Not So Broken (West Coast College Book 3)

Chapter 24

Ava

"Pina coladas? I knew I almost liked you, Noah." Maeve raises her glass towards him, thanking Rhys when he hands her a slice of cake.

Noah smirks, crossing his tattooed arms over his chest. "That's for Allie, Maeve. The alcohol is over there."

He gestures to the drinks that line the counter in fancy pitchers, along with enough food to feed an army which makes sense when there's a hungry ass hockey team celebrating their Captain's birthday.

Blue swirl decorations and streamers hang from the ceiling and all the doorframes, helium balloons dangling from the ceiling. Allie even hung a disco ball in the middle of the kitchen.

"I knew I hated you, Noah. Can't even make a proper pina." Maeve grumbles, glaring.

Rhys pulls her toward him by her waist. "I just can't believe he's younger than most of us. Like, the fuck? And we're so much cooler than him."

Maeve rolls her eyes, kissing his cheek. "The coolest, babe. Especially when you're in bed by nine with Liam."

I snort, piling some of the food onto my paper plate. The girls are all sitting in the massive living room, far enough away from the team that when Maeve and I take a seat on the couch, they can't hear her shit talking about them.

Cameron and I hadn't seen each other in a couple of days so when he asked if I wanted to come to Noah's birthday party, I jumped on the opportunity to spend more time with him.

He also asked if he could invite Quinn, so he's been going around introducing everybody to his brother with the biggest smile on his face, his dimples never wavering.

I want to go over and kiss them. And when he catches me staring, he winks like he knows exactly what I'm thinking about.

My eyes roll but I force myself to look away so he can't see the blush that's planted itself on my cheeks and neck. I take a sip of my drink to hopefully cool it.

Brayden shifts on the other side of me. "Girl, that dress." He kisses his pinched fingers in the air, eyes harmlessly tracking up and down Allie. "Chefs fucking kiss."

Allie beams, smoothing down the material around her from where she sits across from us with Kyla. She looks amazing with that white plunging neckline mini dress on, her gold hair pinned back.

Maeve nods, agreeing with Brayden. "So fucking hot. And I think it's the first time I've seen you in a dress and girl. Let's just say my inner Kyla is coming out."

Kyla places a gentle hand on her chest, pretending to blob at a tear in the corner of her eye. "I think that's the nicest thing I've ever heard you say about me. Thank you."

We all laugh because being complimented by Maeve? It's a rare thing to even think about.

Noah walks over to where Allie sits, his face softening at seeing her look so happy. He bends at the knees so he's crouching in front of her at eye level, placing a plate of small pieces of fruit in her lap, rubbing his hands up and down her folded legs.

"Try for at least three pieces each. And if that goes well, we can try something else and see how that goes, okay?" Noah says and Maeve gags from beside me. I elbow her ribs.

As much as Maeve finds their affection towards each other disgusting and repulsing, Allie and Noah's relationship is one of the most loving and healthiest relationships to ever exist.

And I read fucking books. The standards are already set extremely high so when I say they smashed those standards, you better fucking believe me.

Allie just nods, picking up a few strawberries and popping them in her mouth. Noah smiles-only at her of course-kissing her forehead before heading back to the kitchen.