Page 37 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Daisy

Listen to Taste

by Sabrina Carpenter

S omething was wrong.

I sipped my drink and glanced around the club.

I was pumped when we’d scheduled a night out.

It had been too long since the group was together.

As we squeezed in at the bar and did shots, laughing with my girls, I felt almost giddy.

Not only was I finally going to graduate, but I was sure Noah would agree to move in together.

Even if he’d been acting strange lately.

I pushed the thought away to get my party on. It was rare Noah was part of the crew and not on stage being the DJ. I kept trying to sneak kisses in as we were on the dance floor, but he laughed me off, hugging me instead. I wasn’t big into PDA but he was obviously being distant.

As the night wore on, my gut instinct sharpened. Was Noah simply overworked and worried about the new album? Was I overdramatizing the way he’d suddenly stopped wanting sex and conveniently scheduled things when he knew I was working? Was something bigger happening I refused to see?

And then it all clicked in one awful, devastating rush.

I spotted Elle and Noah from across the room.

Leaning against the wall, away from the crush of the crowds, their heads were bent together in deep conversation.

The crackle of sexual tension exploded in the air between them.

Their bodies couldn’t seem to separate more than a few inches, as if a magnetic pull made it impossible for space.

They both laughed, gazes locked on each other.

No one else would think twice about them hanging together. After all, they’d just cut an entire new album. They’d spent hundreds of hours together, locked in the studio, creating beautiful, moody music from the depths of their hearts.

I expected a bond. They’d been friends longer than I’d been dating Noah.

I was always realistic with Noah being a DJ and around endless women who all wanted to fuck him.

I simply wasn’t a jealous person. I believed I was the best for him, that I could offer something no one else would.

I was the smooth, calm edges Noah needed to be his best self.

I’d entwined myself into his life with careful, plotted steps, knowing exactly what I had to do to create a relationship he’d never want to blow up.

But I hadn’t expected this. I could care less about the physical chemistry. Sex was easy. It was dirty and simple and most men separated love and sex. If Noah wanted to bang Elle, I’d shrug it off as a phase. Her and Coop were pretty tight, even with their issues.

No. This was much more serious. Because what I spotted wasn’t I-need-to-fuck you energy.

It was more I need you . An aching longing that romantic movies popularized. The unspoken wanting between two people who only wanted more time in their space. To breathe the same air and stop time.

This was dangerous.

I forced my gaze away, pasting on my professional smile as I listened to the chatter around me, pretending not to notice the man I loved had fallen in love with one of my best friends. In front of me. On my watch.

The pain was so unbearable, I wanted to sink to my knees and curl into a fetal position. Anything to stop the tearing open of my chest as I thought of a world where Noah wasn’t in it. I’d been stupid. Too trusting. Even worse?

I wasn’t even angry at him. I was angry at myself for not paying attention. For believing making a few songs together wouldn’t affect any of us. I’d taken my eye off the ball and now I would pay.

Dear God, we’d all pay. We wouldn’t come back from this.

Landon was coming home soon, and we needed to be a strong group to see if we could make room for their new dynamics as a couple.

Max had seemed happy lately. There was a gleam in his eye and he wasn’t the usual dick when we hung out together.

I’d asked if he was seeing anyone but he just cited the gym as the reason he was happy.

Another reason to hope we can all move forward together with a fresh start. But now this?

Hell, no. I couldn’t let this happen. I was Noah’s soul-mate. Elle would be too much for him—she craved the darker, dirty type of sex Noah would never be comfortable with. He was falling for only part of her, casting her into the role of an angel; a woman who understood his soul.

I knew the truth. It would be temporary. They’d have sex, pretend it was true love, and find themselves split up within the year.

I needed to save both of them from disaster.

“Daisy? You, okay?”

I shook my head and smiled at Gabby, who was staring at me with a slight frown. “Yeah,

sorry. I think I had too many shots.”

“Want some water?”

“That’d be great.”

She plucked a glass from the table and I guzzled it down. “Noah and Elle are really on fire lately, huh? Heard they’re done with the album and JJ said he’s leaking the first track out soon. Could even be a tour. Can you imagine if they joined Unison when Adam got back?”

My stomach twisted and I wanted to vomit. “Yeah, it’s great.”

I avoided Gabby’s searching gaze, trying to get my shit together. Shock waves still pummeled me.

“Think Noah will step away from being a DJ to make more music with Elle?”

God, her questions were like hard jabs. “Maybe.”

“You worried?”

I jerked back. Forced a laugh. “Of course not. They’re friends.”

Gabby sighed. “We’re all friends, Dais. But this group is kind of incestual. You can talk to me, you know? I won’t say anything to Elle. Are you concerned with all the time they’re spending time together?”

“Noah loves me.”

“I know. And Elle loves Coop.”

I tilted my head up and made the decision to trust her. I needed someone to confide in. Gabby had no skin in the game and she was brutal with her truth, without the desire to hurt. She simply told things like they were. “I think it’s the music. I think they’re getting…too close.”

Gabby nodded. Understanding lit her green eyes. “Yeah, I noticed. Writing is intimate. Elle took all her love for acting and threw it into the songs. And I think Noah is a dreamer. He’s the type to mistake his passion for creating to the person singing them.”

I widened my eyes, grateful she seemed to see the same. “That’s exactly what I think. Noah’s not able to separate the idea of Elle to what’s actually there. And I think Elle’s issues with Coop makes it easy to be distracted by what seems like this perfect fantasy.”

“They’d be a mess together.”

Relief loosened my shoulders. “I thought I was the only one who saw it! I figured you’d just call me jealous.”

Gabby snorted. “You have every right to be jealous. Elle and Noah are good people. They’re obviously fighting their attraction and don’t want to do anything wrong.”

I nibbled my lower lip. “Unless they already did.”

We both fell silent. “Doesn’t look like it. Honestly, Daisy? Don’t take this the wrong way, okay?”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s like they’re both each other’s Muses. But in the real world? Where it gets messy? Forget it.”

I agreed but it didn’t make me feel better. My boyfriend wanted Elle; saw her as this perfect woman who I’d never be able to beat. I wished I was more like Landon. She’d rage and scream, but at least deal with the mess. Me? I only knew how to deal with conflict one way.

Push it down. Ignore. Pretend it’ll work out if I just did what I always do.

Be good. Nice. Accommodating. Understanding. All the things I desperately wanted to be. I made the exchange in good faith because I only wanted one thing.

For Noah to love me.

I blinked, trying to fight back the sting of tears. Should I talk to Noah and tell him the truth of what I could plainly see? Talk to Elle? Pretend it will burn out after the music is over and that Noah will realize I’m best for him?

If I did, would anything change? I doubt I could rationalize Noah out of believing he really loved Elle and vice versa. They’d both need proof. Proof their feelings were simply part of the creation process.

I’d seen the series Daisy and the Six . I couldn’t let them both blow up the last dregs of who we were together.

“Is there anything I can do?” Gabby asked. “I’m here for you, Dais.”

I shot her a grateful smile. My brain scrambled for answers, sifting through scenarios and possibilities. “Thanks. I’m not ready to make a decision yet.” I glanced back over. Noah’s gaze seemed tender as he stared into Elle’s perfect, heart shaped face. “But I’ll need too. Before it’s too late.”

Coop suddenly appeared, obviously drunk. He slipped his arms around Elle’s waist with casual possession. Elle stiffened, then relaxed, cranking her head around to say something. Noah took a step back, obviously uncomfortable.

That’s when the idea came to me. My conscience screamed in warning; a reminder my actions would have big consequences. Reminded me it wasn’t fair. That I should be better than the others and keep my ethics. To be the better person, ready to walk away if Noah truly wanted Elle.

Gabby shook her head. “Okay, but you need to do something soon. Before it’s too late.”

Her words held a warning and I knew she was right.

Noah turned to scan the room. Catching my gaze, he smiled. My heart squeezed with longing and a deep knowing this was the man for me. I knew if he let me love him, I’d make him happy. Elle would be a distant memory in his past, but his future was me.

There was only one way to show Noah the truth. It may be ruthless, but it was time I began doing what was necessary.

For both of us.