Page 49
If she didn’t separate them, Noah might end up with another black eye.
Noah looked like he might throw a punch himself.
She’d never seen either of them like this before.
Thinking fast, she dug her apartment keys out of her purse and handed them to Aiden. “Here. Take these and get set up. I’ll grab a quick bite with Noah and be there soon. Want me to get you anything?”
He took the keys and looked down at her with that swoon-worthy smile he used when he gave someone his full attention. “I’m good. I’ll take you out for groceries later, since I have the car. A lot easier than taking the bus with it.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
“Okay,” she said with a nod. Her face warmed again at his words.
He cared so much for people and took care of them. It made her feel warm and fuzzy, even knowing it wasn’t preferential treatment. Aiden was altogether a kindhearted guy.
“Don’t be long,” he said, before turning and striding away from them, gripping her keys in his hand tightly.
“You sure he isn’t your boyfriend?”
She turned to Noah. “What?”
“You said in class he was single, but he acted like a jealous boyfriend just now.”
She giggled. “No way. You’re imagining things.”
Noah’s dark brow arched. “Really? He didn’t seem to like me talking to you very much.”
She posted her fists on her hips and cocked her head. “You didn’t seem to like him either.”
He shrugged. “I’m indifferent. I don’t know him.”
“Well, you were looking at him the same way he looked at you.”
“Huh. Didn’t know that.”
She decided pushing the subject wouldn’t do much good. If he didn’t realize the way he acted, then she may have misunderstood. It wasn’t like either of the guys would see each other again.
“Come on, let’s get a burrito,” he said, motioning toward the Tate Building.
As he led her toward the main entrance, he kept looking behind them with a strange expression on his face.
11
CONFESSION
The door to Charlotte’s apartment flew open. Startled, Aiden jumped up from the loveseat, ready to fight whoever rushed into her home unannounced.
Slamming the door, Charlotte locked the deadbolt and doorknob with jerky movements. She checked and double-checked the locks, slamming her hands on the door and dropping her head forward between her shoulders. Her ragged breathing was loud in the quiet room.
He took a tentative step toward her. “Charlotte?”
Her shoulders tensed before easing, as if she hadn’t recognized him at first. Turning and pressing her back to the door, she looked at him across the room.
He hadn’t moved, afraid to frighten her more than she already looked.
Her purse fell from her shoulder when she pushed off the door and ran to him, crashing into his body. He wrapped his arms around her shaking form and stared down at the top of her head, surprised by the sudden physical contact.
