Page 104 of Echoes of Us

They started talking about the server on Chase’s team, and I glanced over at Noah. He had a beer in his hand and was talking to David with a frown on his face. David said something, and Noah handed him his beer and placed his hands in his pockets. It actually did feel nice to see him get worked up over that, even though I’d told him a million times I wasn’t into Chase anymore and that he couldn’t possibly be into me.

The club’s lights flashed, and the bass pounded, echoing the chaos inside me. Noah’s nervous smiles, his frowns, the way his eyes lingered on me—it was all a reminder of the mess we were still in. I downed another shot, trying to drown out the confusion. When I glanced at Noah again, our eyes met, and a silent question hung between us. For a second, it felt like the world disappeared, leaving just the two of us in that crowded room. Then I blinked, breaking the spell, and turned back to Chase, determined to lose myself in the night and forget, even if just for a little while.

The longer the night went on, the more everyone drank. I tried my best to avoid too many shots and stuck to nursing a beer. Chase and Ezra, already deep into their cups, swayed together on the dance floor, their laughter breaking through the pulsing beats. I sat with Colin at the table as I watched the team slowly disperse, including Noah and David.

A while later, needing a break, I stumbled towards the bathroom. It was there I realized I was tipsier than I thought, the room swaying slightly as I tried to balance myself throughthe crowd. I fell into step behind Noah and David without meaning to. Noah was talking to a girl standing beside him.

“Sorry, I’m not interested,” he said loudly over the music.

The girl shot him a glance and started to walk away, her disappointment evident.

“Sorry,” he called after her, while David laughed. “That’s horrible. How do you do that nicely?” he asked David, scratching the back of his neck.

“Not like that,” David replied with a chortle.

“Shit, this is so fucking uncomfortable,” Noah muttered, glancing around the room.

“Are you going to take off?” David asked.

Noah’s eyes were still scanning the crowd. “Not right now. Maybe it’ll get better.”

The music was so loud, it was hard to listen…not that I was trying to. A girl pushed into me, and I apologized, the words barely audible over the pounding bass. David glanced back and noticed me, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

“I’ll be a wreck at home thinking about them. At least here, I know it hasn’t happened yet,” Noah called back.

“Hi, Atticus,” David shouted.

A flush crept up my neck.

“Yeah, funny. I know I’m being a creep,” Noah said, still facing away, his shoulders slumping slightly.

David glanced at Noah and then towards me. Noah turned and spotted me, his eyes widening slightly, a flicker of something—regret, maybe?—crossing his face.

“Hi.” My voice was almost drowned out by the music.

Noah looked like he wanted to disappear. It’s not like I knew what he had been talking about. Though if he was talking about me just now, was he actually upset about Chase?

“Hey,” he mumbled, turning back to David.

“Sorry, I was just—” I pointed towards the table.

David dipped his head at me, and I moved past them. Christ, that had been awkward. I almost reached the table, but before I did, someone grabbed my hand and led me into the crowd. It was Chase. He was still with Ezra and a couple of girls.

“Ladies, meet the star of the night. Don’t get too excited. I know he’s hot, but he’s gay as a whistle.”

I rolled my eyes at him. I nodded at them with a half-smile, feeling their curious eyes on me.

“You should celebrate, Att,” Ezra said, handing me another shot.

I took it in my hand and felt Chase grab my arm and pull it over his shoulders.

I gave him an exasperated look while drinking. “Could you knock it off?” I asked him, annoyed by his antics.

“Noah’s fucking pissed. He deserves that, Att. He dumped you.” He leaned close so I could hear him over the roar of the music.

“I’m not that mad anymore.”

“So, he can get off with the entire population, but you can’t fool around with your high school crush?” His tone was incredulous.

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