“Maybe some fresh air might help?” I practically made a beeline toward the door, scrambling for anything I could do to defuse the situation—whatever it was. 

“Stop!” The shout rang like a bolt of lightning down my spine, and I jerked my hand away from the door handle as if it would lead me to hell had I opened it. 

Wide-eyed and confused, I turned back to stare at Noah. He closed his eyes and breathed out, his lips twisting into even more of a scowl as he said, ...