Pity.
My brain kicked into overdrive to think of a way out of this without hurting his feelings. “Well, it’s a school night.”
“It’s only eight o’clock. We could just grab a drink and hang out at the Student Union. You still like coffee, right?”
“I do…” I trailed off and nibbled on my lower lip. Maybe I just needed to be more direct, while still being nice. But mostly direct.
Unfortunately, all I could do was stand there as uselessly as chopped liver while he gazed at me with his heart on his sleeve.
“Oh. Okay.” Charlie’s eyes dropped when I’d been quiet for far too long. “I get it.”
“No, no. It’s not… no. Listen, Charlie. You’regreat,” I started enthusiastically, and Charlie cringed back against the desk behind him. “No, really! You’re areallyawesome guy.”
Why did that sound so sarcastic?
He avoided my gaze, and I licked my lips while floundering for a better excuse.
“I mean, really. It’s not you.” I gestured toward him, then back at myself. “It’s me—”
Oh God.Shut the hell up, you stupid girl.
Charlie opened his mouth, but his eyes widened as he focused on something over my shoulder. I frowned, thrown off by the change until an arm wrapped around my waist and a broad blazer-covered chest appeared beside me.
“Are you ready to study?” Noah Kincaid’s voice was closer and softer than I’d ever heard it before, and I quickly lost the ability to breathe.
“What?” I choked out. My eyes widened to saucers as I gaped up at him. “Ah. Um, yes? I mean—wait, what?”
My gaze ping-ponged back and forth between the boys before they settled on Charlie’s shocked face, but his eyes were glued to Noah’s arm resting around my waist.
“I’m sorry for making you wait.” Noah gave my hip a gentle squeeze that had my confused heart fumbling for purchase. “Shall we?”
I didn’t understand what was going on, and it must’ve shown on my face.
“I guess I’ll see you around, Emma.” Charlie recovered first and nodded quickly. He swung his bag over his shoulder as I cringed.
I floundered for something to say. “I… Okay. I’m sorry, Charlie…”
“No problem,” he said with a tight smile. And if we were in a Saturday morning cartoon, dust would’ve flown up behind him at the speed he zoomed out the door.
I kind of wished this was a cartoon so I could hit myself over the head with a frying pan without causing permanent brain damage.
Noah’s arm dropped from my waist as Charlie cleared the doorway, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end as reality sank in. Had he just tried to scare Charlie off? I wanted to be angry, but the front-row view of Noah’s feelings on display was sweet karmic payback.
“Just how many students are you getting coffee with?” Noah asked once we were alone.
“One.” I pinched my lips to stop from grinning at him. “But I thought you ‘had plans with a friend’?”
“My plans have changed,” Noah explained simply, as if he hadn’t just staked a claim.
I wetted my lips, unable to resist teasing him a little. “Was that fun for you?”
Noah’s lips parted, and he looked down at me. “Pardon?”
“You just peed all over me in front of Charlie,” I explained while pointing at the empty doorway he’d disappeared through.
The skin between Noah’s brows pinched, clearly not following. “I never… What are you talking about?”
“Your little show. I should be angry with you, you know.” I crossed my arms and wondered why Iwasn’tupset. “You really overstepped a line there—one you had no interest in crossing just a few days ago.”
