Page 43 of They All Puck Me

“Noah! We need to talk.”

He looks up, brow furrowing. “What’s up?”

“Outside. Now.” My voice leaves no room for argument.

Noah follows me out to the hallway, his expression shifting from curiosity to concern. As soon as the door swings shut behind us, I round on him.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I demand.

“What are you talking about?” He crosses his arms, trying to play it cool, but I see the tension in his jaw.

“What happened between you and Olivia,” I snap. “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

Noah’s eyes widen slightly before narrowing. “I'm sorry, did I miss the part where you told me you were seeing her?”

My fists clench at my sides. “I shouldn't have too.”

“Oh really? And why is that, Liam? Because you’re the captain and think you can call dibs on whoever you want? That she wouldn't want anyone besides you?”

“That’s not?—”

“No, let me finish,” Noah interrupts, stepping closer. “You’ve been acting like a goddamn hypocrite. One minute you’re all about team unity and focus, and the next you’re making moves on Olivia like she’s some trophy.”

“Watch your mouth,” I growl, my anger bubbling over. “You don’t know what you're talking about.”

“Don’t I?” Noah fires back. “Maybe you should look in a mirror before accusing me of anything.”

The hallway door opens and some of our teammates file out, their chatter dying as they take in the scene unfolding before them. Colt nudges Ethan, who’s standing nearby with a smirk.

I ignore them all, my focus locked on Noah. “You went behind my back,” I accuse.

“And what about you?” he counters. “You can't tell me something didn't happen between you two, right after coach told us to keep things professional?”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. The room goes silent as everyone absorbs Noah's revelation.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I repeat weakly.

“Don’t I?” he says again, this time softer but no less intense.

Our teammates exchange uneasy glances but stay rooted in place, not daring to intervene.

“You betrayed our friendship,” I say through gritted teeth.

Noah steps closer until we’re practically nose-to-nose. “If you're going to let blurred lines destroy a friendship, then it wasn't the friendship I thought it was in the first fucking place.”

For a moment, we just stand there, breathing heavily and glaring at each other like bulls ready to charge. Then Ethan’s voice cuts through the tension like a blade.

“This is entertaining and all,” he drawls sarcastically, “but maybe you two should go get some midol and call it a day.”

I tear my gaze away from Noah long enough to see Ethan leaning against the wall with that damn smug expression.

“Stay out of this,” Noah snaps at him.

Ethan raises his hands in mock surrender. “Just saying.”

I turn back to Noah, my anger still simmering but tempered by exhaustion. “This isn’t over,” I warn him.

“Damn right it isn’t,” he replies coldly before turning on his heel and walking away.

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