Page 197 of Puck Me Back to Life

He nods immediately. “Fair.”

“You raise your voice once⁠—”

“I won't.”

I open the door. “Wait here.”

Noah steps inside without another word.

“Sit.”

He does. Only then do I head toward my bedroom.

Kai is already awake. He's standing just outside the bathroom rubbing sleep from his eyes, wearing one of my old T-shirts that is too big on him. His hair is sticking up in every direction. He looks impossibly soft.

Then he notices my expression. “What?”

I cross the room and automatically settle my hands on his hips.

Grounding him.

Grounding myself.

“Someone's here.”

His eyebrows pull together. “Who?”

“Noah.”

Every ounce of color drains from his face.

His breathing immediately changes. I squeeze his hips gently. “Look at me.”

He does. “He wants to apologize.”

Kai stares at me like I've started speaking another language. “What?”

“He asked to see you.”

“I can't.”

“You don't have to.”

“I—”

“Kai.” I wait until his eyes settle on mine again. “I'm not leaving your side.”

His breathing remains uneven.

“I'm not going to let anything happen to you.”

Something inside him softens.

Not much.

Just enough.

“Okay.”