Page 14 of Don't Make Promises
My pace picks up as I try to reach him before he gets into his car. “Noah,” I call.
He stops mid stride and I realize that’s the first time—in a very long time—that I’ve said his name out loud. Noah doesn’t turn around, instead he keeps his back to me, his shoulders rigid as he waits for me to speak.
“I know you’re just doing this as a favor to Jack. But to be honest, I’d rather not stay with you and your girlfriend. I’d only cramp your style and I’m a grown up, in case you hadn’t noticed. It was nice of you to come fetch me, but I really am okay with staying here.” I look back at the hotel. The lights that are out in the signage and the peeling paint on the brickwork, all signs that I should quit my jabbering and get in his car.
When I look back at him again, he’s turned around and his hazel eyes are studying me. He scrubs a hand over his beard as he chooses his words. A muscle ticks in his jaw and I know he’s close to the limits of his patience. “You’re right. I am just doing this as a favor to Jack. That’s why you’re coming to stay with Sutton and me. This isn’t up for debate, Savannah, so quit trying and get in the goddamn car.”
I can’t see a way out of this. If I don’t get in the car, I know that he’ll put me in it; that his promise to Jack means that much to him. Defeated, I mutter, “I need to at least check out.”
“It’s already done.”
There’s a finality in his tone, and if my mind wasn’t so preoccupied with trying to get out of staying with him, I might have paid more attention to it.
I march over to the car, flinging the front passenger door open before I climb inside. The driver, who barely looks old enough to have a license, stares at me in surprise, before righting himself and looking straight ahead.
“Hello, I’m Savannah. It’s nice to meet you.”
He tips his hat toward me. “Rupert, ma’am.”
For the first time all night, a genuine smile pulls at my mouth, and my light laugh echoes around the car. “I’m not old enough to be called ma’am. Please, call me Savannah.”
The back door opens and Noah climbs in behind Rupert, his spicy cinnamon scent enveloping me in a hug. I can’t help the dig as I say to Rupert, “Or, you can call me angel.”
“If you value your job and your life, Rupert, you won’t call her that.”
I roll my eyes as Rupert straightens in his seat, replying, “Yes, sir.”
And just like that, all of the fun has been sucked out of the car.
Resting my hand on the back of his shoulder, I lean over and whisper in Rupert’s ear, “Don’t worry, you can call me angel when we’re alone. I won’t tell.”
Rupert swallows audibly and I brush an invisible speck of lint from his shoulder, my eyes darting to the man occupying the back seat. Noah’s gaze is burning a hole into Rupert’s shoulder, where my hand still rests. His jaw grinds while his knuckles go white as he tightens his hand around the phone clenched in his palm.
This could be fun.
As Rupert pulls out, I relax back into my seat before a thought occurs to me. It might just be the way to get out of this and if it doesn’t work, I can always keep messing with him by flirting with Rupert. I’m sure he’d hate that. He was never good at hiding his dislike for any boys I brought around. Noah was ten times worse than Jack for that.
What if he fires Rupert?
No, he wouldn’t do that. Although, I don’t know Noah. Not anymore.
I won’t bring Rupert into my games.
“Does Sutton know I’m coming to stay?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.
My question hangs in the air. When I turn in my seat, his hazel eyes connect with mine. His head is tipped back against the headrest, angled toward me as he stares, and a tense silence fills the void between us. He looks stressed; like the weight of the world rests on his shoulders.
His tone is filled with exhaustion when he replies, “She knows.”
I can tell there’s so much more to what he’s said. Yet he isn’t offering it up.Did they argue about me? Does she know everything?So many unanswered questions run through my mind.
No. I’m not gonna go there.
Turning back to face the front, I think over a plan that doesn’t get Rupert fired nor cause Noah anymore stress. He didn’t ask to have Jack as a best friend. Neither did he ask for Jack to call him up and demand he look after his little sister.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I send out several texts to see if I can pick up some more shifts at any of my jobs. It’s my last ditch attempt at making the best out of a bad situation—be too busy to even see my new roommate.
I spend the remainder of the drive planning out my schedule, packing it full. Whenever I’m not in a show, I tend to fill my days with odd jobs, like teaching theatre classes to kids or helping out in Sasha’s bakery or even working in a dive bar.