Page 101 of The Devil's Trials

“I don’t suppose anyone wants dessert?” Dad asks, finishing his glass of wine.

Harper’s hand shoots up, and when I laugh, she says, “What? Everybody knows you have a separate stomach for dessert.”

After a slice of apple pie and a couple more cocktails as we watchA Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, the three of us say goodbye to my dad and get a cab back to my apartment.

When the elevator hits my floor, I slug Noah on the arm, grinning when he grunts in surprise. “Why don’t you come hang for a bit? We can keep drinking.” I’m quite enjoying the pleasant buzz I have going on.

He chuckles. “Why not?”

“Woo hoo,” Harper belts out as she dances down the hallway toward my apartment.

We end up sitting on the floor in the living room while some cheesy Christmas rom-com plays in the background, and we take turns drinking from a bottle of tequila. Safe to say, it’s more fun to drink with friends than alone.

Harper gets up, mumbling, “Gotta pee,” as she walks out of the room.

Noah exhales a sigh, then goes to stifle a yawn.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Are we keeping you up, grandpa?”

“Kind of, actually. Yeah. I think I’m going to head back to my place.”

“Fine.” I pout. “Party pooper.”

“I don’t consider sitting on the floor taking shots of tequila on Thanksgiving as much of a party.”

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes, setting the bottle on the coffee table with a heavythud.

“See you later, Harper,” Noah calls out as we stand, and I walk him to the door. Instead of leaving him there, though, I follow him to the elevator.

He arches a brow at me as we wait for it to reach my floor. “I can get the rest of the way home on my own,” he comments in an amused tone.

“Hmm, are you sure about that?”

His lips twitch. “I think I’ll be okay.”

“Fine, fine. I was just trying to be nice. I know you and I don’t really do that, but I thought with it being the holidays and everything…” My eyebrows tug together, and I clamp my mouth shut, becausewhat am I even saying?

The haze of alcohol is starting to wear off, and I don’t enjoy that it’s brought the pressure back to my chest. Instead of letting him go when the elevator door slides open, I get on and press the button.

He just shakes his head and laughs under his breath as we ride in silence for the short trip from my floor to his.

When we get to his apartment, Noah pulls out his keys and unlocks the door, peering over at me curiously. “Well done. You ensured I made it home safe and sound.”

“Yeppers.” I nod for extra measure.

He regards me strangely, and it makes my stomach dip. Then he asks, “What is going on with you?”

I watch his lips move as he speaks, and my pulse ticks faster as I’m overcome with the memory of us kissing. Of the way his lips felt on mine, soft yet firm, and how being with him has somehow made me feel safe amidst all of the chaos.

“I…don’t know,” I admit with a sigh.

When Noah’s eyes dart between mine, I can’t seem to stop myself from leaning up on my tiptoes and planting my mouth on his.

He stiffens for a moment before his arms come around my waist, and he kisses me back. As soon as he does, though, it’s as if a bucket of cold water is poured into my veins.

What am I doing?

I was with Xander a couple weeks ago, and now I’m kissing Noah again? My head spins with confusion, and I pull away, pressing a hand to my mouth.

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