Page 37 of Stop and Seek
Fine, if words weren’t going to work—
He reached over blindly. His hand landed on Theo’s thigh, and he squeezed hard enough to snap him out of whatever fog he was in.
“I don’t know where you live, you druggie,” he mumbled. He half expected Theo to jerk away again.
Instead, Theo melted into it.
Theo’s knee drifted toward the middle console, a shift that sent Noah’s handhigher—and he had to move it back to the wheel before he did something stupid. Like crash the car.
Or pull over just to fuck him.
Focusing was not in the cards tonight.
“What’s with the whole nice guy schtick?” Theo asked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You suck, period.”
Oh, the opportunity was too perfect to pass up.
Noah smirked. “Only if you ask me nicely. I’ve got a five-star rating.”
Theo’s laugh burst out loud and obnoxious, crashing through the cabin with warmth.
It was—jesus, it was so cute it physically hurt.
“I don’t evenwantto know. You look like an action figure. The squeezable ones.”
Then Theo was laughing even harder, and Noah snorted.
If it was meant to be a dig, it didn’t land.
Another reason to keep him.
“I amtryingto be serious,” Theo gasped, hiccuping mid-laugh. “Shut the fuck up.Shut up.”
“You’re the only one talking.”
“Oh my god. Fuck you.”
The conversation was keeping him awake—better than letting the highway lull him into a stupor.
Noah had considered pulling over earlier. Wait out the storm on the side of the road.
But now?
Now he waswired.
Theo finally calmed down, still breathless. “Your taste in music is… it’s special, Noah.”
“You were jamming along too, don’t lie.”
“It’s like, theater kid crap. I’d expect this out of Rachel.”
Who the hell is Rachel?
Noah lowered the volume until the lyrics turned into a gentle buzz. “I can’t believe you’re judging my music taste.”
