NOAH

Chapter 7

~ Noah ~

"So, no more photos of Bear Man?"

"No, Kyle, no more photos of Mac."

Surprisingly, Kyle hadn't started the conversation with that question, opting instead for 'what's up', telling me what he was eating - and probably hinting that I should eat as well - and only then not-so-casually demanding another photo of the bouncer.

"Even if I promise not to jerk off to them?"

"Even then, Kyle." I hopped onto my bed and made myself comfortable on my back.

A groan came through the receiver. "That's cruel, N. He is exactly the type of guy I think about in the shower. That tight white t-shirt stretching over those bulging muscles... It has me salivating."

"I'm sure it does, Kyle." He had a point. Mac was a very good-looking, very fit man with a large smile that could light up the room. And yet, he didn't do it for me. Too much muscle. And his thighs could probably rival an Olympic runner's. And I wasn't a fan of beards.

Dex on the other hand was clean-shaven. And his thighs were...

"So, how are you managing more hours at the club?" Kyle's voice saved me from plunging head first into dangerous waters; Dex had made it clear that he only wanted me as a friend.

I shrugged as I answered Kyle, even though he couldn't see me: "It's fine. I only had to move my Friday shift at the store; everything else stays the same."

"Still working mostly with Callian?"

"Yep." I pulled the pillow from under my head and fluffed it as best as I could without letting go of the phone, before lying back on it.

"You know, if you ever come visit me in Hepburry, you should bring him along. I'll show you two all the fun places and introduce you to my coworkers. Who knows? Maybe you'll leave with 'to bang a naughty movies star' crossed off your bucket lists."

"Yeah, 'cause that's on top of mine."

He chuckled. "Right. That sounds more like my list. But been there, done that. What is on your list nowadays anyway?"

I'd already opened my mouth before I realized I had no answer. I'd had goals - move out of Grandfort, find a place of my own, have enough income to pay my bills, and still save up - but no desires I could put up on a list. No bungee jumping. No holiday to an exotic place. No climbing a high mountain or diving into the sea depths.

"Kyle... I just realized I am a very boring person," I said as I moved to the edge of my bed and rummaged the drawler of my bedside table for a pen and paper. My fingers closed around both items and I pulled them out.

"Then do something wild."

"My version of 'wild' is going along with whatever you're up to."

"And you didn't learn anything from me? Shame on you, Noah Valentine! Shame."

"Well, I'm thinking about it." I uncapped the pen and stared at the first blank sheet in the notepad. And stared, and stared, and stared. Nothing came to mind, except for a list of tasks I had to do. Buy more apples. Don't forget to get the milk. Stop by Mrs. Bates on the third floor and see whether she needed a pet sitter for her cat Milo. My neighbor was crazily attached to her mixed breed and rarely left it alone for more than a couple of hours, but the woman needed regular check-ups at the hospital and those sometimes took a while. When I wasn't working, I'd look after Milo for her. I wasn't getting paid or anything, I just wanted to help the elderly Mrs. Bates out; I also enjoyed spending time with the cat who was an exquisite purr-er.