Page 108 of Lyric & the Heartbeats

Now you just sound like a petulant child.

Was that what he was doing? The adult version of throwing a tantrum, sabotaging himself to get attention from the pretty girl he had a crush on?

Frustration furrowed his brows. Now he was just annoyed with himself.

“You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”

Nohen shrugged, drawing in a slow, deep breath as he prepared for her response. He’d come this far, and comparing himself to a child annoyed him enough that he was committed to finishing what he’d unknowingly started.

Lyric was blissfully unaware, staring at him with an open, easy smile on her face.

He hoped he didn’t have to see it slide off her lips.

Expect the worst, hope for the best, right?

He tried to match his smile to hers, but inside, he was a shaking leaf of nerves. “You could say that.”

Lyric arched a brow at him. “Is that so? Don’t be shy. Go on.”

“My family grew up...well off. Both my parents were betas, but my mom supported us the most. Her job at the omega center paid well. And the gaming did well for me too. Really well.” He muttered the last part and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “I know Adra and Emerson have had some struggles, so I didn’t feel comfortable saying anything. I hope you understand.”

Lyric’s lips twitched before a little giggle tumbled out. “Are you kidding? Emerson would be over the moon to know he’d beaten a pro-gamer a few times.”

He smiled, he couldn’t help it. Lyric didn’t care. Nohen ran a hand over his face, wiping away the misplaced worry, and chuckled. “You’re right. That alpha does not need another ego boost.”

“Oh, he’s not so bad,” Lyric said softly, smiling.

Nohen studied her as she stared ahead, her cheeks pinking slightly.

Oh.

She liked Emerson.

Nohen would bet all the seconds he had left with Lyric that she didn’t even realize it yet either.

“I know. He’s fun to give hell to though,” Nohen replied, nudging her with his elbow.

Her cheeks flared brighter, and she cleared her throat before saying, “Yeah, he’s easy to get a rise out of.”

There was a story behind that blush, but he’d pry those pages open later.

“Thanks for sitting out here a little longer. I know you’re probably tired.”

She pulled her other knee in close and rested her head on her arms, rolling her face toward him and smiling softly.

It pinched something in his chest, how small and vulnerable she looked, how sweet.

“Don’t thank me. I like having you all to myself.”

“That makes two of us,” she responded softly.

Nohen blinked, letting her words take a slow trip around his brain before they settled and took root. Her smile only widened, and she picked her head up, closed the distance between them, and placed the softest kiss to the corner of his lips.

“Goodnight, Nohen, let’s get some sleep. We’ve got an early morning and a long trip ahead.”

She was on her feet and at the door, glancing back with a soft smile before Nohen even processed the kiss she’d given him.

“Well? Let’s not piss off Henry. Buddy system, remember?”