NOAH

Chapter 10

~ Dex ~

I watched as my brother refilled his glass with vanilla-flavored vodka and wondered what he'd been hinting at. Could it be that he'd started negotiations about buying the rest of the building?

Why else would he need to update the menus?

As Jess had pointed out, they were up to date already.

But if negotiations were on their way, why hadn't he told me about them?

He could've done so in his office tonight before we came downstairs for our drinks. Maybe it was because Caleb and Misha had also been there. Well, mostly because of Misha. He'd had a run-in with his stepmother today, so he wasn't in the best of moods. The Bennett twins had managed to cheer him up somewhat, and Jess was adding her contribution to the cause; talking about fashion was a good way to distract the boy.

I could see why Ash hadn't wanted to discuss something that would exclude Misha thus letting the teen get lost in negative thoughts. Still, my brother hadn't even hinted at anything up until the talk about the menus, which left me puzzled.

While these musings were going through my mind, Ash returned and sat back by my side, giving no indication that he wanted to talk shop tonight. Making up my mind to speak to him in private about Nightfall, I turned my attention back to the rest of our small party.

Noah's tense expression caught my eye right away and I looked about to see if anyone else had noticed. The rest of the group was engulfed in conversation, so I was sure they hadn't. Slightly apprehensive, I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and, as casually as I could, asked:

"Everything okay?" I kept my tone low so as not to attract the attention of the rest. Noah, who'd been staring at the table, gazed up at me with those beautiful green eyes of his and a slight frown on his pink lips.

"I was thinking about the cocktail," he admitted. "Not only about a name, but also how to tweak it. I want it to be the best before we include it in the menus."

"It tastes good to me," I reassured him, smiling, and to my delight, he returned it.

"I'm glad, but I still think it needs some work."

"Well, if you need a test subject to try out different versions, just say so."

"Really?" His grin was so radiant that I couldn't help but chuckle and grin back at him.

"Really. We can stay after hours sometime and test several versions at a time," I proposed to an enthusiastic Noah.

"Mint isn't my favorite flavor, but if you need some extra taste buds, count me in," Mac butted in, and I felt irritated albeit the good nature of his offer. I chastised my selfish impulse - if one more person wanted to help Noah out, so much the better - and yet I couldn't help but lean back and put some distance between me and the large man I considered my friend and a genuinely nice guy.

"Alright, gang," Jess and her girlfriend got up. "Gracie and I are calling it a night."

"Me too," Noah stood up as well. I'd already opened my mouth to offer him a ride - even though I wasn't sure exactly where he lived - when I remembered I was supposed to have a chat with my brother.

"We can share a cab," Mac suggested, and when Noah happily agreed, another just as irrational feeling took over me: jealousy.

What was wrong with me?

"We're also going," Caleb announced, nodding toward his sibling. "It's way past Misha's bedtime even for a Friday night. Besides, somebody has to do all their homework on Saturday, because they designated Sunday for an anime marathon with the Bennetts."