Chapter 194
Before I could check my phone, I quickly shook my head and turned back toward the door. No. I wouldn't lament over some stupid forum post; it was probably just a troll, someone seeking internet fame at my expense. Besides, there was no proof anywhere that Noah and I were getting a divorce… right?
When I finally returned to the party, the sound of voices from the study drifted into the hallway. Rounding the corner, I found a small group gathered: Noah, Drake, a few others, and… Zoe, of course.
“There she is!” Drake exclaimed when he saw me. “We’re just starting a game. Care to join?”
I approached cautiously, still holding my gin and tonic. “What kind of game?”
“Truth or drink,” Drake replied.
I raised an eyebrow. “Truth or… drink?”
“It’s like truth or dare, but only truth. Drink if you don’t want to answer, or if someone correctly calls you out on a lie,” Zoe explained, leaning against Noah’s desk. Noah remained silent, sitting in his swivel chair with a stony expression.
Against my better judgment, I sat down and crossed my ankles, pointedly ignoring the feeling of both Drake’s and Noah’s eyes on my cleavage. “Alright, sure. I’ll play.”
The game began innocently enough, with harmless truths and obvious bluffs. I sipped my drink each time, watching the others become intoxicated. But as the game progressed, the questions grew bolder.
Drake’s turn arrived, and he fixed his gaze on me. “I pick Hannah,” he said, pointing at me from behind his glass.
“Hit me.”
He leaned forward, his eyes suddenly intense, making me instinctively lean back. “Would you ever be attracted to a man other than Noah?”
The room fell silent. I felt Noah’s gaze burning into me, both awaiting my answer and silently daring me to see the consequences. My heart pounded as I considered my options: truth, a bluff, or…
I reached for my glass, taking a long sip—the coward’s way out. Noah’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing.
Zoe’s eyes narrowed, darting between Drake and me. “My turn,” she announced, standing from Noah’s desk. “I choose Drake.”
Drake nodded, seemingly unfazed. “Go on.”
Zoe’s lips curled into a smirk. “Do you have feelings for anyone in this group?”
Drake’s confidence wavered. He looked at Zoe, then his gaze shifted to me. Our eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like we were alone. Then, without breaking eye contact, he raised his glass and drank.
Zoe huffed, clearly annoyed. “Coward,” she muttered, sinking back onto the desk.
The tension was palpable, broken only when Noah abruptly stood. “I think that’s enough for tonight,” he said, clapping his hands and turning to another guest. “How about we move to the living room? Steven, I’ve been meaning to show you my new record player.”
The guest nodded, following Noah—whose shoulder brushed mine, making me clench my teeth as he passed—out of the room. As the others dispersed, I caught Drake’s arm. “Can we talk? Privately?”
He nodded, following me onto the small veranda outside Noah’s office. The cool night air was a welcome change from the stuffy room, and I paused, my fingers tightening around the railing.
Finally, I turned to face him, crossing my arms. “What was that back there?”
Drake ran a hand through his hair, looking conflicted. “Hannah, I…”
“You what?” I pressed. “You’ve been acting strangely all night. The drink swap, the looks, and now this?”
He stepped closer, his eyes shamelessly roaming over me, making my face flush. “Can’t you guess?”
My breath hitched, and I took a step back. “No. I’m not playing games anymore, so you’d better tell me what’s going on.”
He sighed, his gaze intense as it met mine. “I think you know, Hannah.”