03.

ISABELLA

My head is spiraling. Yeah. Because that doesn't sound like the Noah I know at all.

"He said you have to pay quarter the rent." Hardin states, looking relieved. "He said, and I quote, 'It's just an empty room. Tell Minnie I expect her to take care of my house."

Quarter rent. Okay, that's definitely a win.

I sigh. "He called me Minnie again, didn't he?"

Hardin winces. "Twice. But look, this is perfect, Bella. It's free. You're going to Greenville. You're getting your education." He grabs my hands, his excitement returning.

"Yeah, I know, but I have to live with your brother." I whine. "This is now a win, Hardin."

"Come on," he coaxes, pulling me closer. "You'll be fine. You’re tough. You’ll just have to avoid him."

"Avoid Noah Hawkins." I repeat.

Hardin laughs, pulling me into a proper kiss. "I'll make sure he's busy. I told him I owe him for the favor. And he agreed to a few ground rules. No partying in the main living space on weekdays, no bringing people home, and no harassing you. Simple."

"And you trust him to follow those rules?" I raise a skeptical eyebrow.

"No," Hardin confesses. "But I trust you to put him in his place if he tries anything."

I take a deep breath. Greenville. Scholarship. Education. It's everything I ever wanted. And all it cost is my sanity and a potential lifetime feud with Noah Hawkins. But it is what they say, right? Beggars can't be choosers.

"Okay," I say, nodding slowly. "Okay. I'll do it."

🦋🦋🦋

As soon as I kiss Hardin goodbye and get down from his car, I'm practically sprinting into 'The Daily Grind," which is the ridiculously named diner where I wait tables. I'm a full fifteen minutes late.

"Bella! Where the hell have you been? We're slammed!"

That's Chloe, my best friend and resident voice of reason. She's already balancing three plates and looks like she's exhausted. She has a tight ponytail, an exasperated look, and zero tolerance for tardiness.

"Long story. Brother drama," I mumble, tying my apron on and grabbing a pad. "I'll take table four."

"Not brother drama," corrects a smooth, low voice from behind the counter.

That again, is Leo. He's the cook, the owner of this little shop which makes him my boss. He's also the kind of guy who look like he'll make a huge salary on a magazine cover instead of flipping pancakes.

He leans over the stainless-steel counter, wiping his hands on a towel, his dark eyes watching me with amusement.

I make a face at him. "Could you not?"

"Tell her, Chloe. We know. Boyfriend's brother drama," he clarifies, giving me a knowing look. "Hardin called five minutes ago saying you were coming, but to 'be patient, she's having a life-altering realization.'"

"Oh, he did, did he?" I mutter, glaring at the counter. Hardin is such a sweetheart, but sometimes he's too much of an open book.

Chloe finally drops her plates off and rushes back to the counter, grabbing a pitcher of coffee. "Spill. Now. What did Noah do?"

"What did he not do?" I say, leaning in, keeping my voice low so the early-bird regulars can't hear. "I got acceptance letter from Greenville."

Chloe's eyes go wide. She slams the coffee pitcher down. "No Way! Bella! That's incredible! I told you! Why are you acting like someone just ran over your cat?"

"Because... there's no on-campus housing," I whisper. "And Hardin had an idea."

Leo raises a brow, stirring his coffee. "The brother." It's not even a question.

I nod miserably. "The brother. He said yes. I'm moving into Noah's apartment. Quarter-rent."

Chloe stares at me, then looks at Leo, then back at me. She burst out laughing, a loud, startled cackle that makes a nearby woman jump.

"You are shitting me. You and Noah? Alone? In an apartment?" she wheezes, clutching her side. "That's not a roommate situation, Bella, that's a reality TV show."

"Tell me about it," I hiss, grabbing a coffee pot and trying to look busy. "Hardin thinks it's a great temporary solution. He thinks Noah will just 'behave' because he promised."

Leo leans against the counter now, looking thoughtful. "Hardin's a good guy, but he doesn't live in the same universe as Noah. That apartment is where Noah goes to be Noah."

"Exactly. That's what I said. He's a man-whore." I throw my hands up in exasperation.

"Wait, wait," Chloe says, finally composing herself. She grabs my arm. "Okay, look at the bright side. Quarter rent in a killer apartment, and you get to go to Greenville. You can handle one annoying, hot guy."

"That's the problem, Chloe. It's going to be impossible. He already gets under my skin just by breathing. Now I have to look at his stupid, broad, tattooed chest in the kitchen every morning." I confess, the last part slipping out before I can stop it.

Chloe and Leo exchange another look.

"Aha," Chloe sings, poking my cheek. "That's it. So, the problem isn't the man-whore status, it's the six-pack and the tattoos. You have a crush on your boyfriend's obnoxious brother."

"I do not have a crush." I snap, my face instantly heating up. "I just... appreciate the craftsmanship of a we'll-built physique that I hate! There's a difference."

Leo just smirks. He grabs an empty milkshake glass and starts vigorously polishing it. "Sure, Minnie."

My head whips. "Don't you start." I point the coffee pot warningly at him. "He calls me Minnie. It's annoying. I hate it. And I hate him."

"Right, you hate him," Chloe says, rolling her eyes. "So, when do you move into your hate-den?"

"As soon as possible," I sigh, running a hand over my tired face. "Hardin wants to go furniture shopping for my room this afternoon. I guess I'll need a lock for the door, and maybe a taser."

"Forget the taser," Leo advises. "Just give him a taste of his own medicine. Be annoying back. Or better yet... ignore him."

"Ignore Noah Hawkins? Impossible," Chloe counters. "He'll probably follow her into the bathroom just to ask her what she's doing." Then she leans close again, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "Or, you could be distracting that he can't ignore you. Two can play this chaos game, Bella."

My mind immediately flashes back to that inappropriate zone-out with Hardin... me and Noah, alone in a room. Maybe Chloe has a point. I just have to figure out how to out-annoy the master.

"Table seven needs a refill," Chloe announces, pulling me back to reality. "Now go put that energy into earning rent money, roomie."