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“Good. What time should we pick you up?”
He shakes his head, and then a tense expression builds along his brow. “I’m gonna call Nate. Have him come get me and take me back to the beach house.”
“What, why?”
“I have to take it easy for two weeks, Ari, pretty much lie in bed, and I can’t do that in the football house.”
“Stay here, I can help.”
“You have class and we have an entire house unoccupied. I’m going to sleep and lie on my ass. Lolli and Nate are around, Parker and Kenra too. Payton. If I need something, they’ll be there.”
I glare but nod. I say okay when, really, I want to argue, and he knows it, which is why a small grin covers his lips.
“Ari.”
“It’s fine.” I shrug, sniffling. “But if you don’t answer my calls, one call, Mase, I’m driving there, I swear.”
“Deal.” His expression grows tender, and he sighs, dropping his head back when his eyes begin to cloud over.
My heart breaks for him.
“Mase—”
“Love you guys,” he cuts me off.
“Love you.”
“Call you later.” He looks to the man again. “Hang up.”
My entire body sags as the call ends and I toss the phone on the counter, burying my face in my hands. “Jesus fucking Christ.”
Someone’s hand falls to my back, rubbing soft circles.
“Are we sure he’s okay?” Cameron worries.
“He’s Mason,” Brady says. “This is exactly what I’d expect from him in this situation.”
I look over, and Chase is right beside me. He nods, agreeing.
“You want us to stay?” he asks, his tone wishful.
But I shake my head with a sigh. “You guys go home, you look like you slept as much as we did.”
“Are you sure?” His voice lowers, but I only nod, and the hand on my back, his hand, falls to his side.
The boys bend, grabbing their bags off the ground, and face us again.
Cameron looks to me. “Trey just texted… do you want me to stay or…” She glances toward Noah.
“Go. I’m good now.” I nod, wiping at my left eye in exhaustion. I look behind me to Noah, who has moved several feet away, now leaning against the wall. I turn to him and he pushes off, slowly coming closer. I meet him halfway and he reaches up, brushing my hair behind my ear.
He stares, his blue eyes sick with worry, and so I nod, my hand coming up to squeeze his wrist briefly.
I’m okay now, swear.
He gives a curt jerk of his chin.
“Thank you.” My voice cracks.
Noah shakes his head, unwilling to accept because, in his mind, he didn’t do this to be thanked, he did it because he knew I needed it and he was able to give that to me.
“We’re gonna head home, girls.”
I glance at them, nodding.
Chase stares straight ahead as he walks out the door, and Brady salutes Noah in thanks.
“Call me later, Ari Baby.” He pins me with a stern expression.
“I will.” I hug Cameron quickly and she closes the door with her exit.
The moment they’re gone, I face Noah, and my emotions win again.
Tears fall, so I spin away, pressing my fingers against my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, trying to swallow back the cry working its way up my throat.
“Don’t apologize and don’t hide from me.” He steps around, pulling me into his chest. “What am I good for if not to hold you when you need to be held?”
“I can think of a few things,” I cry, chuckling through my tears when he does. Sighing, I look up at him. “I’m just worried. Mason isn’t Mason without football and his trying not to make us worry only means there’s something to worry about.”
The pads of his thumbs come up, and he gently swipes them under my eyes. “Maybe he needs a couple days to be angry and come to terms with it?”
I nod, tipping my chin to kiss his hand.
The corner of Noah’s mouth lifts and I blow out a deep breath.
He presses his forehead to mine. “You texted me all through the night. Did you sleep at all?”
I shrug. “I remember the sun coming up and then the boys were knocking at my door.”
His strong, warm palms cup my cheeks. “You should try to get some sleep.” He releases me, stepping back to grab his phone and pushes it into his pocket.
I follow him to the door, and he faces me as he grips the handle. “Call me when you wake up? I can come make you something, bring coffee…”
He twists the knob, pulling it open, but I catch it by the lock before it’s fully free of the frame, and Noah’s eyes snap to mine.
My chest constricts as I slide my hand lower, until I’m covering his, and I free it from the cool metal.
A slight frown forms along Noah’s brows, but he doesn’t argue when I push the door closed, the click of the lock the only sound to be heard.
