“Are you fucking him?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Oh, no? Then explain to me what the fuck is going on? Because from where I’m standing, it sure as hell looks like you’re fucking.” My pulse is a drumbeat in my ears. My chest tightens around every breath, anger burning so hot it’s blurring my vision.
“W-we’re dating.”
His long lashes woosh over those beautiful blue eyes, and something inside me snaps, sending me on a tailspin.
“Oh, you’re dating?Dating?!”The word hits my tongue like something toxic. My anger spikes—white-hot, uncontained—and every emotion I’ve been choking down since dinner barrels straight through me.
Which is completely insane. I know.
But knowing doesn’t slow a damn thing down.
“You know my daughter, Noah. You’ve been to Gabriel’s house in Spain, for Christ’s sake!” My voice cracks—anger, confusion, something else I don’t want to name. “And why do I feel like everywhere I go, you’re already there? Like you’re one step ahead of me, and I don’t even know why.”
He swallows, shoulders tightening, but offers nothing.
“What am I missing, Noah? What’s there to figure out?” My hands grip the counter, hard enough to make my knuckles burn. “Tell me, damn it. Because I sure as shit can’t make sense of any of this.”
He stares at me, wide-eyed, those pretty blue eyes bathed in tears. “I didn’t know,” he cries. “I didn’t know about any of this—Ana, Emilee, Elijah,you. I promise, I didn’t know.”
He drags a shaky hand over his face, like he’s trying to wipe the panic off with his tears.
“It’s all just a coincidence—me dating Gabriel. It has nothing to do with… with—” His breath stutters, voice thinning to a whisper. “It has nothing to do with me needing you.”
“You fucking have me! Goddamn it, Noah!” And the second those words leave my mouth, I feel the bottom drop out—because I don’t even know what I mean by that. Elijah and I are solid. I’d never leave him. Not for Noah. Not for anyone.
Those pretty lips quiver as a river of tears spills over them.
I want nothing more than to slam my mouth against his—just to put an end to all of this. His panic. My intensity. Me. Him. But that’s what got me into this mess in the first place, isn’t it?
“No, Alex. I don’t have you.” His voice breaks. “You’re Elijah’s. The only place I’ve ever had you is in my dreams.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and drag in a slow, shaky breath.
He’s right. I do belong to Elijah. I love Elijah, for god’s sake.
But Noah—Noah’s like a goddamn drug.
Every time I see him, something chemical ignites under my skin. I hate how he pulls me in. I hate how he makes me forget what’s right. One look from him, one tremor in his voice, and suddenly I’m drowning—gasping for air in a sea I shouldn’t even be swimming in.
This isn’t just temptation. It’s self-destruction dressed in tear-streaked cheeks and blue eyes.
I drag a hand over the back of my neck, trying to steady myself as I breathe in the toxic temptation standing in front of me.
“I want you, Noah… you’ve got to know that. Youknowthat I fucking want you.” I say it like I’m making a point, when really there’s no point to be made.
“But… you love Elijah.”
His breath sails across my lips, a warm warning that I should step back.
But at this moment, I’m beyond reasoning.
“Yes. I do… love Elijah,” I whisper, almost like I need to remind myself. “Of course I do.”
And yet… for reasons I can’t explain, I think I might lovehimtoo.
