Page 93 of The Rogue

Tessa shifts, sitting straighter against the back wall. “Sure, technically, I am living there. For a few more weeks.”

“You just got here. You’re leaving already?” Charlie pouts.

Tessa shrugs as if to say, 'What other choice do I have?'.

I want to give her that choice. I want Jackson and I to be that one choice.

“Oh, we got you something.” Charlie claps, twisting the mood. She does that well.

“That’s right. Oh my god, I almost forgot.” Pepper sits up, snatching a small gift bag from a nook under the counter.

From my distant, hazy view, I watch Tessa take it with something that looks like hesitation. It’s a small box about the size of a phone case.

“Wait, this is…a phone? Like a real phone?”

Charlie nods happily. “We noticed yours sitting on the counter the other day was cracked. And that sucks. So we got you a new one and…bedazzled it.”

Tessa twists it in her hand. “That’s…wow. This…I’m not sure what this is,” she breathes, making me swallow hard for her.

“It’s a gift from your besties and you can’t refuse it.”

“Besties,” she repeats like it’s a foreign word.

Pepper waves a hand toward the box. “We didn’t do any of the technical stuff, but I’d bet Jackson could get you all set up and running on it. That kid’s going to be a tech genius.”

She chuckles softly. “I bet he can. Thank you.”

“Ooh, are we spying? Turn it up,” Chase calls from behind us.

I push off my seat when I realize how right my little brother is. “Shut it off. It works. They’re safe and still at the store.”

Chase takes my seat next to Noah. I move about the living room, feeling uncomfortable. Voices are muffled as the conversation shifts.

Pepper's voice comes on. “Chase has got a huge—”

“Whoa, turn it down,” Chase cuts in.

“Ego. I swear he thinks he’s the king of the earth rather than just on the ice.”

Chase chuckles. “She loves my ego.”

Charlie’s voice comes on next. “You guys are cute. Always thought so. But you’re so right. Hard to believe that boy could love anyone more than himself.”

“Chase? I thinkNoahis the real phenomena here,” Pepper argues.

Noah shakes his head with an eye roll but watches the screen like he’s waiting for his girl’s rebuttal.

“The only thing Noah did that was not Noah-like is take in all my parents' belongings into his home, keeping them for me. Other than that, nothing surprised me. You guys forget we used to be best friends. He’s got a tough exterior, but he’s a softy when it comes to important things.

“When it comes to you,” Noah mutters like we’re not in the room.

“Guys. That’s enough. Shut it off.” My voice is firm, but they don’t give two shits.

“What about you, Tessa?” Charlie asks.

Noah and Chase perk a brow in my direction. “Still want to shut it off?”

I don’t reply. My hands are tight on my hips as I pace.

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