Not So Alone (West Coast Campus Book 1)

Bonus Chapter #5

Chapter 15 of Not So Broken
The barbecue at Coach Millers house

be nice cuz i didn't edit this cuz i ain't wanna

Allie

"Maybe some fruit? Oh! And some lemonade if they have it," I smile up at Noah but he raises an eyebrow in return.

"Are you sure that's all? Maybe some-"

"Noah," My voice is calm but we've had this discussion many times since I was diagnosed with an eating disorder, "I know it isn't much but I literally can not think about eating anything else without feeling dizzy and-and sick. One day at a time, right?"

His face softens and he nods, standing before he dips his head down to peck my cheek. I tune out Maeve's gag of disgust from across the table but it's getting harder and harder to ignore.

Whenever someone displays any affection around her-which is fucking crazy because her and Rhys have a pretty affectionate relationship themselves-she either gags or looks away with a roll of her eyes.

I understand why affection is hard for her-I can't even begin to imagine what growing up in a household like hers was-but for me, affection is healing. It's something that's taken me awhile to love again.

I am not a fucking needy puppy. Not a fucking needy puppy.

Blinking out of my depressing thoughts, I smile when Liam plops himself down on my lap and falls asleep almost instantly. Can't even make it an hour past his bedtime, I think.

"Do not fucking wake him, Cam. He didn't sleep a fucking wink last night and kept us up all night," Maeve snaps, pointing one of her french fries at him as he approaches with Ava, his girlfriend. Or so they say.

Ava takes the seat next to me, reaching over to brush some of Liam's hair away from his face. God, I love her dress. Open back and silky and she looks so confident in it. I don't bother glancing down at my jeans and shirt I stole from Noah.

Cam laughs. "Oh, I can tell. You look like shit. You sure it was Liam who kept you up?"

Rhys sits up straighter, looking a little too proud before Maeve elbows his side. He pouts. "What the fuck, Nova? This is what I get for making you come-"

"Rhys fucking Beckett," Maeve snaps, her eyes narrowed, "You will never see my fucking tits again if you finish that sentence. Zip it the fuck up."

Cam and Ava both laugh when Rhys stops talking, turning to the couple. "Oh please. If you had to stop seeing Ava's tits, I think you'd have a fucking hissy fit."

I spare a glance at a blushing Ava and snicker. Cam clears his throat but has a small grin. "Probably."

Tension immediately leaves my body when Noah takes the seat to my left, sandwiching me in between him and Ava. I smile freely, ignoring Maeve's stare when Noah buries his face into my neck, placing our plates down on the table.

"I hate these fucking things." My boyfriend groans and I smother my laugh into his hair.

"Aw, you poor man child. You just wanna go home and snuggle Leo," I tease but I think we both would rather be at home in bed, watching comedy shows.

"Fucking right I wanna go home and snuggle with him. He's much better than these horny idiots." Noah says, gently adjusting Liam's head off my neck.

I haven't been triggered by my neck in almost seven months and the only reason I was triggered in the first place is because of loud environments like this but I'm proud it's been that long.

"Thank you," I whisper, shifting closer to him. He lifts his arm so I can burrow into his side, Liam still snoring away.

He smiles one of those rare smiles and I just about melt. "Of course. I'm ready to go home whenever."

"Has anyone seen Kyla? Or Seth?" Maeve asks. We all glance around.

"That girl? She could be dead in a fucking ditch and would still be gushing about her nails." Noah says so casually that I sigh, shaking my head.

Maeve slaps Rhys's hand away from her food and he pouts. "To be fair, her nails are always fucking awesome."

Ignoring the couples bickering, I turn to Ava who's been quiet the whole time. "Hey, I wanted to ask you when Nationals are for you. Cam mentioned something about it being next weekend?"

Ava blinks, looking extremely shocked. "Oh, ah, next weekend. Why?"

"Well, Noah and I wanted to come and watch so I wanted to but tickets beforehand." I falter at her expression. "Is that okay with you? If we came and watched? I think everyone was planning to come."

Her heads whips Cams way but he's distracted with the burger on his plate. I reach over and squeeze her hand gently. "We don't have to come if it'll make you more jittery. I completely understand-"

"No, no, I want you guys to come. Just wasn't expecting it, is all." Her brows are drawn together like she can't figure out why we would want to come and support her. It breaks my heart.

Cam and Ava wonder off eventually and when the team starts drinking, Noah and I decide to leave as well.

"Thanks for letting him sleep," Maeve says awkwardly when I pass Liam to Rhys.

I nod, not meeting her eyes. "Of course. You guys looked like you needed a break."

Noah says a quick goodbye to his coach and we thank his wife before leaving.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hi, peanut. I missed you, my baby," I coo, squatting down so I can pet Leo when he greets us at the front door. His tail wags happily and he gives me a smile.

Leo isn't a big dog, being what we think the runt of his litter. He comes up to my knees but next to Noah, he looks the size of a fucking peanut. Hence the nickname.

"Who you calling baby?" Noah asks, brushing past us and into the kitchen.

"My baby, obviously." I roll my eyes.

Noah pouts but sighs in defeat when Leo goes trotting over to him, sitting at his feet. I can't hold back my smile when Noah decides to sit on the floor and Leo immediately starts licking his face.

"I'm gonna shower." I feel disgusting since I went right to the bbq from the gym, still sweaty and covered in chalk. "Join me?"

Noah's already on his feet. I squel when he picks me up and carries us to our bathroom, turning on the water quickly before stripping us both, our lips sealed together.

I sigh when the warm water hits my back, my arms draped loosely around Noah's neck as I lean all my body weight on him.

He gently glides the sponge along my skin and I kiss his pec before resting my cheek against chest.

"I love your hair," I tell him as I massage shampoo into the brown strands. The corner of his lip tilts up as he stares down at me. "Only my hair?"

"I guess you're alright as well," I tease, giggling when he nips at my ear. "And I love when you're grumpy because then it makes those rare smiles even better. Gosh, I love when you smile."

"Only for you, Baby. Only for you."

"Only for me."