Page 45 of My Kind of Trouble
He was already irritated by the humidity that hung in the air and the inconvenience it caused. The monsoon they’d been caught in during their time in Hoi An had drenched their clothes, and drying anything here felt like trying to start a fire with ice. His jean shorts now felt rough on his skin and his T-shirt clung to him in an uncomfortable way that had his fuse already pulled short.
So, Noa trying to take risks today? Not happening.
The excitement on her face was adorable, but he ignored how her smile made his stomach flip, putting her safety at the forefront of his mind. He loved seeing the carefree, spontaneous Noa, but this was just reckless.
‘Those things are a death-trap, and don’t even get me started on the roads,’ he stated, waving in the direction of the chaotic side streets outside the café entrance that they were currently blocking.
They happened to rent out mopeds at this particular café and, God, was he wishing now that they had stopped somewhere else for breakfast. In the space of five minutes, he’d ordered and been to the toilet only to come out to find her straddling this death-on-wheels outside.
‘Honestly, you call me the dramatic one, but you are being such a baby about this,’ she pouted.
The action sent a warning bolt of electricity through his body. No, he couldn’t think about what it would be like to pull that plump lip in between his teeth. Now was not the time. He quickly rid himself of his inappropriate thoughts to deal with the current task at hand.
‘I don’t care what you want to call me. As I said, over my dead body are you getting on one of those things on your own. I will not be peeling you off the road, Noa. I don’t plan on having to call your brother to tell him I failed to do the one thing I promised him I would. Be smarter.’
Questioning her intelligence seemed to rattle her for a second, but then he saw the mischievous glint in her eyes return and he knew he wasn’t going to like whatever was coming. It was almost as if she liked torturing him and seeing how far she could push him, like she was trying to make it as hard as possible to keep her safe. It was infuriating. And the grin on her face said she knew it. He wanted to bend her over his knee and smack that perfect ass of hers, punish her for arguing with him and driving him crazy like this. He wanted to show her who was really the boss. He wanted to, but he wouldn’t.
‘Fine,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders casually.
Fine? She couldn’t be giving in that easily, could she? He felt uneasy at her calm tone now, like he was walking into a trap, but he just couldn’t see it yet.
‘Fine?’
‘Yes, fine. I’m notunreasonable.’
He sighed, relief flooding him for a moment but, before he knew what was happening, Noa was waving someone in their direction from over his shoulder. As Marcus appeared,she whispered in his ear, then he hopped on the back of the moped, wrapping his arms around her tightly. Alex stepped forward, his fists balled at his sides, ready to rip him from the moped.
But then, Noa looked at him with defiance in those eyes and said, ‘Like you said, I shouldn’t go on my own. So, I won’t.’
And, with that, she sped off into the busy streets, with Marcus grinning like all his Christmases had come at once. He looked like the cat that got the cream and, as they drove away, the bastard shot Alex a wink over his shoulder. A fucking wink that had the hairs rising on his arms as he pictured all the ways he wanted to make him regret it.
Watching Noa leave, her hair dancing in the wind behind her, Alex felt a familiar sting in his chest. He stood there, alone, watching her disappear into the crowded street, leaving him behind like she always was.
He was unable to control the rage and fear overpowering him and, unlike Marcus, Noa didn’t look back.
Shoulders slumped and feeling heavy, Alex walked through the hostel, praying to make it back to his room without having to socialise with anyone. He wasn’t company worth keeping in that moment, and he needed to go and pull himself together. He needed to figure out his next move, because it was becoming more and more clear that, with Noa, he was only seeing what he wanted to see.
That, maybe, he’d imagined the chemistry that seemed to pulse like a constant undercurrent between them. That, in all of this, he’d been the hopeless one, pining for the girl who would never see him as more. And nothing had ever changed.
Coming here had been a mistake. Once Noa and Marcus left, Alex spent hours aimlessly wandering the streets, thinking about nothing else. After all, she’d said it before. She was a grown woman that didn’t need his protection, so what had he hoped to achieve? Time and time again her actions had made her disinterest clear. Maybe it was finally time to listen.
But why did that feel so wrong?
As he walked past the pool tables that took up the social area of the hostel lobby, familiar voices carried in his direction with a familiar name on their lips.
‘He’s finally gone and done it, you know. Noa was clearly gagging for it when he got on the back of that bike. It looks like his plan’s coming together,’ came from a guy Alex had seen hanging around Marcus, but he hadn’t learnt his name.
Slowing his pace, he kept his eyes low, not wanting to give his presence away. He knew they were talking about Noa, and the direction the conversation was heading made his skin hot, but he needed to hear more.
‘Oh, come on, there’s still time to fuck it up yet,’ was someone’s retort.
‘It’s a watertight plan. Marcus said once they come back, he’ll take her out for some drinks. She loosened up after some rum last time, remember?’ the first dickhead sniggered.
‘Remember? It’s all he’s droned on about. That and how quickly he’d be able to get her on her knees.’
‘Yeah, I think he’s hoping his charm will have worn her down enough that, after a few cocktails, tonight will be his lucky night.’
The asshole’s casual tone had Alex balling his fists and wanting to teach him a lesson, but he also wanted to listen to anything that could help him keep Noa safe. So, instead, he justbit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from erupting and quietly listened to their conversation.
