Crossing lines (Noah and Aiden) novel Chapter 175

Chapter 175

Noah

I stepped out of the sports complex, my heart pounding so fiercely it felt as though it might burst free from my chest. My head was spinning, a dizzy mix of adrenaline and disbelief, yet beneath it all, I felt alive—electric, charged. This was really happening. No longer a distant dream, it was unfolding right before me.

I realized I hadn’t needed William or his high-powered connections after all. Instead, I’d just shaken hands with scouts who weren’t merely interested—they wanted me. Real teams, big names. One of them was my ultimate dream come true: the Dallas Cowboys. The kind of team kids back home only whispered about in fantasies. And they weren’t just curious; they were throwing numbers at me that seemed unreal. Seven figures a year. A signing bonus so massive it didn’t sound like money anymore—it sounded like freedom.

Thirty million. Thirty. Fucking. Million.

I’ve always had a bit of swagger, maybe even came off as cocky sometimes, but hearing those figures out loud, knowing it was *me* they wanted—that was something else entirely. For the first time, this wasn’t just bravado or a daydream. It was real. My future was standing right in front of me. Money like that could change everything. Rescue Emily. Save Mom. Rip us out of that crumbling house and bury James Blake deep in the past, where he belonged.

Still, part of me struggled to grasp it. Because who was I, really? Just a poor kid from West Virginia, the unwanted accident my dad never stopped reminding me about. My mom barely survived pregnancy—six months in, drugged up and broken—and I came early, a so-called miracle baby. More like a miracle I’d lived at all.

I wasn’t supposed to be here. Not at this level. Not whole. The path for someone like me was already laid out: end up at the power plant like half the guys I knew, or worse, running shady jobs, moving stolen goods from one warehouse to another. That was the future written for me.

But here I was. And for the first time ever, I held the power to tear that script apart.

I’d do whatever it took to hold onto this chance. Whatever it took to make it real. And there was only one person I could thank for that.

Without hesitation, my feet carried me straight to Aiden’s office. By the time I reached him, my heart was still hammering like I’d just won the Super Bowl. I pushed open the door, barely able to contain myself. All I wanted was to throw myself at him, to hug him, to kiss him—anything.

His sharp eyes met mine. “Careful,” he murmured, voice low. “Too many people around. Not here.”

I froze, my pulse still racing. “Right. Sorry.”

“How’d it go?” His tone was calm, controlled, like he hadn’t been anxiously waiting for this moment.

“Incredible,” I blurted out, grinning like a fool. “Fucking incredible. They want me, Aiden. All of them. I’m going to get Emily out of there. I can do this.”

He rose and crossed the room, lowering his voice. “Listen, this isn’t instant. Nothing’s signed tomorrow, and this won’t be solved by Monday. You have to finish the season. Play your best. Keep your grades perfect. Behave—flawlessly. If you manage all that by the end of the year, then yes… you’ll have your pick. Any of them. It’s real. But you have to hold the line.”

It was mind-blowing. Absolutely insane. But the question burning inside me was: what about us?

I swallowed the thought down and forced a grin. “We need to celebrate.”

He gave me that look—the one that said he’d already thought ten steps ahead before I even spoke. “You know the drill, Noah. Go to the party. Blend in. Be seen. Smile. Have some fun. Just… be careful. Stay out of trouble.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “You always send me away and expect me to behave.”

Part of me hated it. Hated that I couldn’t drag him out with me, couldn’t celebrate with him. So I did the next stupid thing—I leaned in and kissed him, quick and reckless, like a kid sneaking candy.

His eyes narrowed, but I caught a flash of heat there anyway.

“I’ll call you later when I’m bored. Or drunk.”

“You better not,” he shot back, dry as hell.

The moment the door closed behind me, I leaned against the sink, pulled out my phone, and snapped a quick pic—proof of life, half hard. I sent it to Aiden with a grin.

Still intact… I miss you.

My phone buzzed almost immediately.

You better be saving that for me…

I smirked, fingers flying across the screen.

I am! Can’t wait for tomorrow night. But until then… can I have a dick pic?

Three little dots. Then a reply: just a sly, looped emoji smile.

If you’re good, I’ll send you something much better later…

Now we were talking! I already had my own contacts rolling, and my man was about to help me meet my other needs… Who needed this damn party? I bit back a laugh.

I’ll be soooo good. Can’t wait for my reward.

Still grinning like an idiot, I shoved my phone away and headed back out. If only I’d known what the night would bring, I would’ve gone straight to Aiden.

If only…