Noah (5th Street series)

Chapter 12

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.