Page 115 of Forever Relentless

He leaned back slightly in the seat, watching me carefully now. “So what are you saying?” he asked.

“I’m saying . . .” I exhaled, the heat in my cheeks refusing to fade. “That the kiss was a mistake if it means we suddenly skip the part where both of us stop thinking like adults.”

His mouth curved faintly, but there was no mockery in it. “You didn’t look like you thought it was a mistake.”

“That’s not the point,” I shot back. A hush settled between us, quieter now, less electric, yet still charged with everything left unsaid. “We have enough going on already,” I said finally. “Your world, my world, Mason, the investigation, you just got benched — take your pick. The last thing we need is adding sex into the mix.”

Noah studied me for a moment longer, then gave a slow nod. “Okay.”

Just like that. No argument. No pushback.

Which somehow made it harder. He hadn’t argued because he didn’t need to. I’d said no tonight. Noah had heard that, and nothing else.

I opened the car door before I could rethink it and stepped out into the cool evening air. The heat in my face finally started to fade as I walked a few steps from the car.

Noah silently got out of the passenger seat. I turned as he slid into the driver’s side of Dustin’s car.

He gave me a nod and then put the car in reverse and drove out. He waited for me to get back in my car.

I started the engine, relieved it started, and gripped the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary as he pulled out of the lot, and I followed behind.

There was no flirty phone call this time, and the silence felt louder. Lonelier. As we entered campus, he turned off ahead of me, and I kept driving to my usual car parking spot.

He hadn’t looked back.

And somehow, the kiss we’d shared felt even more dangerous because of it.

Chapter 23

Noah

They were both waiting for me when I got back to the dorm room.

“What’s going on?” I asked as I closed the door.

“You got benched,” Dante said flatly.

“I know.” I headed to my room. “I heard him along with the rest of the stadium.”

“Don’t you want to talk about it?” Dustin asked as I opened my bedroom door.

“No.” I dug into my pocket and tossed him his car keys. “Thanks.” I closed the door behind me and kicked off my shoes. I was pulling off my hoodie when they walked into my bedroom. “You know my actual little brother wasn’t this fucking annoying.”

I met the QB’s cool gaze.

“What?” I tossed my hoodie onto my bed. “What?” I asked more sharply this time. “I don’t need your lecture. I don’t want your lecture. I just want to take a shower.”

“I don’t want to give you a lecture,” Dante told me as he sat on my bed. “I want to know how you are.”

“I am living my best life.”

Dustin leaned against the wall. “I had it covered.”

“I’m sure you did.” I looked between them. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I pulled out the chair from my desk. “Get on with it. If it makes you feel better, let it out.”

“Do you want to talk about why you’re so agitated?” Dante asked instead.

“You are the reason I’m agitated.”