Page 98 of Teacher's Pet

The screen glows on the nightstand, vibrating relentlessly.

A chill creeps into my spine as I pick it up.

The screen is flooded with messages.

Megan.

Elijah.

Their texts are everywhere, the emotions tangled. Panic, anger, and confusion.

But it’s Megan’s latest message that makes my stomach drop into freefall.

Tell me Cole is lying. Tell me you wouldn't sleep with a teacher.

My blood turns ice cold.

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

A sharp, furious voice drags me back to the present.

"What the hell do you want?"

Noah’s tone is deadly, thick with rage and something darker.

Beyond the door, Walker’s presence lingers like a storm cloud, his words just muffled enough to spike my anxiety.

The walls are closing in.

A slow, smug stride carries Walker into Noah’s apartment.

My breath stills, my grip tightening on the doorframe as I watch from the narrow gap.

What the hell is he doing?

"Heard some commotion in the hallway last night between Ana and her roommate," Walker muses, his voice dripping with false concern. "I hope it didn't keep you up."

The casual tone is too calculated.

Noah doesn’t flinch. His body is all coiled restraint, his jaw tight, but his expression?

Cold. Indifferent. Dangerous.

"She's not here," he lies smoothly. "Whatever you think is happening between Ana and me is bred by your own delusions. No one came over last night. Some of us have fucking jobs we have to wake up early for."

My stomach twists.

Walker knows.

How? When the hell did he put this together?

Walker tilts his head, a lazy smirk creeping up his face.

"You know, it's funny," he drawls. "Cole... you know Cole, Ana’s ex? He could have sworn he saw her slip into your apartment last night. Now, given our little talk, I figured you would know better-"

Noah takes a slow, measured step forward.

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