Page 33 of Play On

“A water for me. Thank you.”

“Excellent. I’ll be right back with those.” Then he disappears, leaving us alone.

“I have a question for you,” Noah says, dipping his head towards mine and nuzzling my hair.

Oh my God. Can this man be any more sensual in the way he touches me?

“What’s that?” I manage to ask.

I feel his lips brush near my ear, sending shivers running through my body.

“Whilst I’m thrilled to have this date tonight, I still want our original date back. This Friday night,” he murmurs in my ear. “May I have it, Violet? Will you go out with me on a proper date?”

Elation rushes through me, bubbling up and ready to burst forward, I’m so happy and excited.

Noah lifts his head to see what I will say. I can’t contain the smile that spreads across my face.

“Nothing would make me happier than to have our date back.”

He grins at me. “Good. Then we’ll both be very happy people on Friday night.”

“We will. What do you have planned?”

“I want to take you to the cinema,” Noah says. “So you can see me select my sweets from the pick and mix.”

My heart completely melts. He remembered my ideal date.

Then I’m caught off guard by the tears that sting the corners of my eyes. I almost lost this chance to get to know Noah because of my own insecurity. I pushed this thoughtful, sensual, caring man away.

“Violet? Why are you upset?”

I blink. His beautiful eyes are focused on mine, his brow creased with concern for me.

He’s so perceptive,I think.I can’t believe he picked up on my change in mood just like that.

“I was just thinking how amazing you are, and how I almost lost this chance to get to be with you because of my own insecurity. I need to work on myself,” I confess.

“I don’t want you to think about that anymore,” Noah says, gently brushing a lock of my hair behind my ear. “I understandwhy you did it. And you’re not the only one with things to figure out, Violet. I have my own shit to sort out.”

I shake my head. “I can’t imagine you having anything to sort out, Noah. You’re so together.”

A wry smile passes over his lips. “No, I promise I’m not.”

“Tell me something you’ve never shared with anyone else,” I prompt.

He blinks. “Now?”

“Is it too soon for that kind of question?” I ask. “If it is, please don’t feel like you have to answer it. There’s plenty of time for that later.”

Noah appears to consider this, and the expression on his face is like he’s wrestling with how much he feels like sharing right now.

“Sometimes I get jealous of Camden, but not for the reason you would think,” he says softly. “Do you know what I get jealous of? And then I feel like a shit because I’m envious of my best friend? Sometimes, when I see him looking up at the suite to see Bella, I get jealous.”

“You do?” I ask, curious to know more.

“It’s because he has someone there,” Noah confesses. “I’ve never had anyone come to a Stonebridge United game for me. Or any of my professional games. Even Camden’s parents come over from Canada several times a year to see him play. His brother, too, and he’s an NHL star with a crazy schedule.”

Confusion fills me. How is that possible? His mum lives in Kent, but surely she could make it to Surrey a couple of times a year for him, couldn’t she? I know he said he and his brother aren’t close, but wouldn’t he have gone to some games to support Noah when he began to play on a professional level? At least once?

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