Page 25 of Stop and Seek
Why do you sound familiar?
Noah’s grip loosened, fingers still tangled in fabric. Not a suit jacket. Heavier. Thicker. More hoodie or flannel than business. It didn’t make sense to wear that in 90-degree heat while he was dying in a damn tank top.
“Holy shit,” the guy wheezed. “You can’tgrabthe hiders. Isn’t that still against the rules?”
The shock hadn’t settled when the guy spun around, and Noah was face-to-face with a pair of oversized glasses.
“Get.Off,” dude repeated through clenched teeth, breath hot with beer and mint.
Noah let go, lifting his hands in mock surrender.
“My bad. I thought you were someone else.”
That glare didn’t falter as the guy ran his hands through his hair, sweat pouring down his face. “Yeah, no shit Sherlock. Figured that part out.Oh my god.”
“I said I wassorry.”
Noah kept his hands raised, and the guy seemed to calm down—a deer caught in headlights. More scared than violent.
His eyes dropped down to the hoodie and heavy jeans; the only people who’d wear that getup were psychopaths or masochists.
If he focused, he could read the name tag:Theodore Lambert.
“You’re not gonna tap me out or whatever?”
“You want me to?” Noah asked. “You don’t have to be here if you don’t want to, Teddy.”
He’d screwed up—no question about it—and nearly pounded the wrong guy’s face into the ground.
But this was a different type of fun.
“Theo. T-H-E-O. I’m here for the money, you dick.”
Noah’s eyebrow raised and his grin slid back into place. “If you’re playing, then go. I’ll pretend this never happened.”
Theo was already stepping away. “You planning on strangling me again?”
“Oh, come on. I barely touched you!”
“Gofuckyourself, Noah,” Theo spat. “That shit hurt.”
He looked even more cautious—terrifieddespite all the fake bravery.
Noah shifted his foot forward.
Theo didn’twait. He turned and bolted, sneakers loud as he disappeared into the dark.
Doubling over, Noah couldn’t stop laughing. Even if it hurt like hell.
That’s who you are.
He hadn’t been sure at first, but that determinedfuck yourself?Told himeverythinghe needed to know.
Bathroom guy!
Fate hadn’t forgotten about Noah after all.
And he knew exactly who to ask to figure out who Mister Theodore Lambert was.
