Who Are You Kidding?

Noah

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 asshole 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 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 what 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 it 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 walked over to take a look at the paper.

Felix was the first boxer from 5th Street to make it to the big time in over a decade. Most boxers with any real potential for winning a title usually left 5th 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 forgotten 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-fight interviews with a plug for the gym. Jack said he'd noticed an increase in memberships ever since Felix started doing that. 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 5th Street. The press had already come by a few times and interviewed Jack about the alumnus 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. The fact that he listed Felix as one the guys he helped train sparkled on his trainer's resume.

Noah had known 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. So 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 5th Street. Gio had been the closest 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 in 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 was 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? Are you in the doghouse because of Hector?"

Noah wouldn't even look at him. Instead, he opened his locker, trying not to frown. "Like 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 refusing 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?"

Noah clenched his jaw. He'd hoped no one had noticed he'd felt nearly faint when Hector started in on him. He was still thinking about how to respond when Gio hit him with another surprising observation. "But her reaction was worse than yours."

That was more than enough to persuade Noah to turn back and face his best friend. "What do you mean?"

Gio straddled the wooden bench between the lockers and leaned his back against the wall. "She seemed shocked at first, though I'm pretty sure she was trying to hide it. And then, I don't know, hurt? She definitely wasn't happy about it. Why do you think I threw the napkin at Hector and tried to make it sound like he was making that shit up? Of course, his dumb ass didn't catch on until it was too late. Abel saw it too, man. He let Hector have it after you left."

Noah stared at him. He remembered the change in her tone last night when she mentioned his "drive by" with Rita. Could it be possible that was the cause of her being upset?

When Hector first brought it up in front of her, his fear wasn't that she'd be upset, but that it would confirm what she was thinking all along—that he was too young and immature and in no way someone she'd ever consider getting involved with.

He hadn't even been sure until recently if he even wanted to be involved with anyone. Was he really ready for a serious relationship—ready to settle down? One thing he did know was he sure as hell didn't want her dating anyone else. And the thought of her settling down while he was still living in the same house with her was a thought he wouldn't even entertain.