Page 23 of Rookie Season
I also never let my dad’s money and fame open doors for me. I worked my ass off for a dance scholarship to USG, and now that I’m no longer attending college, I made getting a job my first priority so I could pay my own way here in SanFrancisco. Even though I know he’d help me out in a heartbeat if I ever needed it, I’d never take him for granted like that. I love him because he’s a good dad to me, period.
“If you guys wanna watchSwitchblade,I can go to my room,” I offer. “Catch up on someMatchmaker Mansionwhile you guys watch explosions and copious rounds of gunfire.”
“You forgot Ella Hernandez in a bikini,” Penn says.
“And your dad’s hot sex scene with her on a boat,” Fisher adds with a smirk.
I clap my hands over my ears in protest. “Stop it or I’m going to throw up.”
The boys laugh.
“What’s all thisMatchmaker Mansionfuss about?” Penn asks curiously. “It’s all over social media.”
“Ohhh, it’s so good!” I reply. “A bunch of single people live in this huge mansion together and get paired up as couples every week to compete in challenges.”
Fisher snaps his fingers. “I know that show! One of my old hookups is on it this season.”
“Who?!” I demand.
“Zoey.”
“No way!”
Penn points at the TV. “Okay, I need to see this.”
“Me too,” Fisher agrees, throwing the remote at me. “Put it on!”
I catch it easily and make my way over to the living room, catching sight of Noah’s face as I do. It is entirely unimpressed.
“Are we going to paint our nails and braid each other’s hair next?” He demands with a long-suffering sigh.
“Stop gender stereotyping, Downsby.” Fisher smacks him upside the head. “Plus, you were the one complaining that we watchedReservoir Dogsrecently, so maybe a switchto reality TV will be fun.” He smirks. “Like you reminded me earlier, we have a woman living here now.”
Noah looks like he’d prefer to jump off our balcony without a parachute than be subjected to a single second ofMatchmaker Mansion,but it’s three against one right now so I can’t help but smirk a little as I flip on the first episode of the season.
“Got anything more to say about my pick, Noah?” I ask with a grin, unable to keep the note of challenge out of my voice.
“I’ll give it a chance for five minutes,” Noah grumbles, settling back against the couch pillows. “But only because I’m too tired to move.”
Even though the couch is massive, with all three of the boys’ large frames sprawled out on it, there’s not a bunch of room left. In fact, the only space left is the corner, right next to Noah.
As the intro music for the reality show echoes through the surround-sound speakers in the living room, I dither for a moment before I choose to sit on the floor, stretching my legs out in front of me.
I’ve barely settled when Noah leans forward so that his mouth is close to my ear. “You don’t have to sit on the floor, you know. There’s plenty of room up here.”
His breath tickles my neck, and I’m shocked by the rush of heat that spreads over my skin like a wildfire.
I glance over at Penn and Fisher, and they’re both already absorbed in the show, gawking at the TV, so I twist around to look at Noah, hoping my face isn’t flushing too much.
“I didn’t want to get in your space,” I say pointedly.
“You’re already in my space, Ally.” His low whisper is almost a groan. “So you might as well be on the couch, too.”
This hot and cold thing he’s doing is giving me whiplash.But still, I find myself climbing off the floor and curling into the corner of the couch. He shifts over a little to accommodate me, and I pull my knees up to my chin and wrap my arms around my legs. My arm accidentally knocks against his, and he inhales sharply. I expect him to pull away, but he doesn’t.
And neither do I.
Everything about Noah is…confusing. He’s moody and grumpy, but last night, he was protective of me in a way that made me feel safe. He seems to want space from me, but right now, he’s so close that I can smell the sandalwood and pine body wash on his skin. Feel the heat radiating from the point of contact of his arm against mine.
