Page 47 of Shattered Oaths

The grin on Daisy’s face as she watches me lets me know all I need to about where her thoughts are. I shake my head, hoping my voice doesn’t betray me as I speak. “It’s not like that. He’s just helping me out.”

“Mm-hmm,” she hums and a small part of me begins to panic about what my brother would say if he knew I was staying with his best friend.

“Does Killian know?” I ask Daisy.

She shakes her head. “No. And he won’t if you don’t want him to.”

I nod, relieved. “Not yet.”

Daisy gives me a look full of promise that she isn’t going to go back on her word and I finally relax. Surprisingly, nobody asks mewhyI’m staying with Noah, but by the suggestive look Daisy gave me, I’m guessing she figured out why all on her own.

The subject quickly changes back to talk of babies and parenthood and I tune them out, pulling my phone from my pocket and typing out a text.

Me:Did you arrange girls’ night?

I lift my head, checking that no one is paying attention to me and gnaw on my lip as I wait for a response. Within seconds those three bubbles appear and just the sight of them causes my stomach to flutter.

Noah:Hey, babybell. Miss me already?

I roll my eyes and stifle a smirk.So cocky.

Me:Noah.

Noah:Yes, doll?

My pulse quickens.

He’s only ever called me that one other time.

Me:Why did you do this?

Noah:Because I didn’t want you to be alone and you needed time with your friends. They missed you.

The shame I felt earlier returns and increases tenfold when another text follows.

Noah:We all did.

A lump forms in my throat, making it hard for me to swallow as my eyes cloud over, tears threatening to form. I knew my friends had missed me. They all made that very clear. But I didn’t think about how Noah would feel in my absence. Despite everything, Noah and I built a solid friendship throughout our teenage years.

When Killian and Daisy started dating, we kind of got left behind which ultimately led to us forming a bond. I just never really thought that the bond meant as much to him as it did to me.

I stare down at my phone, debating on my response for so long that the screen begins to darken before I say fuck it and reply honestly.

Me:I missed you, too.

The read receipt shows immediately, the bubbles appearing just as quick.

Noah:I know. How couldn’t you? I’m fucking awesome.

Biting back a laugh, I shake my head.

Me:Okay, cocky. Go do some man shit.

Noah:Yes, ma’am. Off to do some man shit. But just so you know, I’ll be thinking of you the whole time.

And just like that, my stomach is in knots for anentirely different reason.

CHAPTER 20