Page 93 of Stop and Seek
And every time he caught sight of Theo, something in his chest pinched.
He’d look at Theo for two seconds and then force himself to stop.
It was too much.
Theo had been so excited the other day. All lit up. Clapping, screaming, glowing. Noah had hung back in the gym, pretending not to stare like an idiot, pretending it didn’t melt him a little every time Theo smiled.
Now he had to sit andwatchas all of that got stomped out.
He couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
Maybe Max was right. Maybe hewastoo emotionally involved.
But what was he supposed to do? Hit the emergency brakes? Jump off the ride?
That train left the stationhardand Noah had zero regrets.
And Theowasn’tCallie. He wasn’t cruel like she was. Wasn’t manipulative. Wouldn’t lie straight to his face.
Theo was kind and soft.
Theo wasperfect.
“Congratulations!” Kyran’s voice exploded from the crackly PA system, too loud and way too cheerful. “I’ll see my winners back in the gym. To all those still hanging around, I got some more fun announcements for you dolls, too!”
Noah didn’t move.
Max popped her gum and gathered her stuff like nothing had happened, but he just sat there, hands gripping the sides of his phone. His thoughts were loud. Messy.
“Come on slow poke,” Max said, shoving his shoulder. “I wanna be there toseethis go down.”
Maybe—
Maybe Theo was alright. Maybe he’d take it better than Noah was thinking.
Inside the gym, Kyran was still rambling into the mic about prize money, wire transfers, after parties—blah, blah,who cared? Noah didn’t hear a word of it.
Not when he saw Theo.
Crouched against the wall. Soaked in sweat. Head buried in his hands like he was trying not to break apart.
Noah’s chest squeezed tight, something white-hot and awful crawling up his throat. He started toward him on instinct, but Rachel’s glare stopped him cold.
She was already beside him. Hand on his shoulder. Comforting him.
That was supposed to be him.
He stood frozen, fists clenched, watching her lips move while Theo shook his head. When Theo’s hands dropped and he leaned back, the expression on his face wasn’t just hurt or angry—it was something deeper. Something crushed.
Noah hated it. Hatedher. Hated that he’d been too slow.
No. Not this time. He wasn’t just going towatch.
He closed the distance fast, planting himself in front of them. “Are you doing okay?”
“Okay,” Theo echoed, voice dead inside. “No. I’m not fuckingokay. I don’t—I don’t fuckinggetwhat happened.”
Noah sank down onto his heels. “What happened?”
