Page 115 of Stop and Seek
Whatever. Let her stew.
“That’s not a politically correct term anymore,” he said.
“So? It’s true. Even Benji—Benji—has noticed something is weird with you.”
“Ask me how much I valueBen-Ben’sopinion anymore,” Noah sneered. “Kyran can deal with him. That’s what they’re good at.”
“Thanks for making the point for me. Benji has someone that cares about him. You’re fucking with this guy, Noah. Just because you’re bored. And I’m tired of cleaning up after you.”
Noah hadn’t realize how thin the line in the sand was until Max crossed it.
Something snapped to attention inside him. He leaned over her, slow and deliberate, sticky fingers pressed to the edge of the counter. “Keep talking.”
Max’s throat bobbed. Her voice wobbled. “I... I just... we came here for work, not for you to—to obsess over some damn librarian.”
Librarian?Noah blinked.
That was new.
That’s where he works?
Suddenly the whole “Calvin touching him” thing burned even more. Theo probably craved places with quiet aisles and perfect order. Now he was stuck between sweaty strangers whodidn’t know their place.
No wonder Theo said he didn’t do well around people.
The silence dragged.
“I’m serious, Noah,” Max whispered finally. “You need to leave him alonenow. Right now. That’s an order. I knowexactlywhere this is going.”
Noah knocked his knuckles on the counter, just once, and took a step back. Max’s body visibly relaxed, her shoulders falling.
“Next time you order me around,” he started with a smile. “Maybe make sure it’s as my boss, and not my friend. Might actually work.”
The temptation was way too much. Like,waytoo much.
He was watching Theo, and damn, Theo was watching himback. Not just once. Five times now. Five! Trying to be slick about it like he wasn’t doing it on purpose, but Noah saw him.
Max had wandered off somewhere—good riddance—and Noah was bored of pretending to care about old classmates and their lame stories.
So he just… moved. Couldn’t stop himself. Slipped right through the crowd like it didn’t exist, straight into Theo’s space. He snaked his hand underneath Theo’s hoodie and shirt, dragging his fingers down the warm skin of his lower back. That subtle shiver did something to his dick.
“I’ve been right here the whole time, baby,” he breathed into Theo’s messy hair. “No need to miss me.”
“Fuck you,” Theo laughed, but he didn’t move away—he actually leanedintohim, back pressing right against Noah’s chest. So perfect it made his heart thump stupid hard. “Conceited.”
Noah inhaled deep, nose buried in the spot behind Theo’s ear, where it smelled like coconut and something darker and hotter that made his brain short-circuit. He could do this forever.
“Nah, just truthful,” he mumbled, eyes half-lidded.
And then Calvin opened his mouth and ruinedeverything.
“Noah goddamn Bryant. How you been? It’s been ages.”
Theo tensed. Noah felt it the second it happened and wrapped his arms around him tighter. Possessive. Theo wasn’t going anywhere.
“Never better, man,” Noah said, trying to sound casual, even if he wasn’t. “How’s Keith?”
“He’s good,” Calvin said. “Coaching over at the middle school. We’re all living the dream in Eunice.”
