Page 15 of No Save Point

Cassie snorts. “Yeah, well, you had her shocked.”

I glare at her. “Literally nobody asked you.”

She waves me off, laser-focused on Carter. “I mean, come on. You have to know you’re hot.”

I choke on my drink. Carter just leans back in his chair, the picture of ease, like this is all very normal for him. He lifts his cup, taking a slow sip before tilting his head slightly in my direction. “What do you think, sweetheart?”

My soul leaves my body.

Cassie gasps dramatically, clutching her chest. “Oh my god, you flirt like that in person too?”

Carter just grins, completely unbothered by the fact that I am currently experiencing cardiac arrest. I force down my embarrassment, glaring at both of them. “I think,” I say pointedly, “that we should talk about literally anything else.”

Cassie laughs, but lets up, barely. Carter? He just sips his coffee, like he’s winning some game I didn’t even know we were playing.

6

Carter

Haven is even prettier in person. I should have expected it, but it still hits me sideways sitting across from her like this, watching the way she moves, how she tucks a loose strand of long brunette hair behind her ear, how her light hazel eyes light up when she talks, how she gestures with her hands when she gets excited about something.

She’s smaller than I pictured. I knew she was short, but seeing her curled into her chair, barely reaching the edge of the table compared to me? It’s different. It makes me hyperaware of how much space I take up, how much bigger I am than her. I’m still processing that, still trying to drink her in without being obvious, when she turns to Cassie, her expression shifting into full dramatic flair.

“This is, without a doubt, the best iced coffee I’ve ever had,” she declares, lifting the cup like she’s making a toast. “It has officially ruined me for all other coffee.”

Cassie rolls her eyes over the rim of her own drink. “So, you’re saying I was wrong to make you try something new.”

Haven groans. “Don’t make this about you.”

I watch them, amused, sipping my coffee while Haven mutters something under her breath about Cassie being intolerable. Maybe I’d keep enjoying this, keep soaking in the way she leans into their banter so effortlessly, but then… out of the corner of my eye, I see movement through the window. And just like that, my entire body goes tense. Tate. Standing outside the café. Right by the curb, leaning against a streetlamp like he’s got all the time in the world, and isn’t in the middle of some calculated move.

Shit. He’s watching, waiting. I don’t know what his next move is, but I do know one thing. I need to get Haven out of here before he makes it for me. I don’t know what he’s planning. That’s the problem.

I turn my gaze back to Haven, who’s still completely unaware, still talking to Cassie about the flavor notes in her drink like she’s a coffee connoisseur instead of someone who lives off energy drinks.

I clear my throat, pushing back from the table in what I hope looks like a casual stretch. “So,” I say, standing up, keeping my tone as easy as possible. “What’s next? You guys wanna check out more of the town?”

Haven looks up at me, blinking in confusion. “We just got our drinks.”

Shit. Okay, adjust the plan. I gesture toward the counter. “We can take them to go.”

Cassie tilts her head, eyeing me suspiciously. “You in a rush or something?”

Yes. Absolutely. Because my brother is right outside, probably deciding whether he wants to reveal himself or keep playing this sick little game where he lurks around and watches from a distance. But I can’t say that, so instead I force a grin, pretending like I’m not actively suppressing the urge to drag Haven out of here immediately.

“Nah, just figured I could show you more than a coffee shop,” I say, shrugging like it’s no big deal. “Unless you guys wanna sit here all night.”

Haven considers that, sipping her drink slowly, thoughtfully, like she’s making me sweat on purpose. I try not to look out the window again.

Cassie, however, is still suspicious as hell. She narrows her eyes, and I can almost see the gears turning in her head, trying to figure out why I suddenly want to move them out of this public place. Before she can say anything else, Haven saves me. She sighs, stretching her arms over her head. “Alright, we can go.”

Relief floods my chest. I nod, too quickly, already turning toward the counter. “Cool, let’s get lids.”

Cassie mutters something about me being weird, but I ignore it, moving fast, my body coiled tight with the urgency to get out before Tate decides to step inside. Because if he does and Haven sees him? Everything I’ve been trying to control just goes up in flames.

Once we’re back in my car, the tension I’ve been carrying starts to ease—but only slightly. Tate didn’t follow us. At least, not that I can see.

But that doesn’t mean he’s done playing whatever bullshit game he’s set up for himself. I exhale slowly, flexing my fingers around the steering wheel as Haven clicks her seatbelt into place. Cassie’s in the back, already adjusting the air vent toward her like she’s reclaiming her space.

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