With Every Heartbeat (Forbidden Men #4)(23)

Caroline snaked out a hand to catch the napkin basket as it started to topple over while a wide-eyed Zoey moved back in her chair, looking petrified.

Though I was still using one hand to cover Cora’s mouth, I set the other on Zoey’s arm, trying to calm her. “It’s okay,” I mouthed the words, but her eyes were wide with panic and fear.

“Noel?” A concerned Aspen touched his arm as she reached the table. “What’s wrong?”

He spun to her and pulled her into his arms, crushing her to his chest. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Cora ripped my hand off her mouth. “Oh, snap.” Her mouth fell open as she watched Noel and Aspen hug. “Noel Gamble was the student who got her fired?”

“Say what?” Caroline shouted as Noel and Aspen broke apart.

Ten stood up and glared at Cora as if he was going to strangle her.

I rushed to my feet, intervening, and grabbed my girlfriend’s hand to pull her up after me. “Come with me.”

I think it was past time to get my girlfriend up to speed.





I didn’t know exactly what was going on around me, but it wasn’t taking me long to catch up. Caroline’s brother, the star quarterback, had started dating one of his teachers and gotten her fired for having a relationship with her. And they were still obviously together.

Got it.

And now I also knew what had been on that cell phone last night that had set Quinn off.

As he dragged Cora away from the table, I gaped after them, not sure what I was supposed to do. Follow them, or just stay here? I didn’t want to stick around because it looked as if Caroline’s brother was about to blow a gasket. But getting up and leaving now didn’t feel right either. Plus, Caroline reached out and grabbed my hand hard, letting me know she needed some serious moral support.

Watching Cora and Quinn disappear down a hall, Noel’s girlfriend pulled out of the hug and smiled sadly up at Noel. “I’m guessing someone just let the cat out of the bag, huh?”

“Oh my God.” A pale Caroline let go of me and stumbled to her feet, her gaze darting between Noel and Aspen. She covered her mouth. “Oh my God. So that...what she just said...it’s true?”

Noel winced as he kissed Aspen on the forehead. “Care.”

When his voice cracked with apology, her eyes bulged with horror. “Holy shit.” She backed away. “Oh, holy shit.” Whirling away from them, she stumbled over me and my chair in her haste to escape.

Okay, now I really felt uncomfortable for sitting through all this.

Aspen—who actually looked younger than her ex-student—turned worried eyes up to Noel. “We really should’ve told her.”

“Told her what?” the youngest boy with Aspen asked.

“Nothing,” Noel growled as he grasped Aspen’s elbow to steer her toward the exit. “Come on. We’re leaving.”

“But I want to stay,” the older boy said. He had dark hair and looked like a younger Noel. “I’m freaking starving.”

“Me too,” the younger brother whined. He looked more like Caroline, with her fair hair and similarly shaped face. “I want pizza.”

“We’ll get it delivered.” Noel’s tone brooked no room for argument. When his fierce gaze landed on me, I moved back in my seat and held my breath, ready for him to start making threats to ensure my silence. But instead, he asked, “Can you make sure my sister gets a ride home?”

I was so startled to hear that question, I fumbled at first. “Uh...yeah, sure.” I bobbed my head, glad to help in any way. “Of course.”

His shoulders eased fractionally. Then he sent me a respectful nod. “Thanks.”

As he ushered Aspen and the two boys from the pizza parlor, I stared after them, dazed by what had just happened.

I turned toward Ten, who’d slumped into his seat and rested his forehead in his hand.

What now? I asked him the silent question.

He met my gaze, lifted a brow, and then blew out a breath. “Well…f*ck.”

Without saying another word to me, he stood up and walked off.

I remained seated, letting everything soak in. I didn’t stay long, just long enough for the waitress to return with a tray full of drinks. When she found just little ol’ me left hovering at the two tables, she paused and glanced around.

“Um…” I sent her a weak smile. “Everyone else had to…go.”

She didn’t seem to know what to do with the drinks. “What do I do with all these, then?”

“Oh!” I popped to my feet and grabbed my purse. “I can pay for them. I’m so sorry for your trouble.”

Still confused, she continued to hesitate. “So…you just want me to take them back?”

I bit my lip. Seeing as everyone had left, yeah, I pretty much wanted her to take them back. But I didn’t know how to say that without sounding condescending. “Well…” I glanced around. No one from my group was in sight anywhere. “I don’t think they’re coming back.”

They definitely were not coming back.

“That’s just lovely.” Huffing out a moody breath, she spun away and stalked off, returning the tray full of cups to the kitchen. When she came back, I was standing at the counter, waiting to pay.