Noah (20 page)

“Yeah, I remember—they’re
hot
.”

He peered at her now. “I also said they’re not for me.”

“Oh, yeah? So you’re only into the ones that do drive
-
bys on holidays?”

She gulped hard
trying to hold back the emotion that overwhelmed her now. T
he conversation had taken a turn and Noah stared at her speechless. The thought of some girl
riding
him nearly choked her. As long as they were putting
it
out there she’d tell
him
exactly why she’d never consider a relationship with an immature man
whore. “I need stability, Noah. Someone who’s over the one-night stands
and interested in
a
serious relationship
. Someone I can count on.”

“Like Derek you mean?
The guy your age, that walked out on you when you needed him most?”

The slap in the face was utterly humiliating.
She’d
held
the tears
back long enough. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could
do it
.
F
eeling the air sucked out of her, she
was sure she might fall apart
right then
and there so s
he spun around and took off to her room.

“Roni, I’m sorry.” He called out.

The second she closed the door behind her she locked it then leaned her back against it sliding slow
ly
down until she sat on the floor. She took on
e
long trembling breath, wiping the tears away in anger. What the hell had she gotten herself into?

There was a soft knock at the door. “Roni? You okay
?
”

She swallowed hard clearing her throat. The last thing she wanted was to let on how miserable she was feeling. “I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“I just had a long day. That’s all. We both did. You should go to bed. It’s what I’m gonna do.”

“You sure you’re okay?”

She squeezed her eyes shut
;
the tears
were
streaming down even more now and she nodded. “U
h-
huh.” As hard as she’d tried her voice cracked and she was sure he’d heard it but he said nothing.

For a few
long
moment
s,
there was silence
then finally she heard his footsteps walk away. There was a bang on the wall across the hall then
the sound of h
is door clos
ing
.

As much as she’d like to tell herself these tears were about Derek, they had
nothing
to do with him and she knew it. The fact that a week from now Noah would be with
Gio’s cousin again
and she’d have nothing to distract her thoughts about
it
while he was gone
is what really kill
ed
her
. She already knew it was going to drive her crazy. The worst part was that she’d be there waiting for him when he got home knowing exactly what he’d just done. God
,
she had to get a life.              
     
            
    

The next morning Roni’s bedroom door had been closed when Noah got in the shower but by the time he’d gotten out it was open and she was gone. It was almost as if she’d waited for him to get in the shower to avoid him. But she’d at least thought to leave him a note on the counter.

In case you’re wondering, I’m meeting Nellie for breakfast but I made you coffee. I’ll see you tonight at the gym
.

She signed it with a happy face and it
seemed
cheery enough but Noah had to wonder if she was really over their little exchange last night. He’d felt like such an ass
hole
afterwards especially when he realized he’d made her cry. 

There was no way he was going the whole day without talking to her. He’d give her a few hours. Let her finish her breakfast with her friend then call her—feel her out.
The worst part about the whole thing was he was
now
certain that Roni still had feelings for Derek. Why else would she be so upset about his comment
?

Her remark about his
‘
holiday drive
-
bys
’
had kept him up most of the night. Had Hector’s stupid revelation really derailed all his efforts to prove to her that he was not your average
twenty
-year-old?
She’d made it damn clear about the kind of guy she would never get involved with and judging from her tone that’s exactly the kind of guy she now thought he was.
Fuck!
 

He got
a
text from his morning client just as he got off his bike in the parking lot of the gym. He was canceling.
Great
. Now Noah had an hour to kill before his next client came in.

Abel and Gio were already in the office when
he
walked in.
Abel was reading the paper. Gio stood next to him toothbrush still in his mouth. The guy was always brushing his teeth.
They both
glanced up.
“Everything okay?” Abel asked.

Noah pinched his brows in an
attempt
to appear
oblivious to his meaning.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

Abel shrugged. “I hope my dumb ass brother didn’t cause you any problems.”

Noah pretended to think about it as if he didn’t even remember then furthered the act by opening his eyes wide. “Oh
,
last night? No
,
not at all.”

Just like
that,
Abel’s expression softened and he let it go. Noah knew he would. He’
d
never been one to pry. Pretty quiet about his own personal life, he stayed out of everyone else’s as much as he could. Gio would be another thing.

“
Check this out.
” Abel lifted the paper he was reading. “
Felix is going for the
title
.
”

“Sanchez? No shit.” Noah
was
relieved Abel had dropped the subject. He tossed his gym
bag
on the floor,
and
walk
ed
over to take a look at the paper.

Felix was the first boxer
from
5
th
Street to make it to the big time in over a decade
. Most boxers with any real potential of winning a title usually left 5
th
Street for bigger better gyms with trainers who were used to working with
up and coming boxers
—
but
not Felix. He stayed loyal to the gym he’d started out with. Not only that
but
he’d been a close friend to all of them and he
’d
never forgot
ten
his roots.

Even after he’d started to fight and win the bigger
, more
heavily promoted fights he
came
back a few times a year to visit. He’d even gotten in the habit of ending his after
interviews with a plug for the gym. Jack said he’s noticed an increase in memberships ever
since
Felix started doing that and each time Felix won another bout and mentioned the gym in the after
-
fight interview there’d be a surge in memberships.

“Is that his girl?” Noah pointed to the
tall
girl resembling a runway model next to him in the picture.

“This week,” Gio said, finishing his brushing and walking back to the restroom.

“Yep,
” Abel said with a grin.
“
I’m pretty sure this one is a different one from the one I saw him with on T.V.
a few weeks ago.
”

Abel filled him in on the details of the championship fight.
If Felix
won this could mean big things for
5
th
Street
. The press had already come by
a few times
and interviewed Jack about the alumn
us
of the gym
who
had made a name for himself
in the boxing world
.
Felix was part of the reason why Noah’s clients were willing to pay so much.
T
he fact that he listed Felix as one the guys he helped train
sparkled on his trainer resume. 

Noah had kn
own
Felix the least compared to the other guys. By the time he moved into the Fuentes
’
home
,
Felix was already on his way to stardom
.
S
o
Noah
got to
train with
him for
only
a few months before
Felix
left town and went on the road
.
He moved his mother and brothers out to a better neighborhood and they’d since only seen him when he’d swing by and make an appearance at
5
th
Street
. Gio had
been the clos
est
to
him. In a
way,
that’s why Noah and Gio had gotten so tight. It was almost as if Noah took Felix’s place in Gio’s life.

Gio walked out of the restroom, smiling. “Let me see that again?” Abel handed him the newspaper and Gio laughed. “Yeah, that’s a different chick. He probably has a different one every city. Must be nice.”

Noah frowned
,
walking back to pick up his gym bag.
He had to admit Felix’s lifestyle now was one he did envy a bit. Who wouldn’t? The guy had a real shot at the title and from what he’d heard about the fat contract he’d signed with his promoter money wouldn’t be an issue for him anymore. If he got the title, that would only make the pot sweeter. He’d be set for life. But the whole different
-
girl
-
in
-each-
city thing Noah wasn’t so sure about.

He walked to the back and into the locker room, feeling even tenser now than when he’d left the house that morning.
What bothered him about his new
way of thinking wa
s that he knew it had everything to do with Roni. A few months ago before he’d met her
he would’ve completely agreed with Gio. What guy in his right mind wouldn’t agree? But Noah was
no longer
in his right mind. Not since he’d let Roni
invade his every thought. And the most infuriating thing about it was
that
because of Hector
’
s big mouth if she hadn’t been convinced before that he was just like all the other guys his age—immature players who were in no way interested or ready for a serious monogamous relationship—she was now. 

There were a few guys in there and Gio strolled in eyeing
him with that smirk that Noah had a feeling had to do with Roni
.
Only Noah
didn’
t
need to hear it right now.
“What?”

“I didn’t say anything.” Gio laughed.

“Whatever it is, dude
,
I’m not in the mood for it today.”

“Why
?
A
re you in the dog house because of Hector?”

Noah wouldn’t even look at him. Instead opened his locker trying not to frown. “
L
ike I said
,
in case you
didn’t
hear me back there, no. I already told you it’s not like that with me and her. We’re just roommates.”

“Noah, come on. Who you kidding? The way you act when she shows up here every night. Ain’t no one gonna confuse
her
for
just
your
roommate. And you know that’s what you want.” 

Still r
efusing  to turn and face him
,
Noah began wrapping his hands
.
Gio was damn right that’s what he wanted, but admitting it out loud would be another thing. “Hey, I can’t help what everyone else assumes.”

“Is that right? So is that why your face went white yesterday when Hector brought up Rita?”