“Huh. Can you spell that for me?”
I snort, clapping Evan on the shoulder a second time. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Heading out of the lounge, I walk past the spiral stairs that lead up to the mezzanine. Lila is up there right now, alone in her room working whatever magic she can to save our skin.
But honestly, all I can think about isherskin. Her satin smooth inner thighs brushing against my jaw, my neck, my shoulders. The sounds she made when I swirled my tongue over her…
Clearing my throat so loudly that it echoes and causes at least three people to jump, I detour down to the gym.
As expected, I find Noah there, punching a heavy bag so hard that the chain rattles with all the fervor of a prisoner attempting escape. He’s shirtless, coated in sweat, and out of breath to the degree that I wonder how long he’s been at this.
When I glance over at Rita questioningly, she offers me a wordless shrug and continues her bicep curls.
I head over to Noah. His gaze flicks to mine in the mirror stretched across the wall nearby, but then he quickly turns his attention back to the bag.
“Captain,” he greets me before throwing a flawless left-right-right jab.
“That bag do something to you?”
“Hmph.” Right-left-left.
“You know, that apology you gave was more than enough, especially with the father of that boy defending you so hard.”
“Mmhmm.” Left-right-left.
“Plus, Sandy and Clara were good to take partial responsibility. You’re a rookie, but they definitely should have known better.”
“Doesn’t change the fact thatI’mthe one who screwed up. Again.”
“You made a mistake.”
“I’m a liability.”
I scoff. “You’re an asset, Trent.”
Noah slams both of his fists into the bag, halting it from swinging back toward him too forcefully. I watched as he presses his forehead to it, closing his eyes as he tries to catch his breath.
“You should stop making excuses for me, Cap.”
“Well, it’s not your job to be telling me what I should be doing, is it?”
Nobody is acting the way they usually do. There’s no cheeky grin on Noah’s face, no boyish dimple popping out as he delivers a not-so-witty remark.
“Guess not,” he mutters, pushing away from the bag. He yanks off his gloves and tosses them onto the mat before dropping down beside them and flopping onto his back, chest still heaving.
Letting out a sigh, I sink down onto the mat nearby, resting back on my hands.
“You made your mistakes for the right reasons,” I tell him. “That’s how I see it. You’re the type of guy who just wants to bring joy to people, and even though I can’t relate to that plight, I can’t fault you for it. You were just trying to help, Trent. Even when your brain misfires, your heart is always in the right place.”
“Put that on a greeting card, Cap.”
“I’m just telling you to stop beating yourself up. Because if you push yourself too hard, it’s going to make you sloppy when it matters most, andthat’swhat will make you a liability.”
Noah glares up at the ceiling, his breath gradually slowing down. “Aye-aye.”
“And cut the attitude while you’re at it.”
He huffs out a humorless laugh. “Sorry.”
