Bomb Dropped!

She smiled, and he hoped she knew he really meant that. Having Roni around made everything so much better. He wasn't sure how to explain it. Everything just seemed brighter—tasted better.

He made her promise to check in and let him know how things were going and promised her it would all work out.

Feeling a little guilty about how hot his goodbye kiss to her was, he had to sheepishly apologize. He knew she was worried about her friend and he was being insensitive, but it couldn't be helped. Tasting her mouth and sucking her lips gave him vivid memories of what he'd done to her earlier, bringing out the wild animal in him again.

After she left, he showered and took off to Gio's. Since this barbeque was for him, and since being home without Roni was just boring, he decided to get there early and give him a hand setting things up—make a run to the market with him and chip in for any food he bought.

Not surprising, Abel and Hector had the same thought. They were already there when he arrived. They had Hector hosing down the cement, and between Noah, Abel, and Gio, they brought out the folding tables from the garage. "Damn. How many people did you invite, Gio?"

"Not too many, but since it's Pria's birthday in a few days, my mom thought she'd have her a cake and invite some family over."

All of Gio's sisters were younger, but Pria was the youngest and the spunkiest. Noah didn't mind sharing his barbeque with any of them, but he was especially glad it was her. Although, he wished he would've known sooner; he might've gotten her something.

They finished setting things up, and people started arriving. It turned out Gio's mom had gone to the market that morning to buy all the stuff and wouldn't take a dime from Noah when he offered to chip in.

One thing he did insist on was giving Gio money for the booze. There was plenty of it, and he knew they'd be doing some drinking.

It wasn't until later that afternoon that Noah got the text from Roni, confirming what he already had a feeling about. She wasn't going to make the barbeque at all. Things were pretty bad, and she said she'd explain later, but she wanted to stay with Nellie longer.

Feeling a little disappointed, especially because he missed her already, Noah told her not to worry and that he'd see her at home later.

Noah hung out for a few more hours, getting a little buzzed then remembered he was getting home on his bike so he better slow it down. It was already dark out, and he was especially vulnerable then. As it was he'd be invisible to most drivers in the dark, so his not having the quickest reflexes added to the danger.

He stopped drinking and grabbed a water instead. Roni texted him to tell him she was home now like he'd asked her to earlier, but said she was too pooped to leave. Even though she assured him she'd be fine with him staying as long as he wanted, Noah's wild animal was already coming alive, and he could think of nothing better than getting home, so he told her he'd be home soon. He left out the part about having to have a couple more waters before getting on his bike. Gio was eyeing him when he finished sending off the text.

"Is that Roni?"

Noah nodded. "Yeah, she just got home from her friend's and said she's too tired to come down."

"What friend?" Gio asked as Abel handed him a beer and then tried handing Noah one.

Noah shook his head, showing Abel his water. He wondered why it made a difference to Gio what friend Roni was with but answered anyway. "Her friend Nellie."

Gio and Abel exchanged glances. The same damn glances they did the day of the fight at his place. So he had to ask, "What?"

"You said she wants nothing to do with Kratz, right?" Gio asked, taking a swig of his beer.

"Yep, that's what she told me." Noah answered confidently but annoyed that they'd be bringing up this shit again.

"Like they're not even friends or anything?" Abel asked.

Noah answered with a nod but said nothing else. Instead he took a drink of his water.

"But he showed up at her house?" Gio raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that a little contradictory?"

Contradictory? The word alone annoyed him even more. Was he implying Roni was lying? "She didn't invite him, and she hadn't seen him in years. His ass just showed up out of nowhere."

Abel and Gio exchanging another glance did it. "What the fuck? What are you guys getting at?"

Abel shrugged and called Hector over. Noah turned even more confused now and watched as Hector stopped at the snack table. This irritated him further. He wished they'd just spit it out.

"It could be nothing," Abel said as Hector took his damn time at the snack table. "It's just that she went out with him before, and her saying she wants nothing to do with him anymore just makes what Hector saw seem even weirder."

"Seems like it's getting serious . . . at least you are," Gio added. "We just wanna make sure you know what you're getting into, Noah. That's all. Like Abel said it, could be nothing."

"What could be nothing?" His irritation had veered a little toward nervous. What the hell had Hector seen?

Hector's ass finally made it over to them. "Tell him what you told me Thursday night." Abel nodded in Noah's direction.

Hector turned to Noah, looking a bit unsure, but then it seemed to hit him. "Oh yeah, I saw your chick at the park, hanging out with her ex, Kratz."

Only moments ago Noah had wished they'd just spit it out, but hearing Hector just blurt this out nearly dazed him. "What?"

"Roni," Hector said so simply, as if he hadn't just dropped a fucking bomb on Noah. "Her and Kratz were at the park Thursday afternoon, having a picnic or something. Did she tell you about that?"

Noah stared at him then glanced back at Abel and Gio's faces. He'd never seen them looking so serious. Noah turned back to Hector who was munching without a care in the world on a plate of nachos. "A picnic?"

"Yeah, I'd seen the couple at a table nearby where we were hanging out. They were there for a while, but I hadn't noticed who it was until one of the guys pointed out Kratz and his old lady were there."

Noah's mind raced. Thursday? He remembered that night had been one of their heavier goodnights. She hadn't mentioned a thing about Kratz since the day he showed up. "And you're sure it was her?"

"Yep, she even smiled at me."

Somehow that made it better. If she knew Hector saw her and she hadn't been worried about it, then there had to be a reasonable explanation. Still, it was confusing as hell. "And they were having a picnic?"

The word picnic had a romantic connotation to it, and that bugged the shit out of Noah. Why would she meet up with him at a park when she said she wanted nothing to do with him? He could see why Abel and Gio would be thinking the worst.

Hector laughed. "They didn't have a picnic basket or anything, but they were eating."

"She's been with her friend all day?" Gio asked casually enough, but Noah caught the suggestion loud and clear.

Roni's troubled departure that morning was no act. He had no doubt she'd spent the day with Nellie. He nodded and reached for his phone. There had to be a simple explanation, and before he started jumping the gun, he'd get it and put his concerns and his friend's suspicions to rest.