Page 27 of Heartbeat

“Let’s try this again. Are you drinking?” I slowly repeated.

“Not…too…much?” he said, rather unsure.

“Better,” I said, pleased.

“And I’ll text,” Noah volunteered.

“You bet your ass you’ll text. And you’ll answer to my texts too.”

“Of course.”

“Quickly,” I warned him, raising a single eyebrow.

“Deal.” He beamed.

“Do you need money?”

“Kinda.”

I reached for my wallet down the inside pocket of my jacket—Ethan. Ethan’s jacket. I reached inside Ethan’s jacket.

“Here.” I handed Noah a fifty.

“Thanks, Thomas!” He turned and waved happily at the trio. Bye, guys. Nice meeting you all.”

They all slowly waved back, so unbelievably high.

Noah walked toward the door but doubled back. “Uh—” He suddenly had trouble looking me in the eye. “Will you—I mean, are you okay? For me to go, that is.”

“I’m fine, bud.”

“Great!”

When he was almost at the door again, I made him turn around.

“What’s her name?” I asked him.

He took a deep breath. “Cynthia.”

“Last name?”

“Thompson. Cynthia Thompson. She’s a senior.”

“I know Cynthia. She’s cool.”

Poor kid. I took a step forward and handed him another fifty.

“Have fun,” I told him before he finally left and closed the door behind him.

When I turned around, Blake, Adam, and Sam were all staring.

“That was so cute,” Blake said.

“It really was,” Sam said.

“I can’t agree, because I’ve decided to pretend being mad at you for not coming to lame Dean’s party,” Adam said.

“Okay,” I said, smiling.

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