Invisible To Her Bully (Jessa and Noah) novel Chapter 229

Chapter 229

Jessa

The snow had finally stopped sometime in the night, like the storm got bored of being dramatic and decided to

leave us alone.

By morning, the world outside Noah’s window looked like someone had taken a giant handful of glitter and dumped it over everything.

Pretty.

Quiet.

Deceptive.

Because inside the Carter house, I was still recovering from the most mortifying breakfast conversation of my life.

Noah had been red for at least twenty straight minutes.

His mom had apologized five times.

His dad had looked proud of himself, like he’d just delivered the Sermon on the Mount.

And me?

I was going to remember the phrase fifteen minutes of bravery until the day I died.

Now Noah was driving me home, hands steady on the wheel, the heater blasting because the roads were still icy and the sky still had that heavy winter gray hanging low.

We didn’t talk much at first.

Not awkward silence.

More like… comfortable quiet.

The kind that felt new.

Like we were still figuring out what we were allowed to be.

Every now and then Noah glanced over at me, like he was making sure I was real.

And every time, my stomach fluttered like an idiot.

“You okay?” he asked finally.

I nodded, hugging my coat closer. “Yeah.”

“Sorry about my dad,” he added, voice strained like he was still fighting the urge to crawl into a hole.

I laughed softly. “Your dad is… something.”

“That’s one word for it.”

“He means well.”

“He means to ruin my life.”

I smiled, turning to look out the window at the snowbanks piled along the sidewalks.

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Despite everything, despite the embarrassment and the storm and the chaos…

I felt lighter.

Like something had shifted.

Noah Carter had driven me home after I spent the night at his house.

That was… insane.

And kind of wonderful.

When we pulled into my driveway, the house looked normal.

Warm.

Safe.

Like nothing weird could possibly happen inside.

Which, in hindsight, was hilarious.

Noah killed the engine and turned toward me.

“So…” he started.

“So,” I echoed, suddenly shy again.

His fingers tapped against the steering wheel once, then he reached over and brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face.

My breath caught.

“You did good,” he murmured.

I blinked. “Good at what?”

“Being here. With me. Not running away after my dad basically threatened to give me a PowerPoint presentation about condoms.”

I snorted so hard I almost choked.

“Noah!”

He grinned, eyes warm. “I’m serious. I like… having you around.”

My cheeks heated. “I like being around too.”

For a second, neither of us moved.

Then he leaned in, slow, giving me time.

And I met him halfway.

It was soft.

Sweet.

Nothing like the loud chaos of school or rumors or football games.

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Just Noah.

Just me.

When we finally pulled apart, I was smiling before I even realized it.

“Come on,” I said, unbuckling. “Before my brother starts texting me like I’ve been kidnapped.”

Noah laughed. “Lead the way.”

We walked up the steps together, snow crunching under our shoes.

The house was quiet when I unlocked the door.

Too quiet.

I stepped inside first.

“Noah, you can just ”

And then I froze.

Oh.

Oh my God.

Jackson was sprawled out on the couch like a dead man.

One arm thrown over his eyes.

One leg hanging off the edge.

And Mariah…

Mariah was practically on top of him, curled against his chest, asleep with her hair in his face like she owned the place.

It looked less like two teenagers watching a movie and more like a romance novel cover titled Quarterback Heat.

Behind me, Noah made a sound.

A choked–off laugh.

Which was the worst possible noise.

Because it woke them up.

Mariah blinked first, lifting her head slowly like a confused cat.

Jackson’s eyes opened next.

He sat up halfway, hair sticking up, completely disoriented.

Then his gaze landed on me.

And Noah.

Standing there.

Staring.

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Silence.

For one horrifying second, nobody spoke.

Then I crossed my arms.

“Well,” I said flatly. “This is… a sight.”

Mariah’s face went from sleepy to panicked in two seconds.

“Oh my God–Jessa-”

Jackson sat up fully, immediately defensive.

“Nothing happened.”

Noah snorted.

Jackson shot him a death glare.

“I’m serious,” Jackson insisted. “We literally fell asleep.”

Mariah scrambled off him, hair wild. “We were watching a movie!”

“At least that’s what you’re claiming,” Noah muttered under his breath.

Jackson pointed at him. “Shut up.”

I raised my eyebrows slowly.

“You better be glad it was me walking in the door,” I told my brother, voice sharp with amusement. “Not Mom.”

Jackson frowned. “Why?”

I gestured vaguely at the couch, at Mariah, at the whole… situation.

“Because she probably would’ve cut your balls off to see that.”

Noah lost it.

He bent forward, laughing openly now, shoulders shaking.

Mariah covered her face with both hands.

Jackson looked horrified.

“Jessa!”