The rest of lunch felt weird.
Not bad.
Just—
Off.
Because Noah had gone quieter after Chloe left.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Just thoughtful.
And somehow that unsettled Lily more than if he’d been angry.
Jason noticed too, unfortunately.
“You’re brooding,” he informed Noah while stealing fries from Ryan’s tray.
“I’m eating.”
“In a brooding way.”
Ryan sighed deeply. “Everything he does looks aggressive to you.”
“That’s because he naturally has the energy of a haunted guard dog.”
Emily nearly choked laughing.
Noah looked exhausted already.
“I’m surrounded by idiots.”
“And yet,” Jason said emotionally, “you love us.”
Noah didn’t answer.
Mostly because Lily accidentally looked at him at the exact same moment.
And there it was again.
That look.
Quiet.
Focused.
Dangerously s
