I turn on my heel and stalk away before I do something I’ll regret, like throw my drink in his stupid, forgetful face. How dare he act like I’m just another ditzy fan!
Like I didn’t rock his world that night, and he didn’t promise we’d do it again. Promises, promises. What a joke.
Based on what I’ve seen so far, I reckon the club would do better if it just threw the whole men’s team away.
Noah is waiting by the exit, his expression grim. “That bad, huh?” God, how embarrassing. He must have seen the entire awkward thing. And how desperate must I look, going back over to him only to be unrecognized a second time. My cheeks flame at the thought.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” I march past him toward the door. “Let’s just go.”
Noah falls into step beside me. “Should I kick his ass for you?”
I huff out a bitter laugh. “I’m not worth the trouble, remember?” Although, his offer makes me think about what it would look like, the two giant men with their enormous muscles bulging and rippling as they fought over me.
Despite my humiliation at Kai’s dismissal of me, my pussy still clenches as the fantasy plays out in my mind.
“Hey.” Noah grabs my arm, forcing me to stop and face him. “Don’t you dare let that arrogant jerk make you feel worthless. You’re amazing, Dylan, and any guy would be lucky to have you. If Kai is too stupid to see that, it’s most definitely his loss and not yours. You really do deserve way better.”
His fierce loyalty makes my throat tighten.
I pull him into a hug. “Thanks, Noah. I know we haven’t known each other for long, but at the moment, I really don’t know what I’d do without you.”
He hugs me back, hard. I stifle a moan as his hard chest presses into my neck. “Now come on, let’s go drown your sorrows in ice cream.”
I smile against his shoulder. “You always know just what to say.”
Noah presses a kiss to the top of my head, a friendly gesture that leaves my head spinning slightly all the same. “That’s what I’m here for.”
Maybe Kai turning out to be a waste of time is a blessing in disguise.
Because maybe I have everything I need right here.
Chapter 19
Dylan
Thegrocerystoreaisletilts sideways as my feet leave the floor. For a split second, I’m weightless, suspended mid-air. Fear spikes through me and I flail, grasping for something stable to grip onto, knocking boxes of cereal to the floor.
“Hey!” a familiar voice laughs behind me. “Chill out, it’s just me.”
I crane my neck around to see Killian grinning up at me, his muscly arm wrapped around my waist, holding me aloft like I weigh nothing.
“Killian!” I gasp, swatting his shoulder. “Put me down, you oaf.”
He chuckles but complies, setting me gently on my feet.
I straighten my shirt and turn to face him, hands on my hips, trying to ignore the humming sensation everywhere he just touched me.
“What’s the big idea, grabbing me like that? You scared the crap out of me.”
Killian rubs the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “Sorry, I was just messing around. Wanted to see if I could lift you. What do you run, like 170 or so?”
I roll my eyes, but can’t help the little thrill that courses through me. His casual display of strength makes my pulse quicken. I bite my lip, imagining what those powerful arms could do...
Shaking the thought away, I punch his shoulder again, lightly. “That’s a rude question to ask a girl. But 180, for your information. And next time, give a girl some warning, yeah?”
He grins. “Duly noted.”
I bend to gather the fallen boxes, hyper aware of his eyes on me. As annoying as that was, I can’t deny it—I like knowing I have Killian’s attention.