“Em, honey, no reason to apologize at all.” Noah helped me sit up, nothing but concern over his face. “What’s wrong?”
“This is so embarrassing,” I squeaked out, hiding my face behind my hands. “You’re being so nice to me and telling me how I attracted you are to me, and I just…I’m not used to someone being nice like this, and I have hang-ups.”
“We all have hang-ups. There’s nothing we can’t work through. I promise you that.” He ran his hand up and down my bare back, his lips pressing against my temple. “Here.”
He took off his shirt and put it over me, the worried crease between his brows still there. “Did…let me go change, and I’ll be back in two seconds, okay?”
I nodded, not sure if I’d be able to walk away if I wanted to. I was rooted to the spot, my fears and insecurities and baggage allcoming up in full flare. I wasn’t enough for anyone. Not my parents, not my ex. Noah would realize it too. But when I glanced up at him before he walked away, he ran a hand through his hair, tension all over his forearm. His chest was bare, strong, and holy shit.
He was so hot it was unfair.
He gripped his hair hard, faced me, his mouth in a firm line. “Did I fuck this up?”
I frowned. “What?”
“I fucked this up. Goddamn it.” Then, he spun around and disappeared down the hall.
22
NOAH
Iquickly changed my pants and boxers, not letting myself feel shame about literally coming in my pants. I’d never done that in my entire life. I had control of myself, but give me Em with her whimpers and perfect tits? I was done for.
Fuck. I scrubbed my clean hand over my face, my muscles clenching with worry and stress. I’d pushed her too far. Her face gave it away. She fucking cried. I paced the length of my room, bare feet hitting the carpet over and over, replaying every second like game film I couldn’t shut off. The way her breath hitched. The way her eyes shone. The way her hands shook when she clutched my shirt.
Idiot. Absolute fucking idiot.
I’d told myself I’d go slow. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t overwhelm her, wouldn’t make this about my want instead of her comfort. And then I’d seen her look at me like that—like she was standing on the edge of something terrifying and beautiful—and I’d lost my grip on the reins.
I leaned my forehead against the wall, exhaling hard. Nat’s voice echoed in my head the way it always did when I felt like I’dfailed.You don’t get to decide what someone else can handle, Noah. You only get to show up and let them choose.
I’d shown up. But had I let her choose?
The thought that I might’ve ruined this—ruined her trust, ruined whatever fragile thing we were building—made my chest feel tight and hollow all at once. I’d been hit harder on the field and bounced back faster than this. This was different. This mattered.
I dragged on a T-shirt, ran a hand through my still-damp hair, and stared at the door like it might give me answers. I should go find her. I should apologize. I should explain. Or maybe I should give her space like I’d promised, let her breathe, let her decide.
I turned toward the door.
And froze.
She stood there.
Em leaned against the hallway wall outside my room, arms folded loosely like she hadn’t been sure what to do with them. She wore one of my shirts—hanging off one shoulder, the hem brushing mid-thigh. Her hair was loose, falling around her face in soft waves, and her glasses were there on the tip of her nose. Her eyes met mine immediately.
My heart slammed so hard my throat hurt.
“Hey,” she said quietly.
For a second, I couldn’t speak. Relief and fear crashed into each other so fast it made me dizzy. “Em,” I breathed. “I—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have?—”
She stepped forward, closing the space between us with deliberate calm. “Stop,” she said gently, lifting a hand to my chest. “It’s notyou.”
I swallowed. “Youcried.”
“Yeah,” she said, not looking away. “Because you were kind to me. And that scares the hell out of me sometimes.” Hermouth curved in a small, shaky smile. “You can’t mutter under your breath that you messed up and then… stomp away.”
The tension that had been coiled tight in my body loosened enough for me to breathe. Her gaze held that spark again, where her gorgeous blue eyes met mine without hesitation. She stepped forward so our toes touched as she placed a hand on my heart. “I didn’t take you for being dramatic.”
