He's There Now?

Veronica hesitated for a moment, not sure if she should step outside or invite him in. Against her better judgment, she opened the screen door and let him in. The thought of Noah arriving with him still there and things possibly getting ugly was a very real one. But if she had to make a choice between things getting loud or ugly inside the privacy of her own home or outside on her porch for all her neighbors to hear and see, she'd do this inside. Besides, her plan was to send him on his way quickly.

She saw him glance around as he walked in, trying to get a feel for how much things had changed since he'd last been there, perhaps pick up more clues on her relationship with Noah.

As rude as it was, Veronica didn't offer him something to drink. She wanted him out as soon as possible. He started apologizing again about the other day, but she stopped him.

"I'm not upset at you, Derek, so don't worry about it. I was a little surprised that's all."

"Have you talked to him about it?"

"No, I haven't had the chance." They stood just inside the doorway, and it was awkward, but she refused to ask him to take a seat. She was keeping this conversation short and to the point.

"I won't say anything else negative about him, but I will say this, Roni. As your friend, I'm worried about you. I don't think you realize this, but you're still in a very vulnerable state. It hasn't even been a year since your mother died, and this guy showed up at the perfect time when you needed someone—anyone, even this kid in your life. You didn't even do a background check on him."

"I told you. He's my friend."

"But for how long?"

"Over a month," saying that made his point sound even more valid. "Almost two," she added, the doubt suddenly creeping in. Had she really just allowed herself to get involved with someone she wouldn't have under normal circumstances, because she was afraid to be alone again? What Nellie said earlier came back to her. You do things out of your nature when you're afraid. Because of that same fear, Nellie had continued to look the other way, ignoring valid suspicions that her own sister might be doing the unthinkable with her husband.

Derek tilted his head and their eyes met. "Can I ask you something?"

He didn't even have to ask her. She already knew exactly what he was thinking. As usual, he'd figured the whole thing out: that Noah had moved in at a time when she needed him most, and, of course, she'd easily fallen for him. But there was so much more to their relationship than her just needing him.

Her phone rang before she could respond, and she took advantage of it to give her a moment to think—breathe. She pulled her phone out of her purse and saw it was Noah. Perfect. Exactly what she needed. To hear his voice—a reminder of why he was much more than just a need. "I have to take this," she said and answered.

Derek motioned that he was going to use her bathroom, and Veronica nodded, glad for the privacy. She walked into her kitchen where she'd have even more.

~*~

Noah

Sipping their beers, the guys watched Noah. Hector still munching on his nachos as Noah waited for Roni to answer her phone. He was certain that he'd soon have the simple explanation. As confident as he was, a very small part of him worried that Roni might still have feelings for Kratz, especially considering the pictures she not only hung onto but had kept up front row center in her darkroom.

He shook off his insecurities. She said she wanted nothing to do with him, and after the week they'd had, not to mention their morning, Roni would know he'd have an issue with her hanging out with her asshole ex. This had to be some kind of fluke.

She answered on the second ring. "Hey,"

"Hey, Roni."

"You don't have to leave, Noah. That's not why I texted you. You just asked me to let you know when I was home."

"Yeah, I know. But I'll still be out of here soon. I just wanted to ask you something real quick." He glanced up at his friends. They were all staring at him. He almost laughed. "Did you run into Kratz this week?" His laughing mood took a dive when she didn't respond. "Roni?"

"Yeah, I did. A few times actually."

That literally jolted him. He actually sat up straight in reaction. "A few times?"

"I was gonna tell you, but I was waiting for after your fight, and then this morning I got the call about Nellie."

His stomach recoiled. "Tell me what?"

"About the few times I got together with him after work."

Noah didn't even care anymore that his friends would see him go bat-shit crazy if she said she'd done anything else with the guy. He felt like the biggest fucking idiot. He was about to ask her why the hell she'd gotten together with the dick when he heard Kratz's voice loud and clear in the background.

Noah heard her tell him she'd be with him in a sec. He squeezed the phone, feeling the adrenaline rush he usually felt only in the ring when he was about to take someone down. "Are you with him now?"

"He stopped by again," she said her voice hushed now. "But—"

"He's at the house with you now?" Noah was on his feet in an instant, his heart racing as he stalked to his bike, each stride longer than the last.

"Yes, but he won't be here long."

"What the fuck does he want?" He jumped on his bike, but before she could respond, he asked what he really wanted to know. "Do you still have feelings for this guy, Roni?"

"No!"

"You still want him coming over like this?"

She exhaled loudly. "No."

"Good, I'm on my way." He hung up on her and put his helmet on.

Abel and the guys were already in his truck as he raced his bike past it and down the street. For years in high school, he'd had visions of beating the shit out of Kratz. Who knew he'd ever actually get the chance to follow through?