Opportunity Knocks

Noah

Just a couple of weeks after moving in with Roni, Noah thought her place was really beginning to feel like home. This was a new feeling for Noah since he'd never really felt like he was home anywhere, even when he lived with the Fuentes. Though that had been his longest stay of all the foster homes he'd lived in, he always knew it was just a matter of time before he had to leave.

Even now with Roni, he knew he shouldn't be feeling this way. This would eventually come to an end too. The agreement was he'd stay there until he was able to fix the roof on the Fuentes' garage. But the long cold season was just getting started. He still had months to look forward to living with her, so he wouldn't even worry about it until then.

Noah walked in the back door. His hands were a grimy mess. He'd been working on Roni's car for most of the morning. Roni was on her phone in the front room.

"I know it's your family, Nellie, but it'll feel weird without you there. I'm telling you I'll be fine. I never got what the big deal was about Thanksgiving anyway. I can get a turkey dinner and a slice of pie at Denny's without the mess to clean afterwards."

Noah listened as he washed his hands. Roni had mentioned she'd be having Thanksgiving dinner with Nellie and her family. He'd be spending his at Gio's. Gio's mom and aunts went crazy, cooking even when there wasn't a holiday that warranted it. So Thanksgiving at his place was the place to be—always had been. The Fuentes were never big on holidays.

"I don't know why you're getting all worked up. I promise you I'll be fine. You go on your retreat and enjoy. Okay? I'm really happy things seem to be working out for you two."

Noah leaned against the kitchen counter, drying his hands. Roni walked in once she was off the phone. She seemed a little down, but she smiled. "So did you fix the leak?"

"Yeah, it was a bitch, but think I finally got the damn thing to stop leaking."

Her smile faded fast, and Noah waited for her to mention Thanksgiving. He hated to think of her spending her first Thanksgiving without her mom alone. He was sure Gio wouldn't have a problem with him inviting her, but given that she apparently didn't even feel comfortable with Nellie's family unless Nellie was there, she'd most likely decline the invitation.

He watched her pour herself a glass of juice and grab a string cheese from the refrigerator. "You okay?"

She glanced at him, her expression a bit surprised. "Yeah, why?"

He shrugged. "You seem a little down. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. Nellie's not gonna be around for Thanksgiving?"

"Oh that." She nodded. "Yeah, she and her husband are going on some couples' retreat. They've had some issues this year they're trying to work out, so the pastor down at her church suggested they try it. They'll be gone the whole holiday weekend."

She sat down at the small table and began pulling the strings of cheese apart. She opened her mouth, and she dangled a string in front of her mouth, then played with it with her tongue, making Noah swallow hard. He nearly forgot what they'd been talking about when he finally snapped out of it and cleared his throat. "So where are you spending Thanksgiving?"

She lifted a shoulder but continued her affection with the string cheese. Noah made a mental note to buy more string cheese—a lot more.

"I'll probably just stay here, maybe rent some movies or something. It's no big deal."

"Alone?"

She finally looked up at him and away from her cheese. "Yeah, alone." She smiled weakly. "I've been alone for over eight months now, well, until you moved in. But I'm used to it."

"But it's a holiday." He walked over to the table and sat across from her. "One you're supposed to spend with family or friends."

Immediately he felt so stupid for saying that because those eyes that seemed a bit sad when she first walked into the kitchen were now undeniably cheerless, though she still attempted to hide it.

"I've never had much family, and the only friend I ever really had is Nellie. So I'm immune to these kinds of things. They don't affect me like they would other people."

Noah wasn't buying this shit for a minute. He reached over and touched her hand. "You have me now."

She stopped chewing and stared at him. He saw a bit of what he'd seen in her eyes the night he told her how old he was. "Noah, I—"

"I mean we're friends, right? Not just roommates. So you can include me now as one of your friends." He sat up straighter, panicked she still had that look in her eyes. "Why don't you come with me to Gio's house for Thanksgiving? I'm sure he wouldn't mind, and—"

"Oh no, I couldn't." She shook her head adamantly.

"Why not?"

"I hardly know him." She stood up and Noah stood with her. "Really. I'll be fine."

"Then I'll stay with you."

She turned to him her eyes even wider. "No!"

God, she was cute when she was being stubborn. "Why the hell not? Look, you're my friend now. I don't want you to be alone."

"Noah, you're being silly. I'll be just fine. You should be with your friends. You said it's where you always spend Thanksgiving. You were looking forward to it." She crossed her arms in front of her. "I'm not going to keep you from it."

Noah could see she wasn't going to give in to this, but he'd be damned if he was going to let her spend the holiday alone. He knew what that felt like, and he didn't want her to. "All right."

She seemed a little surprised he'd given in so easily but pleased. "Good. I appreciate you offering, but I promise you I'll be just fine."

Noah couldn't help but smirk. Yes, she would be fine. He'd make sure of it. "Well, maybe you don't plan on eating a lot this week, but I do, so I say we get in a damn good work out tonight."

That smile of hers was breathtaking, and Noah struggled to pull his eyes away from it. "Okay then. I'll go get ready."

He couldn't help feeling a little irritated with himself for staring at her as she walked out of the room. He had to stop with all the thoughts he'd been having about her lately. They were friends now, and nothing would ruin a friendship faster than doing some of the things he could only dream of doing to her.

The tension he felt throughout his entire body was unreal. Food had nothing to do with why he wanted to work out hard tonight. Between watching her make love to that damn string cheese and then staring at her lips as she explained why he shouldn't stay home with her on Thanksgiving, a hard-ass workout was exactly what he needed.