But Noah was right there, close enough that I could feel his attention like a physical weight. And the last thing I wanted was for him to sense how off-balance I still was.
Super friendly. Totally unaffected. That was the assignment. “I’ve got plans tonight,” I heard myself say, too breezy. “Sorry.”
I didn’t wanna hang out with the team or Noah. Quinn was a little too smooth, and the guys were rowdy. I’d be safe, I knew, but it felt…wrong. I shrugged, smiling at him to let him down easy.
Quinn raised a brow. “Oh yeah? You got a hot date or something?”
My mouth opened before my brain could veto it. “Actually…yes.”
Both men stilled.
Noah’s shoulders went tight, almost imperceptibly. Quinn’s grin turned sharp and interested. The room seemed to hold its breath. Shit. Shit. Panic set in my ribs at my stupid lie.
“You do?” Quinn asked, a frown between his eyebrows.
“Yes.” I fiddled with my pen cap, the lie snowballing down the hill. “I’m, um, trying this new dating app. Busy people, allegedly serious, all that jazz. I’m meeting someone for drinks tonight.”
The lie wasn’t technically true. Yet. I could make it true. Iwouldmake it true. Future Me could suffer the consequences; Present Me needed the cover.
Quinn let out a low whistle. “Look at you. Okay, Coach Love Life. Who is this? Where’s he taking you? What are you wearing?”
“Someplace downtown,” I said vaguely. “It’s…new. Cool lighting. Lots of plants.” That described half the city, but whatever.
“Is he hot?” Quinn pressed. “On a scale from one to me.”
“Wow,” I said. “Confidence really is your pre-workout, huh?”
He laughed. “Come on. Give us details. Position? Job? Is he taller than you in those damn boots?”
I lifted my chin. “He’s a software engineer actually. And height is not a requirement.”
“Oh, she’s going for brains,” Quinn said, looking delighted. “Dangerous.”
I shrugged, pretending my heart wasn’t jackhammering. “Brains are nice. Stable paycheck is nice. My dad will combust if I ever date someone who doesn’t know what a 401(k) is.”
Noah finally spoke, his voice steadier than I expected. “When did you start on this app, Em?”
I risked a quick glance at him. His jaw was tight, eyes unreadable. I didn’t like the distance, but it had to be there. For a little.
“Oh, something I’m trying,” I said, keeping my tone light. “New experiences and what not.”
Something flickered across his face, gone too fast for me to catch. He nodded once, tight and firm.
“Good,” he said quietly. “You deserve someone who shows up for you.”
The words hit me square in the sternum. For a second, my carefully constructed persona slipped.
Then I pasted on a smile so bright my cheeks hurt. “Exactly,” I chirped. “And, you know, it’ll be good practice. I’m rusty. Haven’t been on a real date since…forever.”
“Any guy would be lucky,” Quinn said. “If he bails, you let me know. I’ll take you for drinks and show you what you’re missing. And you damn well know if you want any experiences, I’m your guy.”
I rolled my eyes, grateful for the familiar banter. “You’d talk about yourself for two hours and call it a public service.”
“As I should.” He winked. “Gotta be good at something off the field.”
“You’re good at making my job harder,” Bea said dryly from the doorway.
I hadn’t even realized she’d walked in. She leaned against the frame, arms crossed, amusement dancing in her eyes.
