Page 70 of Forever Relentless

“Are we still talking about social media?”

Noah gave me a flat stare. “And I’m the child?”

Okay, I may have deserved that. “What are you asking?”

“I need your help. I need to be like them. I just . . . am not.”

I shifted my weight as I considered his question. “You want me to help you build your social media presence?”

I stared at him. Social media advice? That was either painfully genuine or the smoothest excuse for continued contact I’d ever heard.

“Yeah.”

“And this isn’t a weird way of asking me out?”

“Wow, you’re that girl? I don’t think I like it.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “No. I’m not asking you out.”

Well, that left no room for interpretation, did it? I tried not to let my reaction to such brutal rejection show. I licked my lips as I considered what he said. He had a valid point. The more visible the players were, the harder it would be for the administration to get rid of them.

“You have zero social media game,” I told him bluntly.

“Yeah, I know.”

“Like . . . my mother has more presence than you do.”

“She’s hot.”

I laughed before I could stop myself, then realized he was serious. “Ew, you cannot say that about my mom!”

“Why?” Noah grinned. “She is hot.”

“She’s my mom.”

“So?” He didn’t hide his amusement. “I’m not dating you. I can look at whoever I want.”

“Yeah, that’s too much information.” But I was smiling, and I saw the small curl of his upper lip, which made me smile wider. “I will help you with your social media marketing if you promise never to mention my mom and her hotness again.”

“Done.”

I gave him a look of consideration. “For real?”

“Cross my heart and hope to die.”

“Yeah, well, be careful what you wish for,” I teased him. I was teasing him now? “I get any more of your shit, and you may be achieving your hope sooner than you think.”

Noah chuckled and then checked his watch. “I need to go, some of us have classes.”

And some of us had jobs! I checked my watch. “Shit. I’m so late for work.” I abandoned my need for coffee and didn’t hear what he called after me as I shouted, “See you later.”

Gaby didn’t look up as I hurried into the office, and I sat down at my desk, praying my breathing wasn’t as rattled as I feared.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I saw I had a new message.

Matthews: Never had anyone literally run from me like that. It’s quite demoralizing.

I grinned.

Me: You sure? I bet there’s more than me who’s run from you