Page 94 of Return Policy

“Nope.” Noah holds his hands up. “I’m good.”

Charlie’s cell buzzes on the coffee table for the umpteenth time. It’s buzzed every thirty seconds for the past ten minutes. Jonathan’s tried FaceTime, calling, and texting—she’s ignored each one.

“Are you gonna get that or should I?” Noah reaches for it, and Charlie’s eyes go wide as she snatches it off the table.

“It’s fine.” She clutches it to her chest. “I’ll get it.”

“You can use my room,” Elijah offers.

“Thanks.” Charlie smiles faintly, then rushes into his room and shuts the door. Noah rolls his eyes, slumping back in his seat.

“What’s with you?” Elijah asks Noah.

“Nothing,” Noah clips.

“Come on,” Elijah presses, Noah’s gaze connecting with his.

“Her boyfriend is a prick,” Noah mutters, his face void of any emotion.

“No shit,” Elijah says. “He was a total ass on Soph’s birthday.”

“Yeah…” Noah clears his throat. “The next morning too.”

“What do you mean, the next morning?” I ask, gawking.

“It’s not what you think.” Noah waves me off. “I didn’t want to leave Charlotte alone.” He shakes his head, and my lips curve upward at his use of her full name. “She was super sick. So I stayed over and slept on the floor. He showed up the next day and…” Noah drags a hand through his dark hair. “I just fucking hate him.”

The sound of Charlie yelling through the walls has all our heads snapping in that direction. Noah shoots out of his seat, his entire body tense as he rushes closer to Elijah’s door. “Goddammit, Jonathan, I’m so sick of the fighting,” Charlie says loud enough we can all hear. “I told you, nothing fucking happened with Noah!” My eyes snap to Noah, whose ear is all but pressed against the bedroom door as Jonathan screams through the phone.

The vein bulging in Noah’s forehead tells me it must not have been good, and he’s ten seconds away from breaking down the door to throw Charlie’s phone at the wall. The entire apartment goes so silent you could hear a pin drop, and I’m assuming one of them hung up. Charlie swings open the door, slamming directly into Noah’s chest. He reaches out, steadying her.

“Why do you let him talk to you like that?” Noah asks, exasperated.

“This is none of your business, Noah,” Charlie snaps, pushing past him.

“Yes, it is.” He spins around, trailing after her. “I’m sick of watching that guy walk all over you.”

“I don’t need this right now.” She rushes to the front door and throws it open. “I’m going for a walk.” The door rattles as she slams it behind her.

I hop off Elijah’s lap and rush to follow her, but Noah holds a hand up, stopping me.

“I got it,” he says before running out of the apartment.

“I didn’t even realize they were actually friends.” My eyes are glued to the door. “I mean, I totally agree with everything he said… just a bit surprised, that’s all.” I go to Elijah and sit back in his lap.

He tugs me close against him. “What can I say? Us CBU boys are overprotective of our girls.” He kisses me on the head, and I smile. “And you don’t know how hard it was for me to talk Noah out of beating that guy’s ass when I wanted to join in on the fight.” I swallow hard. “I hated hearing how Jonathan and your shit bag ex talked about you.”

His shoulders are tense under my touch as I lean my face into his neck, groaning. “Hopefully we never have to see them again.”

* * *

I knock on Charlie’s door before nudging it open. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” she says, exasperated, turning to face the wall while lying on her bed.

“I brought your stuff from Elijah’s.” I set her backpack down on the floor next to her desk and walk over to her. “Char, come on. Talk to me.”

She rolls to face me, and her head rests against the pillow. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

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