22. Noah
Chapter twenty-two
Noah
Itug my jacket a little tighter as I pass the sound crew on their way to reset the scene.
Instead of checking on Yong-rae like I should, I slip into the nearest restroom to assess the damage.
One look in the mirror at the high color in my cheeks and the light sheen of sweat on my brow confirms my suspicions: Awa could likely tell I was…
excited. If not that specifically, she knew something was up.
I looked guilty as fuck, hunched over and running off like that.
When I release the fabric, my dick stands proud and insistent, pushing against the zipper of my pants like a Xenomorph trying to burst through a poor astronaut's chest. I hastily turn on the cold water and splash some on my face.
What the hell happened? One second, I'm watching Yong-rae act like a champ, Dean's brooding anger flowing off him in waves, and the next I'm back in the dorm room, remembering what it felt like to touch and tease the woman sitting just a few feet away.
I have no idea what triggered the memory.
Maybe it was the small bed? There were two doubles in the scene, and our dorms all had twin longs.
Or maybe it was my proximity to the woman in question, paired with the sex in the air.
Her attention was rapt on the monitors, and I couldn't help noticing the vice-like grip she had on her chair.
She looked exactly how I felt: pent-up and practically vibrating with lust. Like whoever she's with these days isn't taking care of business the way he should.
I shake my head and splash some more water on my face.
I shouldn't even be thinking about whether or not she's getting the dick she deserves.
It's not like I ever had the chance. Well, I may have had the chance, but I wasn't stupid enough to go through with it.
Everything about her back then said "long term" and "serious", and I'm not just talking about her demeanor. Her pussy was…
I wipe my face with a paper towel; the memory remains.
Her pussy was fucking amazing. Plump outer lips that beckoned to my mouth and a tight little channel that strangled my fingers with every thrust. I'll never forget how she made me paint my pants that night.
How glad I was that my hoodie was long enough to cover the spot.
It didn't feel right leaving her, but part of me knew her pussy was the kind that makes a man burn his little black book.
I was happily single. I wasn't ready for all that.
And now?
Now, there's a tenuous truce between us, a distance that's probably my fault, and the success of a promising franchise hanging over both of our heads.
If I'd sat there any longer, I'd have asked her out again, and she made it clear the last time that she didn't want to cross that line.
Maybe I shouldn't either, but being this close to her, with memories flooding back and her looking more beautiful than I remember? It's testing my resolve.
I pull out my phone and start texting.
Council of Brothers
Tell me someone has a second to talk.
Henry: First Damon, now you. Since when do we have so many talking emergencies?
I assume that since my twin can text, he can talk, and press on his name to initiate the call. He picks up on the third ring.
"Noah, that wasn't an invitation," he answers impatiently. "I'm trying to finish this last brief before the wedding stuff gets too crazy."
I wince, remembering he's just weeks away from walking down the aisle. I don't mean to pile on, but he's right; this is a "talking emergency".
"My bad," I offer. I'll keep it quick. "Listen, I'm on set and I just popped a boner."
There's silence on the line.
"Hello?"
Henry sighs. I imagine he's taking off his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose, a habit he and Awa share.
"I'm trying to figure out what you want me to do about you getting an erection on set. This isn't high school. I don't have a book you can borrow or anything."
"Fuck you," I snap back. "That's not why I need to talk. I need to talk because the boner is over a woman that I hooked up with in college and essentially ghosted."
I'm met with silence again, and a chill runs up my spine.
"I didn't actually ghost her," I amend quickly, "but we did stop hanging out shortly after we got physical. Now we're stuck on set together and my body's forgetting that she's better left a memory."
If I had really disappeared on a woman I was seeing, Henry would have my ass, then pass me to Dad to finish the job. We were raised to be gentlemen, even if we chose not to settle down until recently. But Awa and I were never dating, so I was just an asshole, not a fuckboy. Right?
"Hmmm," is his response. I want to reach through the phone and punch him.
"Hmmm, that's interesting? Or hmmm, that sounds bad?"
"Hmmm, I don't know," he answers, and my knuckles actually go white from clenching so hard. "I guess," he considers, in that annoying lawyer way of his, "it depends on what you want from this woman. Does she seem open to starting something again?"
"Negative," I answer.
"Then what are we even talking about?"
I roughly comb my fingers through my hair.
"You're right. This is a non-issue. I'll drop it."
"Sounds good," he replies, then promptly disconnects the call.
What a dick. I guess I interrupted his work, but it's been ages since I called an emergency twin talk. It wasn't so long ago that he needed my help when he was wooing Camila. Not that I intend to woo Awa…
My phone buzzing interrupts my racing thoughts.
"Noah Park speaking."
"I know who it is," Mom chides. "I called you, remember?"
"Sorry," I say with a smile. Just hearing Mom's voice releases the knot I felt forming between my shoulder blades. "I didn't check the ID before picking up. What's up?"
"What's up? Can't I just call to talk to my favorite son?"
"Mom." I shake my head. "I know you say that to all of us."
She giggles, then breaks into a coughing fit. I'm immediately back on edge.
"Is everything OK, Mom? You're not taking on too much with the wedding, are you?"
She has to clear her throat several more times before she can answer.
"Nonsense," she insists. "Henry and Camila are having a courthouse wedding. There's not really much to plan."
The words are light, but I can hear the undercurrent of hurt. Maya let Mom be pretty involved in her wedding when it was Adam's turn. Now Mom's eldest is getting married, and she feels like she's on the sidelines.
I sympathize, but I also get where Henry and Camila are coming from.
This is the only time they could get in front of the judge they want to marry them, and despite the recent holiday break, they're taking a generous six weeks off for their honeymoon.
Henry said it's partially to make up for going years without a decent vacation.
Together, they decided they'd rather cram in as much work as possible before they leave than get overloaded with a big venue, hotels, and fancy table settings. They are having a small reception, though.
"You really did just call to check in?" I ask, skeptical.
"Well," she hedges, and I chuckle.
"So what is it? I don't mean to rush you, but I should get back to set."
"OK," she says, her mood brightening. "I was wondering if you could get me an autograph from Tabitha Styles. I loved her in 'Two Truths, One Bullet', and it would really make me look good at book club next month."
"Of course," I smile. "I'll try to get it by the end of the week."
She's understandably disappointed when I tell her I have to skip yet another family dinner.
I haven't missed this many since I was interning in California, but it feels necessary.
Working from set is fine in theory, but the optics of my empty office aren't great.
To balance it out, I've been putting in extra hours at events on nights and weekends.
You never know where you'll get a lead on a secret casting call or a closed audition.
Five more minutes of pleasantries and mild, motherly guilt later, and we say our goodbyes. I walk back to my makeshift desk, my earlier "issue" now long gone.
For Tabitha's autograph, I should probably go through Awa; I don't want to step on any toes. Then again, after what happened earlier, it might be safer to request the autograph in writing. That way no sexy but prickly attorneys think I'm angling for a date. Perhaps an email?
I stop a few yards short of the video village. Shit.
With all the recent craziness, I completely forgot to email Awa about Camila.
My head might be a mess, but I can at least facilitate a connection between two badass lawyers.
I've seen Camila's talent firsthand, and once she gets a few clients under her belt, it's only a matter of time before she's in Awa's league.
She can consider this a bonus wedding gift on top of the juicer I already got from her registry.
Mind made up, I open my phone to kill two birds with one stone.