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After two weeks of living with Eva, and basically living with the rest of them, I could honestly say I only felt completely comfortable around Noah. I’d known them all for years, except Riley, who was new to the team after D left, but old me would have died before letting any of them see past the confident exterior.
New me didn’t know how to let go of the armor. Noah was the exception only because he’d already seen me at my worst when I propositioned him shortly after my breakup—and he’d rejected me soundly. Couldn’t really get any lower than that despite years of trying.
My bad mood followed me as I blindly trailed the crowd down the halls toward the building’s entrance. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows in the lobby, mocking my foul mood. Today felt like spring, despite the late January chill, but I might as well have been stuck in the frozen tundra.
I barreled out the double doors with my attention on the contents of my tote bag. Why couldn’t they add usable pockets? My sunglasses disappeared into the depths every time I needed them.
Four steps from the exit, I slammed into a warm human wall. Strong hands steadied me as I bounced off a broad chest made entirely of muscle. Fire licked up my neck at the touch, and I knew without looking whose fingers were wrapped around my arms.
Noah frowned down at me, his usual expression where I was concerned. “Are you okay?”
I stepped back and slid on my sunglasses to cover the shock of heat I wasn’t sure I could hide. “Fine. What are you doing here? I promise I don’t need a babysitter to follow me to class.”
He jerked his chin at the building next door. “I’m not here for you. I’m getting coffee then meeting Mac to watch film.”
I glanced over and raised my brows at the giant sign with claw marks slashing through the words Wildcat Coffee. “Don’t you have coffee in your fancy football facility?”
Noah aimed his glare at the people coming out the doors behind me. “Our coffee sucks. Why don’t you come with me?”
The stream of students passing us slowed to a trickle, giving us plenty of space thanks to Noah’s glower.
“How could I refuse such a kind offer?” I smiled sweetly at him, but he shook his head without looking at me. Another wasted expression. “You’re buying.”
A smile flitted across his face, and I was glad I’d donned the sunglasses. My heart picked up at the curl of his lips, not that I’d ever let him see how he affected me after the last disastrous time we’d been alone. “I’ll get you whatever you want if you answer a question for me.”
In general, I didn’t like the 20 Questions game—too much chance to reveal things I didn’t want—but a single question I could do if it came with a hit of caffeine. “You’re on.”
I linked my arm through his, letting him lead me away from the building as body spray guy and his buddy came out the door. I could imagine the harassment I’d receive if they saw me hanging on a football player, so I shifted to hide behind Noah’s giant body.
He didn’t seem to notice, simply accepting my new position slightly in front of him and reaching over my head to open the door for me. The inside of the little coffee shop was just as aggressive as the sign. The walls were painted red, white, and black with paw prints and fake claw marks everywhere.
Most of the tables were filled with people, but I spotted an empty two top as we got in line to order. Despite the garish décor, the place seemed popular, and it smelled fantastic, like good coffee and cinnamon rolls.
Damn. Now I wanted a cinnamon roll.
We made it to the front of the line, and I had to swallow a laugh. The guy taking orders looked like a pissed off professional athlete. He moved with the same grace as my brother and another big guy I strived not to notice on a daily basis—tall, with broad shoulders under a Henley that showed off every muscle in his very nice arms.
His scowl rivaled Noah’s the time last year he’d found me with a guy in D’s room at the apartment, but the best part was someone had plopped a set of fuzzy black cat ears on coffee guy’s head. Crooked. I couldn’t stop staring at them until he cleared his throat.
“What do you want?” His gravelly voice should have been hot—the rest of him certainly was—but with Noah standing next to me like my own personal fantasy, I couldn’t get into it.
“Double shot mocha latte, medium, and a cinnamon roll.” I pointed to the giant roll in the display, just in case.
The guy punched in a couple of buttons and grabbed a cup. “Name?”
“Chloe.”
Noah moved forward to place his order, and I accepted a paper bag with my cinnamon roll from a perky redhead working behind the grumpy hottie. She wore cat ears too, but they didn’t have the same effect on her.
I stuck my face in the bag and inhaled deeply, letting out a happy little moan. Noah stiffened next to me.
“Go find a table,” he growled, shifting away from me to smile at the redhead.
A tiny pang of hurt took away some of the joy I’d gained from the cinnamon roll. I pretended not to hear him tell her how nice her cat ears looked as I strode away with my chin high. If I’d had my coffee, I might have walked right out of the shop.
I’d been dismissed plenty in my life, but it never got any easier. This was why I had a “no dating, no second chances” rule. If I didn’t get too involved, guys couldn’t decide I wasn’t worth the effort and crush me with casual rejections.
Instead of leaving, I grabbed a fork and carried my consolation cinnamon roll to the small empty table in the corner. The seats were a tight fit, and I was curvy enough to be uncomfortable. I couldn’t wait to see Noah try to squeeze himself into the space.
