Chapter 14
noah
I was about to head home for the evening—late after an intense workout at the gym—when my phone rang. My lawyer. I sat in my car debating whether or not to answer it. It was almost seven o’clock—too late for her to be calling unless it was very good news…or very bad.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Noah. Maggie here. Hey, I just got off the phone with a reporter.”
That was it. That was all she said.
“Uh…okay?”
“Noah, somehow they’ve gotten ahold of this story. They wanted my comment on it. No one has reached out to you?”
My head immediately went slamming into my palm. Rage simmered in my gut, threatening to bubble up my throat. I couldn’t take it out on Maggie though. It wasn’t her fault this entitled brat was trying to get me to settle out of court so she could make a quick buck. I’m sure she never imagined in a million years that I’d push back and take it to court.
“Noah?”
“Sorry, I…” A sigh hissed out as I tried to unscramble my brain. “I’m sorry. I’m just—uh, no, no one has reached out as far as I know, but I had a pretty busy day. I’d have to ask my office staff if they received any unusual phone calls.”
“I’m afraid they’re going to publish the piece,” she said. “I didn’t tell them much, only that you are a wonderful doctor, a gifted surgeon, and you have an excellent rating on GoodHealth dot com. I mentioned your accreditation from the American Board of Otolaryngology, and your dedication to improving the lives of your patients.”
“Thanks.” I really didn’t know what else to say.
She audibly sighed, then paused for a moment, perhaps waiting for me to say more. But I didn’t, so she admitted, “I’m just worried, Noah, because, remember how I mentioned them attacking your character?”
“Yeah.”
“She asked me if I was aware that you are gay and have a reputation for sleeping with nurses and other staff who work with you in your building.”
“What?! That’s not true!” I fired back.
Well.
It was mostly not true.
Okay, I did sleep with Aris, and he was a nurse in my building, but he wasn’t my nurse, and we didn’t directly work together. What the fuck?
“Still there, Noah?”
“Yeah.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. My head was blaring with voices telling me what an idiot I was for letting Aris be so affectionate in public. I should have known it would come back to haunt me. Even in this day and age, people still weren’t comfortable with two men in love.
“I’m not gay,” I finally countered. “I’m bisexual.”
“Oh.” My attorney huffed out another sigh. “Not sure that is any better.”
“Of course it’s not. Not that it’s anyone’s fucking business.” My head was now not only blaring with voices, but pounding with the onset of a headache.
“It definitely isn’t,” she agreed. “But this story is probably coming out next week, and I wanted to warn you. I hope they at least get your side of the story. Hey, wait a second?—”
“Wait what?”
“Isn’t that charity ball for leukemia research this weekend?” she asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“You could show up with a woman—you know, as a date?” she suggested. “Make your accuser look stupid. I’m sure a lot of the local media personalities will be there, maybe even this reporter.”
Her sighing was apparently contagious because I was doing it now too. “That’s a terrible idea.”
“Well, it’s better than doing nothing.” My attorney sighed again—that made like five sighs now. It wasn’t exactly reassuring. “It’s not too late to settle, you know. That’s what she’s after. And after everything you told me about her and her family, I’m surprised you didn’t want to just go that route. You know, to protect your job.”
I swallowed down my anger. “I’m aware. But I’m not going to give her the satisfaction. If she wants to take me to court and rake me over the coals, that’s just fine. I’m fireproof.”
Was I, though? Destroying my livelihood was a distinct possibility, even if I did win the case. Not to mention the fact that I was a private person and didn’t like my business broadcast all over the earth. Damn it, Aris. I knew I shouldn’t have let you just pop into the office whenever you want. We should have kept our distance at work.
Fuck.
“I’ve gotta go,” I told her. “I’ll think about it and get back to you.”
I still had no intentions of surrendering.
And right now, I had no intentions of going home. Not that I had any clue where to go. Where does an introverted nerd go to drown their sorrows? Definitely not a bar…
The whole polycule convened in the living room after dinner. Cynda sat sandwiched between Darth and Jason on the sofa, and Danielle and I cuddled together on the loveseat, with her cast propped up on the ottoman. Sushi was curled up on her other side.
“Do you think we should get one of those big-ass sectionals?” Jason’s eyes roamed the room. “We need more places to sit.”
“Sectionals do make it easier to cuddle since the space is less defined,” Cynda said. “I think sectionals are more poly-friendly.”
“Definitely,” I agreed.
Darth rarely spoke, but when he did, it was usually to say something weird, something he thought was funny that wasn’t actually funny, or to point out something obvious. Tonight, it was the latter. “Your man isn’t here tonight.”
“No. No he isn’t.” I sighed. “Thanks for reminding me.”
“Is everything okay?” Cynda asked, but I was sure she could tell by taking one look at me that it wasn’t.
“Not exactly.”
Danielle tapped my arm, drawing my attention to her. “You didn’t say anything earlier. Did something happen between you and Noah?”
I didn’t like drama. I didn’t like talking about anything negative. Focusing on the positive and finding silver linings were more my jam. After leaving Noah’s office earlier, I decided to just pretend like the conversation never happened.
Hey, I didn’t say my coping strategy is healthy, okay?
“Well, are you going to answer?” Jason prodded.
“Fine.” I looked around the room at three concerned faces and Darth, who was more in tune with his phone than any of us. Who knew what he did on that thing.
He finally looked up. “We’re waiting!”
“Yes, Noah and I got into a disagreement earlier.”
“About me?” Danielle was quick to ask.
“Not exactly.” I scrubbed my free hand down my face. “Look, it’s not a big deal, okay? We’ll work it out.”
“Is this your first fight?” Jason queried.
“It’s not a fight. It’s simply a difference of opinion.”
Cynda folded her hands together in her lap. “How can we help?”
“By shutting up about it?” I forced a smile. Now would be a good time to change the conversation if I could think of a good topic. Oh! “So, you guys would be really proud of Danielle today.”
“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?” Darth asked. He was paying attention, even if his eyes were glued to his phone.
Danielle scoffed. “Oh, I hardly think I did anything worthy of praise.”
“I think you were a total bad-ass.” I leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head. I loved the way she was cuddled against me, my arm wrapped around her, and her long hair spread over my shoulder.
“What did you do?” Jason’s curiosity was now also piqued.
“Not much.”
“Bullshit,” I spoke up. “She called the director of the play who cast her in the lead to tell them she wouldn’t be able to accept the part due to her injury.”
“Well, duh,” Darth cut in. “I mean, how’s she gonna do that in a cast?”
I leapt to her defense. “It was still hard for her to do, and she did it very professionally.”
“He means I didn’t break down crying on the phone,” Danielle corrected, then turned to me. “Have you at least heard from Noah? You know, to make sure he’s okay? It’s getting late. It’s almost nine o’clock.”
So, we were back to me and Noah, then.
I conceded, “Fine, I’ll text him. I doubt he will answer, though. I’m sure he’s somewhere blowing off steam.”
“Where does someone like Noah blow off steam?” Jason pondered.
“Oh, I don’t know. The gym? Chess with some old guy in the park? Reading the latest scientific journals? I have no idea.” I pulled out my phone with my free hand, then turned to Danielle. “I’m going to move my arm for a sec, okay?”
She lifted her head so I could use both of my hands to send a text. But the cat was apparently offended by our sudden change in position, and she took off like a bat out of hell.
Me: Hey, everything okay? Thought you’d be home by now.
I pressed send and waited for a few seconds, staring at the screen. Nothing happened, so I laid the phone on the table beside me. “See? I told you he wouldn’t answer.”
Before I could orchestrate another topic change, the door handle twisted, then opened. In walked Noah with flakes of snow on his short-cropped black hair.
“It’s snowing,” he said, as if we couldn’t tell by his appearance.
“Everything okay?” Cynda stood up. “There’s some dinner left—I can heat it up for you if you’d like.”
“No, no, I ate already.” He flashed her a smile, but it was clearly just to be polite. Dark circles ringed his eyes. He looked stressed.
“Where ya been?” I forced my voice to stay light, nonconfrontational. “I just tried texting you.”
“I know,” he admitted. “I was sitting in the driveway for a while. Got kicked out of where I was hanging out.”
“Starbucks?” Danielle guessed.
“Playing chess with some old guy in the park?” Jason ventured.
Noah’s expression did not change. “No, the library.”
“Reading scientific journals?” Darth felt the need to contribute.
Noah’s nose wrinkled up. “No, just reading for pleasure. But they were closing up at eight, so I had to leave.”
“Reading for pleasure?” Darth continued. “Tolstoy?”
Noah rolled his eyes. “I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me.”
He started to walk down the hallway, but I managed to extract myself from Danielle and leap in front of his path before he got very far. Also, “my room?” What the fuck?
“Do you want to tell us what’s going on?” I asked in a low voice. I didn’t want to put him on the spot in front of everyone, but this was getting ridiculous. “Or at least me?”
I had never seen Noah upset before. He was even-keeled. Always in control. But the look on his face right now was one of defeat. One of despair. One of abject misery.
And my big strong man who I’d never seen cry before wrapped his arms around me and sobbed.
I hated thinking Aris and Noah were fighting because of me. I’d had a rough day, week…year, really, but thinking I’d caused a rift between them felt worse than my leg and losing my lead role. When I agreed to go out with Aris, I had no idea it was going to be an emotional roller coaster. I honestly thought we’d have coffee, maybe dinner, bump uglies and get on with our lives.
I had no idea I was getting involved in all this. *gestures around wildly at this whole polycule thing, but only in my head because it would be weird and rude to do it for real*
Getting what leverage I could from the arm of the loveseat, I pulled myself to standing and grabbed my crutches from where they leaned against the wall. I was going to go talk to them both. Offer to keep myself completely separate from them so they could have space to figure things out.
“Whoa, where ya going, Danielle?” Jason hopped up and rushed to my aid.
“Just going to go talk to them…”
Cynda smiled in that motherly way of hers. “Give them a chance to talk first,” she said. “They need some time. Noah is going through something, and I hope he has the strength and courage to lean on Aris right now.”
“Going through what?” Jason questioned, looking from me to his girlfriend and back again.
My shoulders stiffened. “Hell, I don’t know. But I’m afraid it has to do with me.”
Cynda waved her hand. “Noah is a very independent person. It’s hard for him to admit when he needs help.”
I started crutching my way to the hallway when the low murmur of their voices continued. I didn’t want them to fight about me when I was standing right here and could almost overhear them. If they’d gone to their room and shut the door, I would be forced to back off. But something inside me just snapped.
I hated being disliked. Or having anyone mad at me.
Maybe it was a female thing. Maybe it was because of the way I grew up. I didn’t know the reason, but that didn’t matter right now when I felt like a total homewrecker.
They heard me coming—duh, I was moving at approximately the speed of a tortoise—and stopped talking when I was within a few feet of the hallway.
“Can I talk to you guys for a second?” I asked when Noah’s dark brown eyes and Aris’s hazel ones snapped to me.
I didn’t care much for the pity on their faces, but I didn’t let it stop me from what I planned to do.
“Of course,” Aris said. “Do you want to come into our room? We have a nice big bed.”
Noah flashed him the side-eye but said nothing.
“For you to be comfortable.” Aris raised his hands up defensively. “I wasn’t implying anything else. Sorry.”
“Sure.” I smiled, hoping I could at least convince Noah not to hate me. He didn’t ask to get involved in my drama, and here I was, living with them. No wonder they were fighting!
Ugh!
It was all my fault. I could find another place to stay. Maybe my apartment complex had an empty unit?—
“Here, why don’t you sit in this chair?” Aris moved a small padded chair toward the bed. “You can prop your leg on the bed.” He didn’t wait for me to answer his rhetorical question before helping me into said chair.
Said chair was not made for big curvy rear ends, but I made do. I might still have the chair attached to my ass when I stood up, but we’d cross that bridge when we came to it.
“Sorry I worried you guys.” Noah took a position on the bed, leaning against a massive mound of pillows, looking stiff and uncomfortable. “How’s your throat feeling, Danielle?”
“Oh, actually it’s been the least of my worries now that I’ve got the broken leg.” I rolled my eyes as I pointed to my cast.
Aris plopped down next to Noah. “And that’s my fault. Fuck, I am still so very sorry about that. I wish there was more I could do. I wish I could go back in time and?—”
“I’m the one who’s sorry,” I blurted out.
Their gazes both snapped to mine again, this time with shock on their faces.
“Why would you be sorry? You didn’t ask for this to happen!” Aris reminded me.
Noah nodded. “I’m only sorry I didn’t catch him before he fell right on top of you. I wish my reflexes were a little faster.”
“No, no.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry for coming between you. I know you got in a fight today, and I hate that I was the cause of it?—”
“No,” Noah insisted. He scrubbed his hand down his face and let out a deep sigh. “Aris and I aren’t really fighting about you. I’ve encouraged him to date you. I’m glad he has you right now.”
That reminded me of what Noah said after our appointment yesterday—and my cheeks began to flush with rage all over again. I’d completely forgotten our fight after everything that happened with the accident and being rushed to the hospital. Noah had acted like I was doing him a favor by entertaining Aris while he was so busy.
It seemed like Aris was offended by this statement as well.
“What do you mean by right now?” Aris turned toward Noah, a worried look on his face. “Everything you’ve been saying sounds so… And this morning in your office—and now— Well, it sounds like you want to break up with me, and I?—”
“That’s not it,” Noah sighed. He stood up and paced in the small area between the bed and the wall. “I’m sorry I’ve worried you both so much or made you feel like you did anything wrong. The truth is… Well, I might as well just tell you.”
I looked at Aris leaning toward him with hope and care in his eyes. It was obvious these two were in love, and Aris was hurting because he knew his lover was hurting.
“Do you want me to leave?” I offered. “So you can tell Aris what’s going on in private?”
“No,” Noah shook his head, “stay. I might as well get this whole thing off my chest before it fucking explodes. As a matter of fact…you know what? I’m just going to tell the whole polycule at once so I don’t have to repeat myself.”
Aris and I exchanged shocked looks, and Noah sighed again before gesturing for us to follow him. “Come on, guys, back to the living room. Danielle, here, let me help you with your crutches.”