Noah finally looks at him — not irritated, not angry. Just calm. Calm like a warning before a storm. “I do, actually.”
River blinks. “Seriously?”
“Dead serious.”
“I’m not trying to start something,” River says, his voice dipping lower, confused and annoyed. “I just figured?—”
Noah cuts him off with a tilt of his head. “You figured you went on one date and that makes you special?”
River flinches slightly but covers it with a snort. “Isobel and I are talking. I didn’t realize she had to check in with you now.”
“She doesn’t,” Noah replies, still maddeningly calm. “But she also doesn’t need you following her around like a puppy.”
“Noah,” I say, voice firm.
He doesn’t look at me. Just says, “This isn’t about your feelings, River. It’s about respect. And if you actually gave a shit about her, you’d give her space.”
River’s jaw tightens. “Right. Becauseyou’rethe picture of respectful.”
Noah’s voice drops to a near-whisper. “If we wanted background noise, we’d sit closer to the vending machines.”
River clenches his teeth. “I just wanted to spend time with her.”
“And I’m sure she’ll call you,” Noah says, already turning back to his tray, effectively dismissing him. “Later.”
River looks at me, hurt flickering behind his eyes. I can’t think of what to say.
After a long pause, he walks away.
I exhale, the silence between us suddenly thick.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I say quietly.
Noah doesn’t look up. “Didn’t have to. Still did.”
“Why?”
He taps a finger on the table between us. “Because that guy doesn’t see you. Not really. He sees some idea of you he can put on a shelf.”
“And you thinkyoudo?”
“No,” he says. “But I’d like to.”
“But why so brutal? Like you didn’t have to destroy the guy.” I glance over my shoulder, not seeing River anywhere.
“Yes, I did.”
“Why?” I turn back to Noah
He leans forward, voice low, almost too soft. “Because watching him kiss you felt like swallowing broken glass.”
I stare down at my sandwich, appetite gone. The weight of eyes on me still lingers — not just from the surrounding tables, but from the seat acrossfrom me. Noah doesn’t say anything else. Just eats, calmly, like he didn’t just dismantle a boy with just a few choice words.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I want to.” He shrugs.
I gape at him. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” I admit, voice low. “It feels like… too much. All of it. Everyone watching. The looks…”
