Kevin chuckles low, rubbing his jaw.
“You feel better?” he pants.
“Not even close.” I breathe hard, flexing my sore hand open and shut.
“Well, let me make it simple for you. You tell Brad about this, I’ll tell your mom all about you two.”
My brows knit, as my brain thinks about that. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would.”
I shake my head. “Why? Isn’t Brad supposed to be your best friend? Why would you do this to him?”
Kevin's evil grin slips away, leaving something more deep behind. He stands up straight. “She deserves a hell of a lot better than what he gives her. He doesn’tloveher. Hell, you know it better than anyone.”
I narrow my eyes. “Wait…youloveher?” I huff out a laugh. “Oh, you poor bastard.”
“Sometimes…the wrong set of people meet first,” he says, backing up towards the office. “Do the right thing, Noah.”
I watch as he re-enters the building. A sickness stirs in my gut just knowing he’s in there with my mother. How long have they been doingthis? Am I even mad at her for doing it knowing everything I’ve done with Brad?
I get into the car and take a deep breath, burying my face in my hands.
I want to tell Brad. I need to. But if I do, and he freaks out and tells my mom—our secret is out. I may be ready to deal with the consequences of that… but, is he?
There’s only one person who knows that answer for sure.
After a long moment of deep thoughts. I take out my phone, swiping through a long line of unanswered text messages to send one of my own.
We need to talk.
40
Brad
The moment I hear one knock against the door, I’m flying across the room.
I swing the door open so hard it slams against the wall—and then I’m all over him, arms locking around him before I can even breathe.
“Jesus, Noah.” I bury my face in his neck. “I was so scared I lost you again,” I say breathlessly as I kiss the side of his face. My lips have a mind of their own as I cover him in soft pecks, all the way to his mouth.
Relief hits me the moment I can feel him melt into me. Drinking in his soft moans against my lips, I close the door behind him.
“Brad,” he softly murmurs. “We need to talk.” He gently lays a hand on my chest, pushing us apart.
“Yeah, we’re doing that.” I smile, biting at his neck. I grab ahold of his hand and turn towards the staircase. “Come on, let me show you upstairs.”
But, Noah doesn’t move. His feet stick to the ground, urging me to stop.
My heart drops to my stomach once I turn back and see his face.
Something’s tormenting him. He’s upset.
I rush in, taking his face in my hands. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.” I brush his hair out of his eyes so I can really see him.
“I need to tell you something that’s really going to suck.” Noah licks his lips. That’s when Ireallyfocus.
I pinch his chin, taking in the faint bruising along his jawline. I can see now that his bottom lip is puffy and red.
