“Really?”
“Yes, Alice.”I shook my head and fought against the emotion clogging my throat.“You are it for me.I want you as long as you want me.You are it for me.I…” Fuck it.My breath left in a whoosh, and then I laid it all out there.“I love you.”
“Noah.”She cupped my face in her hands and leaned into me.“I love you too.”
And then we were kissing.Passionately.With a hunger I’d never felt in my whole life.My hands tangled in her hair as we kissed.I shifted on the couch to make room for her, and I felt something crinkle under my leg.
And I remembered.
Breaking our kiss, I took a breath and rested my forehead against her chest.
Shit.
Was this how this was always going to be?Me one inch from using?Tempted to throw it all away because of my fucking insecurities?
“Noah?Are you okay?Are you ready to take this back to your place?Oh!That reminds me, Bailey nagged me into moving.I’ll be looking at an empty unit in her building tomorrow.Do you want to come with us?”
“That’s, that’s…” I sighed.“That’s great, honey.But there’s one more thing we’ve got to talk about.”
“Okay…”
I groaned and shifted her off me and onto the couch on the far side of my hidden stash.Having her on my lap was too much fucking temptation.I took a second and adjusted myself, then I pulled the drugs out from under me.“I need you to take me to a meeting.Tonight.”
“Holy shit.”She ripped the bag out of my hands and held it up like she was trying to keep it out of my reach.“Noah, what the hell?Did you…did you use?”
I shook my head as shame coated my entire body.It clung to my soul.I sat forward on the couch and buried my face in my hands, too ashamed to even look at her.
“What?Why?I don’t understand.Why do you have them then?”
“I ran into Grady earlier.We had a little talk about the good ol’ days.He reminded me of all the ways I’m not worthy of you, and then he gave me that.But I didn’t use—I swear.You can test me.”
“Oh fuck that.”Alice ran for the door.
I should’ve known.I wasn’t worthy of her.Wouldneverbe worthy of her.
Fuck.
She ripped open the door and shrieked, “SECURITY!Someone get me security!”
Fucking hell.
Harper ran to the room, barking into her walkie.“Security to the greenroom.Security to the greenroom.”Her hand fell to her side, and she peered past Alice into the room and at me.“What’s going on?Why do you guys need security?”
“Get Grady fucking White in herenow,” Alice bit out.
Harper’s eyes widened, but she lifted her walkie and called for Grady.“Grady White to the greenroom.Grady White to the greenroom.”Harper put her walkie down and ducked into the room.When she saw only me and Alice inside, she relaxed somewhat.“Anyone want to tell me what the hell is going on?”
“Grady said rude shit to Noah and then gave him a bag of drugs.”Alice shoved the bag at Harper.“Look!”
“Shit.”Harper took the baggie from her, then turned and marched out of the room, barking orders into her walkie.“Someone get eyes on Grady.I want him in the greenroom ASAP.”
Walker burst into the room, audibly panting.He quickly surveyed the room then turned to Harper.“What’s the threat?”
“Grady fucking White gave drugs to Noah.”Harper shoved the bag at him.
Walker’s head whipped in my direction.“Did you use?”
I shook my head.“I thought about it.I thought a hell of a lot about it.But no, I didn’t.”
