breathe. “Noah…”

How did our conversation get so far off track?

A fierce protectiveness ignites in his eyes. I’ve seen that look a hundred times before, but it’s always been on my behalf and never directed at me.

“I don’t want you fucking with his head,” he mutters.

His words slice through me like a razorblade. What makes it worse is that this is coming from my cousin. The one person I can always count on to have my back. “Do you really think I would do that?”

He ignores the question, instead saying, “If you care about Carter at all, you’ll end things now before it goes any further.”

“Where is this coming from?” My voice trails off as I realize that this isn’t about Noah trying to protect me from his friend.

This is about Noah trying to protect Carter from me.

As soon as that thought takes root, the reason for it hits me like a ton of bricks.

He knows.

Noah has known this entire time, and never said a word. I think back to the strange look that passed between them when Carter took off in the middle of the football game. For the umpteenth time today, I feel like a jackass for not realizing something that should have made sense a long time ago. All the puzzle pieces were sitting in front of me and I didn’t care enough to put them together.

“You know about his family, don’t you?” I murmur.

“Of course, I do.” There’s a curl to his lip. “We’ve been friends for years.” He blinks as his expression morphs into one of disbelief. “Wait a minute—he told you about it?”

This has been a day for revelations. The heaviness of them weighs me down making it impossible to continue standing upright. I walk to the edge of the bed and wilt on it, staring at my clasped hands. “He took me to a park for a picnic this afternoon.”

Noah rears back in surprise. “I’m sorry…he did what?”

I glance up and meet his wide eyes. A small smile curves my lips. “Carter packed a lunch and took me to a park.”

Any other time, I would revel in knocking my cousin off balance. Noah drops down next to me and the mattress shifts under his bulk. I peek at him as he mouths one word.

Wow.

A chuckle escapes before fading from my lips. Instead of making eye contact, we stare straight ahead as I fill him in on what happened this afternoon with Carter’s parents.

“You need to be sure, Daisy.” He drags a hand through his hair. “Sure that you want this.” His blue gaze locks on mine. “What Carter feels for you isn’t casual.”

Pleasure blooms in my chest. “How do you know?”

“I just do,” he mutters. “Carter doesn’t allow many people into his life. Whatever you do, don’t jerk him around.”

“Noah...” I’m not sure how to respond to that.

“I’m serious,” he snaps. “Carter has got enough shit to deal with. He doesn’t need to open himself up only to have you cut and run a few weeks later.”

“I’m not going to do that,” I say softly.

“I really hope not.” A smile ghosts over his lips but there’s not a drop of humor in it. “I’d hate to kick your ass. And you better believe I’ll do it.” He raises one brow. “Cousin, or no cousin.”

“Yeah, I’d like to see you try,” I snort.

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