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Chapter 22
Brett
I don’t know what to think about Marc and the fact that he’s fixing games. I want to march up to his room, punch him in the face, and ask him what the fuck he thinks he’s doing. How can he throw his life away like that? He’s about to get married, and he’s jeopardizing it all before it’s even started.
But it’s not my fucking problem. I’m not going to be the one to blow the whistle, and I’m not going to be the asshole to fuck up what he’s got with Stacey. I’ve been envious of the kind of relationship they have for years now.
I drive to the airport, park, and wait for the passengers to stream out like ants. When Noah appears, I wave at him.
He grins that cocky smile at me and saunters over.
“Hey, man,” he says, and we hug, clapping each other on the back. “It’s been too fucking long.”
I nod. “It’s a sin.”
Noah looks good. He’s clean-shaven, his blond hair shorter than it’s been before, and he looks happy and put-together. When I saw him last, he was going through a rough patch.
“How are things at the hotel?” Noah asks.
“Ridiculous,” I say. “Laura is on the warpath, the girls are coming undone, Marc decided to take a drive just to get away from it all, and the staff keeps fucking up.”
Noah whistles through his teeth. “Sounds intense.”
“That’s why I’m taking you to a pub, and we’re drinking until they can behave,” I say.
Noah grins. “That sounds like the right thing to do.”
I nod, and he puts his luggage in my trunk before climbing into the passenger seat. I lied through my teeth about all of it. Aside from Laura checking everyone with a hawk’s eye, and Jenna running around making sure it’s all getting done, there’s not much going on at the hotel.
But I don’t want Noah there for as long as I can help it. I want to keep him far away from Jenna. Because the moment he sees her, he’ll flip, and if he finds out we’re seeing each other…
“You’ll love this pub,” I say to him, and I start telling him all about the bachelor’s party we ended up having there. It’s safe to talk about that night because none of the girls were around.
Noah listens intently, laughing and whistling at the right places.
When I’m done, he shakes his head. “Sounds like a blast, man. I think I missed out. I should have pushed my leave, after all.”
“It wasn’t all that,” I say and shrug. “Besides, you’re here for the game, and that’s what matters.”
Noah nods. He stepped in last moment for Luke, one of Marc’s teammates, who fell out due to an injury that held him back from the game, too. I was the one to suggest Marc ask Noah since we studied together, but I can kick myself for that now.
“So, what’s life like back home?” I ask, turning the conversation to Noah. “Are you going to take the next step with…what’s her name? Nicole? Nikita?”
“Natalie,” Noah says and shakes his head with a grin. “Not really. I don’t think I’m the guy for her. She’s smoking hot and a lot of fun but she wants something I can’t give her.”
“What?”
“True love, or something. She wants the shit in movies and I can’t give her that. It’s not what real life is like.”
“Women are full of shit,” I say, nodding. “They think they’re all Disney Princesses and they all deserve Prince Charming when we’re…I can’t think of something, but not that.”
Noah laughs. “That’s just the thing. I don’t think it will last, so I’m not going to keep pushing it.”
“You’ll find someone.”
Noah raises his eyebrows. “That’s a new line, coming from you.”
“Yeah?” I frown.
