He Faked a Romance, Noah Gave Him One Real Chance novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: Open Note

On Thursday night Cassian's father slid a check across the dinner table and said, "Item one."

The retriever lifted his head.

Cassian's mother already had her pen out.

"Moved," his father said, "that the Haverstock Group cover the young man's rent for the rest of the year. Seven hundred and eighty dollars a month. He shouldn't be worrying about a microwave."

It was kind, and it was meant kindly, and it would have taken Noah's last hard-earned room out of his hands.

Cassian looked at the check.

Old Cassian would have said sure and sat through the pie.

"No," Cassian said.

His father blinked. "No?"

"It's a good motion. I'd have seconded it a month ago." Cassian pushed the check back. "But he'd hate it, Dad. He counts the envelope in front of people so no one can say he didn't earn it. If you pay his rent, he'll never know whose it is."

"That's a reason," his mother said, writing.

"It's a very good reason," his father said, and put the check in his pocket, and did not look disappointed at all.

"Motion withdrawn."

"Withdrawn," said his mother. "Cassian. That was the first time I've heard you say no in that chair."

"I know," Cassian said. His hands were shaking under the table. "I think I liked it."

At ten, he let himself into the Haverstock library wing with the card he'd never used.

The lights came on one panel at a time.

Noah followed him between the shelves with his canvas tote, reading plaques.

"Your name's on the wall," he said. "In brass. Twice."

"Once is my grandfather."

"Then it's three times." He stopped under a skylight. "Why are we here? The Pike Street table closes at seven."

"Because I'm going to show you something and I want it to be somewhere I can't run."

Cassian sat on the long leather sofa at the back, under a sign that said QUIET PLEASE.

He took out his phone, laid it on the cushion between them, and opened the note.

Things I Said Sure To.

He didn't say anything.

He just turned it, so the screen faced Noah, and held it there.

Noah read it slowly, from the top.

Sparkling water. The dean. Get Noah Blaze to fall for me and get his letter.

Goat cheese, four years of. The Argyle Lounge.

← Chapter 18 · All chapters · Chapter 20 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend