Crossing lines (Noah and Aiden) novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174

“Fuck,” he gasped, his breath shaky and unfocused.

I gently pushed his hair back from his damp forehead, still nestled against him, my eyes locked on his. “Shhh, stay with me,” I whispered softly.

A sleepy chuckle escaped his lips. “I’m with you…”

“No, not now,” I murmured, pressing a tender kiss to his brow, even as I sank deeper into the mess I was creating. “I meant tonight. Just… stay with me tonight.”

He gave a slow nod. “Okay.”

Wrapping my arms tightly around him, I pulled him close and let sleep wash over us both.

The final game before tryouts came and went in a blur, and Noah transformed every ounce of pain and heartbreak into pure determination. The calls from his sister, the heavy weight of home—he refused to let any of it break him. Instead, he used it as fuel. And God, did he shine. It was by far his best performance yet—throws as precise as clockwork, fearless runs that left defenders grasping at air. The kind of game that grabs scouts’ attention and cements a player’s name in the record books. Another win for the Wolves. Another headline with his name on it. A triumph not only for the team but for Noah’s future.

“That was one hell of a game tonight, Coach,” the dean said, leaning over the railing to grasp my hand as the crowd began to thin out.

“Thanks, sir. The boys earned every bit of it,” I replied calmly.

His smile turned sly, almost conspiratorial. “Especially that Blake kid. You managed to lock him down with us yet?”

“Not quite,” I answered. “We’re still grinding—bowl prep first, then playoffs.”

He made a thoughtful sound, his grin sharpening. “Well, you’ve got some time before the bowl. Plenty of chances to make it happen. We need him here for one more year. Promise him whatever it takes, but don’t let him slip away.”

That look—God, I knew it well. The kind of smile that meant deals made behind closed doors, strings pulled regardless of who got hurt. He didn’t understand: I might be reckless, but I wasn’t about to let anyone use Noah as a pawn in their game to line their pockets.

He had the nerve to complain, and I rolled my eyes. “Behave, Blake.” It sounded more like a growl than a real warning, and we both knew it.

—

I loved this rebel version of Noah.

I loved Noah…

Fuck.

I led him toward a conference room tucked away on the far side of the complex. Inside waited three of the most important people he’d ever meet—contacts who could hand him his future on a silver platter. As I opened the door and watched his eyes grow wide with realization, it hit me hard: I was guiding him straight toward everything he’d ever worked for… and simultaneously, straight away from me.