to keep his thoughts away from Noah. At least for the next hour or so.
Alex turned toward Matt. “You were going to show me your room?”
Noah interrupted before Matt could answer. “We should really get going,” he said pointedly. “We both have an early day tomorrow, and sleep is extremely important when working with wild animals.” Another glare in Matt’s direction, who was starting to look a little like a deer caught in headlights. “We wouldn’t want Alex to get trampled by a moose or anything because he hasn’t gotten adequate sleep, right?”
“Right,” Matt repeated, although he looked like he wasn’t so sure if he was expected to talk or not.
“Glad you understand,” Noah said with a clap on Matt’s back that, very unsubtly, pushed Matt toward the doorway of the house. Matt, still confused, threw Alex one last glance, but seeing that Alex didn’t say anything, slowly walked away from the terrace. Noah looked after him, arms crossed over his chest, feet a few inches apart, giving a perfect imitation of a pissed off cop, which seemed appropriate, since he’d clearly decided to act as the fun police.
Alex blinked a few times, trying to get his head around to what had just happened. It didn’t take long. He rounded on Noah.
“What the hell was that?” he demanded. Cockblocking son of a bitch.
Noah’s shoulders slumped immediately. He swallowed.
“I…” he started. And then he just opened and closed his mouth a couple of times like he was gagging on the words. He dragged his hands through his hair. “I don’t know. I just saw him… and you were talking… and then you were leaving… and… fuck!” The exclamation was loud enough that some of the people glanced up toward the two of them with startled expressions. Noah ignored them.
“I don’t know why I did it,” Noah said. The look he gave Alex was almost pleading. Like he was begging Alex to understand Noah’s reasoning without words. Noah was breathing harshly, chest rising and falling rapidly like he’d just run a marathon. There was a manic glint in his eyes as he stepped closer to Alex.
“You can’t sleep with him,” he said, and immediately after, he turned and stalked off the terrace.
“Why the fuck not?” Alex demanded as he hurried after Noah. He finally caught up to him when they were almost in the driveway. Alex grabbed Noah’s forearm to pull him to a stop. Noah whirled around, chest to chest with Alex.
“You’re not…” He still didn’t seem to be able to find the words he wanted to say.
“I’m not what?” Alex was starting to get pissed off. “Will you just fucking finish a sentence? I’m not what? I’m not good enough?” he guessed. “Is that it? I’m not good enough for you, and I’m not fucking good enough for your friends either?”
Noah stared at him. So close. He was so close. Alex could smell the woodsy scent of his cologne, the one that was all over his shirt after they’d kissed. Alex wanted to bury his nose in Noah’s neck and breathe it in. Drown in Noah’s scent. Rub it all over himself.
Fucking fuckity fuck! What was wrong with him?
“Just stay out of it,” Alex snapped as he turned around to leave. He stormed off without another look and didn’t stop until he reached the car. He paused for a split second before he got in. Fuck Oregon. Fuck Riverton. And most of all, fuck Noah.
What, Alex wasn’t good enough for Noah’s friends? Well, fuck that shit! He started the car, for once thankful that Riverton was such a pointless place that it lulled people into a false sense of security, so they didn’t bother with such clearly unnecessary activities like locking their cars or taking the keys out of the ignition.
He backed out of the driveway in a rain of gravel and got out of there. He was not going to think about how Noah got home from the party. Or the fact that he was technically stealing the guy’s car. Noah would just have to ask one of those friends he figured were too good for the likes of Alex to give him a ride.
Lacey would probably be ready to give him all sorts of rides.
Alex drove for an hour before he calmed down enough to turn the car around and head back to the center. He had to admit, the idea of taking Noah’s car on a cross-country road trip to New York was tempting as hell, but