Page 38 of What are the Risks
For what felt like an eternity, I waited outside. With each minute that passed, I considered calling Noah, but that would ruin the surprise. After travelling this far, I didn’t want to spoil it now. I was so close to seeing the – hopefully – excited look on his face.
As I raised my hand to knock again, the door was thrown open. A bleary-eyed and shirtless frat guy I didn’t recognise stood on the other side. His hair was a mess, and I could smell alcohol seeping off him.
“Hi. I’m here to see–”
He stepped to the side with a grunt. “Show yourself in.”
Leaving my bag on the doorstep, I followed him inside. I’d get my things later.
The house very much depicted that a party had happened here last night. It was chaotic, with crushed up cups, empty liquor bottles and deserted toga outfits scattered everywhere.
The boy who’d opened the door disappeared into the kitchen. Not wanting to make awkward small talk, I headed straight for Noah’s room.
Thankfully last time I was here I’d noticed an old and faded Los Angeles Rams sticker on his door, otherwise I would’ve gotten confused by the countless rooms along the long hallway.
Just as I reached for his doorhandle, I paused. Someone was moaning on the other side, high-pitched gasps that I’d overheard plenty of times through the wall I shared with Daisy.
I jumped away from the door, as though the people inside could see me.
Could that be –no.Noah had a roommate with a girlfriend. That was the most logical explanation.
Reaching for my phone, I abandoned my plans and called Noah, not caring if it ruined the surprise. I needed to know where he was. It wasn’t like this was Ryker’s house and I could hang with Brady, or Tori, or even Evan, Kyler and Pat while I waited. I knew none of these frat guys.
Through the wall, the panting halted, along with the unmistakable creak of a bed – something I hadn’t realised I’d noticed until it suddenly stopped.
“Who’s that?” a female voice questioned.
With my phone pressed to my ear, I held my breath. Please don’t–
“No one,” came my boyfriend’s voice.
The line went dead as Noah screened my call.
“Where were we?”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Knight in shining armour
Ruby
As the moaning and spring squeaking resumed, I stumbled into the wall behind me, barely catching myself before I hit the ground. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’tfuckingbelieve it. That cheating mother fucking asshole.
I’d treated patients suffering from shock before, usually after they’d been in horrific, traumatic accidents. I’d even been beside them when they came to, when the shock wore off and reality resettled. But I couldn’t imagine ever returning to reality from this.
As much as I wanted to get the hell out of here, I was frozen. My legs didn’t feel steady enough to walk on.
What the hell did I do? Storm in there? Sneak out without being seen? Pretend I’d never been here? Send Noah a picture of his shitty frat door with two accompanying words: “We’re done!”
A scary amount of rage was flowing through my veins, an anger I’d never experienced before. Fuck Noah. And fuck the Los Angeles Rams.
Ryker’s warning from Thanksgiving flooded back, followed closely by Bri’s suspicions that someone had been in Noah’s bed. Were they right? Had this been going on for a long time? Had it happened more than once? With more than one person?
Knowing these questions would consume me, I had to see it with my own eyes. If I didn’t, I’d try convincing myself it hadn’t happened. That I’d mistaken this for something else, and that one of the most important people in my world hadn’t just betrayed me.
Before I could second-guess myself, I threw the door open. The first thing I noticed was the empty bed that belonged to Noah’s roommate. Then I noticed Noah’s folded toga. The neat-fucking-freak had taken a moment to fold his costume, but hadn’t taken a second to consider whether he should stick his dick in another girl. I then noticed Noah’s stupid shaved legs intertwined with someone else’s. And lastly, I noticed the busty red head as she peaked out from beneath my boyfriend, glaring at me likeIshouldn’t be here.
Noah’s face paled. Even after a rotation in ICU, I’d never seen someone such a sickly shade of white.
