Page 39 of Keep Me Never
“She’s in so much trouble,” he mutters, but there’s a smirk on his lips.
“I thought you guys knew.” Noah grins and my eyes snap to his.
“You knew?” Why does that annoy me as much as it does?
“I told him,” Ari offers quickly, and I don’t like how her eyes are moving between me and Paige. “Sorry, Paige. He had to get himself a flight, and I didn’t even think about it. Actually.” She pauses, looking at her man beside her. “I didn’t even mention the rich part, did I?”
Noah smiles, pulling her closer and shaking his head. “No, but it was the only conclusion, considering.” He looks to Paige, a softness in his eyes that mirrors the one in hers. “It’s crazy you had another family member out there all along. I’m happy for you, Paige.”
Paige laughs lightly, but it’s anxious, though I’m not sure anyone else picks up on it.
The conversation shifts instantly; the guys are always eager to hear everything Noah has to say about playing pro ball. I should lean in and listen, ask questions of my own, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
So I sit silently, and a half hour later, when we’re unloading onto the small, private airstrip where there is a mini-jet waiting, the wordsRandolph Legaciesscrawled across the side, the group grows even more excited.
Ari and Cameron squeal, running up and dragging a slightly tense Paige with them. They shake her a bit, and finally she relaxes, letting the guys take a few pictures of them on the stairs in their pretty gowns.
My fingers twitch with the thought of taking my own, but I don’t, and then we’re following them inside, pausing at the entry, so Ari can take one of the four of us guys.
The energy shifts even higher on the jet as they settle in, and this time there is a new server, or maybeflight attendantis the right word, since we’re on an aircraft. He’s an older man with little to no hair on his head but a sharp silver along his ears.
“Hello, Miss Paige. It’s an honor to host you this evening.”
“Hi, Henry. It’s good to see you again.”
“I sure hope so, Miss Paige. I’m hoping to see much more of you in the future.”
She gives him a small smile, but my eyes narrow at her hands, fidgeting in her lap. Why do his words make her uneasy?
The man gives a small bow and sits down for takeoff. Not five minutes later, he’s up again, a new bottle of champagne being opened and poured.
He passes it around, and while we don’t tend to drink during the week when we know practice will follow, everyone accepts—everyone but Noah, of course.
Conversations begin again, this time about the play or show or whatever you call it that we’re going to watch. It seems as fast as we take off, we’re landing, then loading up in a different, just-as-nice ride, this time a sleek SUV with black-out windows.
The venue isn’t too far from the airstrip and the buzz in the car shifts as we roll up to see people in suits and gowns all around, the excitement in the air contagious.
I’ve never been one for live shows, maybe because I’ve never been, but the smile on Paige’s face is infectious.
This time, I’m the first to step out, and I turn, holding my hand out for Paige.
She beams, gaze on mine as she climbs out. But the moment her heels hit the ground, her attention is everywhere all at once.
But mine?
Mine is locked on her, and something tells me it’s going to stay there long after tonight.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Chase
She’s literally on the edge of her seat the entire night, her forearms resting on the banister in front of us, chin settled against her folded knuckles as she stares down at the stage with an air of awe.
Her eyes didn’t leave the production once, and I’m not sure mine left her.
I have no idea what happened on that stage tonight, but I now know every expression of hers. Her eyes crinkle when she smiles, and her mouth tips a little more to one side with her laugh. The way she pulls her lips in when she cries and the way she bites it when she’s excited or expecting something. I know because every time her teeth sank into that bottom lip of hers, the music would change, building higher and higher, or lower and lower in sync with her inhale.
Tonight, here at this place, she is in her element more than I have ever seen her before, and I find I’m happy to have been here to witness it.
