Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 997(@200wpm)___ 797(@250wpm)___ 664(@300wpm)
I roll my eyes, trying and failing to pretend that I don’t love their interactions, when Tarni’s hand falls away from mine. She leans into me, talking right into my ear to be heard over the roar of the crowd. “What the hell was that?” she demands, nodding toward Noah out on the field as the team huddles around Coach Martin.
“What was what?” I question, unease slowly pulsing through my veins.
“Noah,” she insists, a spark of jealousy and anger flashing in her blue eyes. “Why was he looking at you like that?”
“He wasn’t looking at me like anything,” I say, my back stiffening. “He was looking at Hazel. They were hanging out the other day and he invited her to his game. He gave her a jersey and everything.”
Tarni’s brows furrow, and she looks around me as if only just noticing my little sister beside me. “Oh,” she says with a bite in her tone before staring back toward the field, her eyes glued to Noah’s ass. “I didn’t realize he was so chummy with your family again.”
What in the fresh hell is her problem?
“He’s not,” I say, unsure why I feel the need to defend this—to her of all people. She’s the one person who should understand without an explanation. “His mom forced him over for dinner the other night, and he hid out in Hazel’s room to avoid having to talk to anyone.”
Her brows furrow, and her head whips right back toward me, gaping at me as though I’m a stranger. “What the hell, Zoey?” she snaps. “He was at your place, and you didn’t say anything? You could have invited me over. You know how much I like him.”
“It was a family dinner,” I argue. “Besides, Mom only told me they were coming like two seconds before they walked through the door.”
Tarni rolls her eyes and looks back toward the field, inching a step away before leaning toward Abby on her other side and whispering something in her ear that makes my blood run cold. Cora leans in to find out whatever’s being said, and as the three of them talk shit between themselves, I try not to think the worst, but that doesn’t stop me from scanning the already packed stands to see if there’s anywhere better that Hazel and I could watch the game from.
Having no luck, I focus on the field, watching as the two teams go through a few warm-ups, and before I know it, the game has started, and Hazel is going apeshit beside me. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her cheer so loudly for anyone in my life.
Noah dominates the field, and as I watch him, the rest of the world fades away. He’s incredible out there. No wonder all of East View showed up to support him. Even Principal Daniels is watching him from the sidelines, trying to hide the fact that he’s secretly impressed while reveling in the fact that the one student he didn’t want is going to be responsible for putting this school on the map.
Coach Martin screams at his team from the sidelines as the cheerleaders shake their pom-poms, really getting into the whole school spirit.
The Mambas are up against the Scheyville High Titans, and so far, the game is evenly matched. Only, the Titans don’t have Noah Ryan.
Hazel cheers non-stop beside me, but the moment Noah gets the ball, her shrill shrieks become deafening. Her excitement is contagious, and I find myself cheering right along with her. Every second of this feels so damn right.
When the Mambas get through their opponent’s defenses and score a game-changing touchdown, Noah looks up at us, and I can’t find it within me to tear the smile off my face.
He’s not even the one who scored the touchdown, but that doesn’t change a thing. He’s just ecstatic that we’re here, supporting him just like we used to. His smile is dazzling, and seeing that undeniable happiness shining in his eyes makes me so damn proud. I would give anything to be able to run down the stairs of the grandstand and throw myself into his arms. God, I wish things could be the way they used to be before Linc . . .
Noah Ryan is going places, and as soon as he learns how to navigate the darkness swirling within him, he’s going to fly. I just hope that when he does, I get to be right there watching from the sidelines.
As the game swings back into action and Noah’s gaze falls back to the field, I see Tarni from the corner of my eye, her curious gaze lingering on me, but I pretend I don’t see her. I’m not in the mood to give her the attention she wants. I don’t even know how to answer whatever bullshit questions she’s going to throw at me. Instead, I hold Hazel’s hand and cheer for the Mambas, more than intent on enjoying this moment with my sister.