Chapter 165

Her health… She had gained a little weight lately, which was a good thing. Noah had been watching her belly, though. If she was pregnant, she hadn’t begun to show yet—but Noah would notice whenever she did. Unless they got divorced before that happened.

The bell rang loudly, signaling the end of the first fight. Noah snapped his attention back to the group as Drake, Hannah, and Zoe turned to him.

Drake held up his empty beer bottle. “I need a refill,” he said, shaking it slightly. “Anything for the ladies?”

Zoe shrugged. “Another beer for me.”

Drake nodded. “Beer for Zoe, and Hannah, I’m getting you a soft pretzel whether you like it or not. Got it?” Hannah giggled coyly, causing Noah to bristle. “Sure, I’ll take a pretzel. And a diet soda, too?” No alcohol for Hannah, of course.

“Come with me, Noah?” Drake asked. “I might need help carrying stuff.”

Despite the fact that being near Drake made Noah want to vomit, he begrudgingly agreed. They walked to the food stands, and Drake placed their order: three beers, a soda, and four soft pretzels.

“So,” Drake said as they waited, “how’s everything going? With you and Hannah, I mean.”

Noah raised an eyebrow. “What business is that of yours?” he asked.

Drake shrugged, seemingly unaffected by Noah’s bitterness. “Hannah just seems a bit sad lately, that’s all. And I’d be lying if I said she didn’t mention you two are having some… issues.”

Noah felt his blood pressure rise. Had Hannah really been confiding in Drake, of all people?

“Anyway,” Drake continued, “I just wanted to ask if you’re doing alright. Hannah’s a good woman. Maybe we can talk about it, man to—”

“Like hell.” Noah’s fury overcame him, and before he knew it, he was curling the front of Drake’s shirt in his fist and pushing him against the wall. His upper lip curled back to reveal his fangs, and he snarled, “I know you’re trying to fuck my wife, you pig.”

Drake’s eyes widened. “Noah, what the hell?”

For a moment, the only sounds were their harsh breathing. Noah tightened his grip on Drake’s shirt, grateful for the chaotic atmosphere that prevented others from noticing. Fights outside the ring were commonplace here, after all.

“Look, man,” Drake finally breathed, holding up his hands, “Hannah is my friend. I’m just trying to help. That’s all.”

Noah gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with hatred. “Yeah, well, mind your own business. Don’t bullshit me. I know your angle. And I know your reputation.”

There was another long silence. Drake’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. Then, finally, his upper lip curled back into a sneer.

“I have no interest in having sex with your wife,” he sneered, leaning closer so their noses almost touched. “But I will say, you make her feel so lonely that it would probably be pretty easy if I wanted to.”

Noah gritted his teeth, his grip tightening around Drake’s shirt. Instinctively, he pulled back his fist, aiming a punch at Drake’s gut.

But suddenly, Hannah’s voice stopped him. “Noah? Drake? Where’d you go?!”

Noah let out one last warning growl before releasing Drake’s shirt and stalking away.