“…you even listening to what I’m asking you?” Alec asked, waving his hand in front of her face.
“This was a bad idea.” Noah shifted her gaze from Alec’s pale green eyes and looked at Lily. “I should go.”
“No,” Lily said. She went over to Alec. Despite being half a head shorter than he was, she still somehow had this way about her that made her seem taller and more intimidating than she really was. “Alec, no. She’s staying here. I’m putting my foot down. You’re the one who’s in hot water with Seraphina so you don’t really get a say.”
“Excuse me?” Alec said.
Jack bit his bottom lip to keep from smiling and looked at the floor.
“You heard me,” Lily said, hands on hips. “You think I don’t know these things? If your paycheck is in jeopardy, the rent falls on me, and it’s not cheap living in a two-bedroom apartment in Irvine.”
Alec shot Jack a look. “And you call me dramatic?”
“Don’t look at him,” Lily said, her focus still on her brother and not her boyfriend. “Don’t involve him in our family drama.”
“He lives with us and he’s dating you. He’s already involved. And he’s going to agree with me. One more body in this dinky apartment is going to be too many. And, no offense, Noah Stone isn’t wanted here.”
“Alec Sinclair, I never ask you for anything,” Lily said through clenched teeth. Though Noah was positioned behind her friend and couldn’t see Lily’s face, she could imagine Lily glaring that sharp glare at him, her lips curled back, baring her teeth like some kind of wolf. “I never ask you to pay me back for groceries. I never asked you to pay me for all the gas I used to drive you to and from hockey practice because you failed your driving test three times when Mom worked late.”
“Why you gotta throw that in my face?” Alec gave her a look, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Because you owe me and you know it,” she snapped. “Noah is staying for as long as she wants. She can room with me.”
“Wait, what?” Jack asked, spreading out his hands, palm up.
“You need help with your stuff?” Lily nodded her head to the door.
Noah followed her out of it and they headed down the stairs and to where Lily parked. Noah glanced in the passenger window and saw the two black garbage bags. It hit her, suddenly, that her entire life was packed up in two bags that could be mistaken for trash. She wasn’t sure if she was depressed by the realization or impressed by it. Quite frankly, everything was happening so fast for her she wasn’t sure how to feel. All she knew was that she was grateful for Lily, for Jack, and even, to a small, teensy-tiny degree, for Alec.
Lily reached out and opened the door, causing Noah to snap out of her thoughts. She blinked, taking a step back.
“I can grab one,” Lily said.
“No, I got it.” Noah grabbed the first bag from her hand and then the second.
“I’m happy to help. Regardless of what my inept brother says.”
“No, I know, and I appreciate it.” Her grip on the bag tightened to ensure Lily couldn’t take it from her. “But Lil, I can’t – I won’t – have you treating me like I’m some sort of victim and you feel sorry for me. I’m not a victim and I can’t have you treating me any differently. I know I’m asking to stay with you for a few days and that’s abnormal, but I just…” She closed her eyes, taking a breath. “I can’t have you treat me like I’m fragile, you know? It makes me uncomfortable.”
“I get it,” Lily said, giving Noah a small smile. Her eyes flickered up and down Noah’s face. “You have balls. I don’t know what I’d do if I were in your situation.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it.” Noah offered what she hoped was a warm smile. The last thing she wanted was any form of self-pity preventing her from being happy with her friend. “You have a good guy, Lil. And you found him at an incredibly young age. Love stories like that just don’t happen. Don’t take that for granted.”
“I don’t,” she said with a nod. She slid her hands in her back pocket as the two began to walk away from the car. She had to lift her arm up and block her forehead to keep the glare from the sun from shining directly in her face. “Are you going to be okay here? I know you and Alec never got along, not even in high school, and I just want to make sure it’s not going to be weird for you. My brother is the biggest asshole on the planet, after all. I mean, even his boss had to talk to him about his shit today, which is probably why he’s extra cranky.”
“Honestly, I’m grateful for anything I can get,” Noah said. “If that means dealing with your brother… I’d rather deal with Alec over Aaron any day.”
Lily grinned and the two headed into the apartment together.
Noah avoided looking at Alec. She was instantly attracted to the boyish face, the pale green eyes that always darkened whenever he saw something he liked.
