“You moving?” I ask.
He smiles, his eyes softening.
“Yeah, Lily sold the house, so we’re all moving in together. Just makes more sense, you know.”
I smile. “I’m so fucking happy for you, man.” And I mean that, I really am. After everything he’s been through, he deserves to be happy, and Lily and the guys all bring him that.
He cups the back of his neck, his cheeks heating. “Yeah, me too.”
I pull up the app on my phone to request a cab.
Time to suck it up, go home, and break the news to the two most important people in my entire existence.
Chapter Fifteen
CALEB
To say I am fucking furious is an understatement.
Noah has been withdrawn for the past few weeks, but I didn’t want to push, even though everything in me demanded that I did. I was sure he’d tell us what was plaguing him when he was ready, but then he didn’t come home last night, even after a few calls and text messages.
Eventually, I gave in and checked the tracker app. Like me, he has a tracker on his watch.
I saw that he was at Elliot’s. I had mixed feelings about it, and then I got a message from Elliot saying he was there. Something about that stemmed my anger, but only a fraction. I’m still a jealous bastard when it comes to Noah and Jessica.
But I know that Noah would never do anything to jeopardise what we have.
The fact that Elliot was reaching out told me something was wrong. I can’t even explain. I just have this foreboding feeling.
I’m pacing the kitchen when I hear the sound of the front door and pause as I listen for familiar footsteps as they approach.
Aspen bounds off down the hall, and I can hear Noah saying hello to her as he rounds the corner, his eyes connecting with mine. His eyes are bloodshot—tired. Further confirming my fears that something is wrong. Seriously fucking wrong.
As much as I want to rip him a new one, my instincts tell me to hold my tongue, so without a word, I stalk towards him, my hand reaching for the back of his neck in a tight grip.
I can smell the alcohol on his breath, mixed with the faint scent of coffee, but I ignore it in favour of a kiss. He goes rigid for a second, but then he kisses me back. As much as I want to devour him and prove to myself that everything is perfectly fine, that isn’t going to happen. His entire body is taut with tension.
“What’s wrong?” I whisper against his lips.
He sucks in a hard breath.“There’s something I need to tell you and Jessica.”
Somethingabout the way he says those words sends forebodingthrough my entire being, and I swear it makes my heart lurch.
“What is it?” I ask.
Shaking his head, he steps back, and I let go of his neck.
“Where’s Jessica?”
I sense her before she speaks. “I’m right here,” she says, stepping up to him, her hair still damp from being fresh out of the shower. She cups his cheek and leans in for a sweet kiss.
“Noah?” she asks, pulling back.
I automatically reach for her hand and grip his shoulder, giving it a squeeze, needing to be connected to them both.
Something tells me this moment is significant, and whatever it is, he’s about to tell us.
“Let’s go sit down,” he suggests.
