Chapter Twenty-One #2
I don’t want Mason to hurt Noah, even if I’m still wrestling with the fact that we don’t have a future because of me.
Noah does a double take when he sees me and then his mouth spreads into a slow, grateful smile. “I knew you’d come to your senses.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Helping your dad out with a few fixes,” Noah says. “Why didn’t you tell me you were home?”
I lower the baseball bat and swallow. “I… I didn’t know I was going to be coming today.”
Noah steps forward and throws out his arms. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you’ve come to your senses. I’ve missed you so much. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
I hold up a hand, and he stops. “I’m not home, Noah. I mean, I am, but I’m not back.”
Noah’s smile slips, and his brows draw together. “What do you mean you’re not back? You’re here.”
If only I could tell you the truth. I’m sorry, Noah. There’s so much I want to say. So much I wish I could make you understand. It shouldn’t have come to this.
I clear my throat. “I’m just here to pack up a few things.”
Noah’s expression hardens. “You’re still going back to that club? What the fuck, London? You’re smarter than that.”
I draw myself up to my full height and ignore the lurch in my stomach. “You don’t know the full picture, Noah, and until you do, I’d appreciate it if you kept the judgment to yourself. I’m doing what I have to do.”
“How is shaking your ass for money doing what you have to do?”
Noah is hurt, and he’s trying to hurt me.
I keep telling myself that’s all this is, but it doesn’t make his words sting any less.
Does he really think so little of me?
It’s like he doesn’t know me.
I want him to see past what it looks like and figure out the truth, but I’m terrified of saying the wrong thing.
Or you’re just afraid that if he sees the side of you Mason has drawn out, he won’t like it. Come on, London. Is this about protecting Noah, or yourself?
I frown. “It’s not like that. You know me better than that.”
At least I thought he did.
I’m not using my body for money.
Then what do you call your night with Mason? You can dress it however you want, but you know that Noah is onto something, and that’s why you can’t look him in the eye.
Noah studies my face and lets his arms fall to his sides. “What’s it like, then? I’m trying hard to understand, Lo. I want to forgive you, but I can’t do that until you admit you made a mistake and quit.”
I dig my nails into my palms and count backward from five. “What do you want me to do, Noah? Get on my knees and beg? I’m not going to do that. We’ve been together a long time, and I can’t believe you don’t trust me when I tell you that I have no choice.”
Why can’t he see past his pride?
Why is he letting Steven get inside his head?
What is he supposed to think? How would you feel if this were reversed?
Noah’s eyes narrow into slits. “There’s always a choice.”
“Not when it comes to my dad,” I interrupt. “Unless you can figure out a better way to pay off his debt.”
“Not this again,” Noah says. “I already told you we’d figure out your dad’s situation. You just had to be patient and trust me.”
“He’s going to lose the diner.”
“It’s just a diner. He’ll be just fine. Maybe it’ll be even better for him if he does, since he doesn’t seem to have much of a head for business.”
The blood is roaring in my ears now, and it feels like I’m looking at a stranger.
When did Noah turn so callous?
What happened to the man who was unwilling to abandon my father to his fate?
Am I the reason he’s being so cavalier?
“How… how can you say that? You know how much the diner means to him.”
All this time, I told myself that I was lucky Noah understood and was willing to do whatever it took.
How could I have been so blind?
Now that the gloves have come off, has this side of Noah always been lurking beneath the surface?
You’ve never had any serious fights, so it’s not like you would know. Maybe this is for the best.
Noah shrugs, and there’s a hard gleam in his eyes I’ve never seen. “He shouldn’t have borrowed so much money. You said yourself that the diner is like quicksand. Of course, he was going to get sucked in.”
“That doesn’t mean I should abandon him to his fate.” My voice rises in anger. “He needs a lifeline now more than ever, and I have to do everything I can to help him.”
Noah opens his mouth, but nothing comes out.
I’m not sure I want to hear what he has to say anyway, not unless he can walk back the past few minutes.
Why did he have to be in the house when Mason brought me here?
Why couldn’t he be somewhere—anywhere—else?
It isn’t until I hear Mason’s footsteps that I realize the air in the room has changed. Noah draws himself up to his full height, and his hands clench into fists at his side. Fear briefly moves across his face.
Shit.
How long do I have before the whole thing spirals out of control?
There’s not enough air in the room.
I have no idea how long we’ve been arguing, or how long Mason has been standing there, as still as a statue.
How much has he heard?
And how much of it will he punish me for?
You haven’t said anything to violate the contract, so you’re fine. He’s not going to do anything. You have bigger problems right now.
“Who the hell are you?”
Mason steps forward and doesn’t say anything, but his presence speaks volumes. I feel his eyes linger on me before he swings his gaze back to Noah, who squares his shoulders.
“You must be the man London is working for,” Noah spits. “How are you not ashamed of yourself?”
Mason takes another step forward and then another, each move filled with precision and intent. “I’m a businessman, Nolan. I don’t force anyone to make deals with me, and London is no exception. She knew what she was getting into.”
“It’s Noah,” Noah corrects, his eyes narrowing further. “You need to let her out of whatever deal you made.”
Noah, please stop. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.
Mason stands next to me and raises an eyebrow. “Or what?”
Noah glances from me to Mason and back again, losing some of his bravado. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Noah, please.” My voice is barely above a whisper, but Noah looks over at me and pauses. “You don’t know what you’re doing. You need to let this go.”
Noah’s expression shifts and softens. “Lo, I don’t know what he has on you, but I can handle this. Let me figure this out.”
I take a step forward and will Noah to look at me and see the desperation in my eyes. “I don’t need you to save me. I can take care of this.”
“You cannot—”
“Noah,” I interrupt a little harsher than I intended. “Let it go.”
Look at me. Read between the lines. Can’t you see what I’m telling you?
I’ve seen Mason in action, and I’m sure if Noah keeps standing here and insulting him, he’ll snap.
Noah shifts closer to me, and his eyes dart between us. “Lo—”
“For fuck’s sake, Noah. Why can’t you just leave it alone?”
Noah’s expression falls, and for a long second, he gapes at me like he can’t recognize who he’s looking at. Then his gaze slides over to Mason. A long look passes between them.
“I am not going to cover for you with your dad,” Noah says finally. “You can figure out how to clean up your own mess.”
“That’s fine,” I say calmly. “I’ll figure something out.”
Noah’s eyes tighten. “I don’t know what the hell happened to you, but you’re going to regret this.”
Mason steps in front of me and faces Noah down. “I know you’re not deaf, Nolan, so you have two minutes to get out of here.”
Noah scowls. “I don’t know what kind of business you run, or what kind of twisted sense of humor you have, but I’m not one of your employees that you can just order around.”
“I don’t joke about business,” Mason replies. “The way I see it, you have two options. You can either continue to stand there and make a fool of yourself before you leave, or I can have you thrown out. The clock’s ticking, Noah.”
I freeze and wonder how the mess inside the house will be explained to my father.
I picture the two of them swinging at each other, leaving bloodstains all over the worn-out carpet.
Finally, Noah unclenches his hands and mutters something. He gives me one last look and slinks off, pausing again to glance at me in the doorway. When he slams the front door, it’s hard enough to shake the walls.
My heart clenches and shrivels into a speck.
I resist the urge to run after him and round on Mason instead, bristling with fury.
“You didn’t have to talk to him like that. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“He’s a child.” Mason’s eyes dart around the kitchen before they land on me. “He needs to learn how to take rejection. It’ll be good for him. Helps build character.”
“How can you be so dismissive?”
“Would you rather I start ranting and raving?” Mason retorts. “I already told you that it’s not the kind of man I am.”
“I know that already, but—”
Mason turns to face me. “But what? You’re supposed to stay out of trouble. That’s part of your contract, or do I need to review the terms with you again? I should extend your time for the little stunt you just pulled.”
My mouth falls open as I step away from him. “Stunt? I didn’t pull anything. I didn’t know he was going to be here.”
“You expect me to believe your ex just happened to be here on the day I brought you to your childhood home?”
“It’s true. I didn’t know.” I fold my arms over my chest and refuse to look away. “I didn’t even know you were bringing me here, so how could I have planned this?”
I will not be intimidated by him.
Mason’s fingers close around my wrist. “I don’t believe you.”
I try to pull my hand away, but he won’t let me. “That’s not my problem. I’m tired of defending myself.”
Mason pulls me up the stairs and pauses outside my door. “I don’t give a shit what you are or aren’t tired of. What I won’t tolerate is being made a fool of. Perhaps I haven’t made myself clear.”
I finally pull my hand away and realize my skin is tingling from his touch. “You’ve made yourself very clear.”