Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth (Hannah and Noah) novel Chapter 72

Chapter 0072
The driver put the car in park, and I quickly pulled my compact out of my purse to check my lipstick before we headed in.
1 should let you know,” Noah said matter-of-factly, “Zoe is going to be here.”
I froze at Noah’s words, my stomach dropping. Zoe. I hadn’t seen her since that uncomfortable double date. Why hadn’t he told me?
“Gee. Thanks for the warning.” I said, returning my gaze to my reflection in my compact mirror.
Of course he hadn’t warned me. Why would he? He knew damn well how much her presence made me squirm, even after all this time. Part of me wondered if he had failed to inform me on purpose just to get under my skin.
For a few moments, the car was silent. I took my time reapplying my dark red lipstick and primping my hair, but there was only so much I could do. My cheeks had been looking a little fuller lately, but not now.
My cheeks looked horribly gaunt. And there were those damn shadows under my eyes again, no matter how much concealer they packed on. I definitely needed to up my calorie intake these next few days if I wanted to start looking… healthier.
Finally, we stepped out of the car. I walked around the back, catching my reflection in the shiny car exterior, and felt my stomach drop once more.
“I look fat,” I blurted out, smoothing my hand over the soft fabric of my dress
Noah, who had already begun making his way toward the front path leading up to the house, froze in his tracks. I glanced over, seeing his shoulders tense up before he turned around to face me.
“Hannah,” he sighed, “you’re not fat. Not even close.
“But-”
“I won’t hear any more of it.”
I blinked owlishly at him, my breath catching in my throat. Noah’s eyes roamed over my face for a moment before flicking down to my hands-only then did I realize they were trembling where they gripped my shawl around myself.
Without a word, Noah took one of my hands in his larger, warm one and gave it a tight, reassuring squeeze. I stared down at our joined fingers, feeling my heart flip over and over again inside my chest.
When was the last time he had touched me willingly like this? When was the last time he had made any effort whatsoever to comfort me or address my insecurities? My throat worked uselessly as I opened and closed my mouth, unable to find the right words.
But it was over just as quickly as it had begun. Noah cleared his throat and let go of my hand, taking a small step back.
“Enough dilly-dallying. We should head inside,” he said gruffly, not meeting my eyes as we walked up the path together. We stopped at the large front door and Noah pressed the buzzer, another silence falling between us as we waited.
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Chapter 0072
“If you decide to stick close to me tonight, I won’t hold it against you,” he blurted out.
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words would come. Not that it mattered, anyway-before I could even answer, the door was opening and Noah’s friends were ushering us in, taking our jackets, giving us a tour and pressing drinks into our hands.
“And here’s the dining room,” the host said, gesturing openly at the large room as we stepped through the square archway. A spread of delicious-looking food was already laid out, the sound of soft music playing over the speakers.
But I hardly saw any of that. I only saw Zoe, standing at the far window with a glass of red wine in her hand, wearing a nearly identical dress to mine. And oh, how much more beautiful she looked in it than I.
Instinctively, I moved closer to Noah,
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