Chapter 11
It was almost noon before Noah woke. He hadn’t meant to sleep so long.
What a surprising and exhausting night. All this time, he’d thought Caitie was the enemy of his friend, which had made her Noah’s enemy too.
Then he’d nearly kissed her this morning—and she’d wanted him to. It’d been clear on her face.
What if Zoe hadn’t interrupted them? He’d have done it for sure. And then what? Would she have expected their renewed friendship to become more?
Did he?
Noah had to be logical about it. He’d heard one story about Caitie, but he was finding it harder every day to believe it of her.
Who was the real Caitlyn Hahn? The sweet colleen who’d caught his eye two years ago, when he’d first come to America, the one he’d been well on the way to falling in love with?
Was Caitie the contradiction? Or was it Keven?
Every time Noah had seen her with other people, she’d been kind.
After his first unpleasant interaction with some students at the university, kindness had become especially important to him.
It’d been one of the things which had drawn him to her.
And nothing in her behavior during this trip had made him think her anything but what she appeared.
Noah accepted that if Keven would lie to his granny, there was no reason he wouldn’t lie to Noah.
Caitie had accused Keven of hitting her.
If it weren’t only a rumor she’d created to get back at him, there should be a police report.
Would it be public information? He woke his laptop and typed Keven’s name in a search.
Finn opened the door. “Sona said we need to be at lunch.”
“I’ll shower quick.” Noah jogged to the bathroom, still thinking about Caitie.
It’d been hard on him when he’d first come to America. Even Finn hadn’t known how bad. He’d struggled a little with the still-present prejudice against the Irish but not the accusations of nepotism like Noah had. Insecurities about coming from a small village in Ireland had made it worse.
Then he’d met Caitie. She’d been quick to point out other students or members of the REKD Gaming staff who’d also come from smaller communities. She’d even stressed that Boone itself wasn’t a grand and sophisticated city, and people liked it that way. Being with her had given him confidence.
Then Keven had told Noah he’d dated her for a while the year before.
After a disagreement, he’d broken things off with her.
Keven said she’d turned spiteful and tried to ruin him by telling people he’d hit her.
Noah had known about a girl back home who’d made false accusations against a man who’d worked at the local quarry.
It’d been in all the news. He’d believed Keven and not spoken to Caitlyn again. Noah hadn’t even given her a chance to defend herself.
Talk about an idjit. And yet last night, it’d looked like she was willing to give him another chance.
When he entered the kitchen, everyone was busy preparing a meal, including Sona and Kayn.
“Sorry I slept so late,” Noah said. “I was knackered. What all are you making?” He pretended to examine what everyone was doing when all he wanted was to check on Caitie, who was cutting fruit again.
“Just sandwiches and some salads,” Sona said. “Everyone’s been telling me about the great activity you guys had yesterday.”
“Too bad you couldn’t have brought back any samples, especially the chocolate ice cream,” Kayn added. “Growing up in Phoenix gave me a taste for jalapenos.”
Noah glanced at Caitie. At the talk of the peppers, she’d lost the color in her face.
“Are you okay?” He tried to urge her toward a chair, but she resisted.
“I’m fine. I just remembered my reaction.” She reached back and gave his arm a soft pat.
When their skin touched, Noah wanted to pull her closer. Instead, he stepped back a pace.
“Hey, I’ve been checking to see if we could get hold of a few of those ice cream machines.” Heath glanced up from his laptop. “I don’t know how they do it in eight minutes. All the ones I’m seeing online take twice that long to freeze.”
“It would give people more time to interact,” Zoe suggested.
“I think we should discuss the merits of not doing it here in the penthouse.” Caitie glanced around the group at everyone but Noah.
“This is an amazing city. While the penthouse is great and has a wonderful view, it’s not the same thing as getting out and doing things together.
I’ve loved all the activities in the park, but it was a pleasant opportunity to check out the neighborhood, wasn’t it? I think it helped to improve the mood.”
“It’ll be something good for us to discuss tomorrow on the trip back. It’s Sunday. As I mentioned before, we have something else planned,” Sona said. “Something special—but after lunch.”
“Let’s eat.” Kayn picked up the platter of sandwiches and strode from the kitchen.
Caitie collected the bowl of fruit and followed. Still conflicted, Noah took his time filling the water pitchers. Finn joined him but said nothing.
“What is it that’s troubling you?” Noah finally asked when they were the only ones left in the room. “I can tell something is.”
“Aye, ‘tis troubling me. I wasn’t spying or anything, but I noticed the search you had up on your laptop. I finished it for you.” Finn held up his phone.
Noah stared at the picture on the screen. Even with the bruises, her eyes almost swollen shut, and her bottom lip split, he knew it for Caitie. Adrenaline flooded his body, and he wanted to rush into the dining room to make sure she was all right.
Instead, he leaned closer, but the image went black. He grabbed the phone and brought the screen back to life again. With a quick movement of his fingers, he enlarged the photo.
“‘Tis from an online news story. It says Keven did it.” Finn gently took back his phone.
The vein in Noah’s neck twitched. Keven had hit Caitie. It looked like more than once. If he’d been with them now, he would have felt Noah’s fist in his face.
“Remember to breathe.” Finn put a steadying hand on Noah’s shoulder, saying, “Since ‘twas Keven’s first arrest, the judge let him off with community service and anger management classes. I know you’ve heard the rumors about Caitlyn.
And I heard what Keven said about her when he dropped us off.
The record says she has something Americans call a restraining order against him.
I had to look it up. He’s not allowed to get any closer to her than fifty feet.
Usually, these restraining orders are for a much greater distance. ”
“‘Twould explain why Keven parked so far from everyone else at the airport.”
“Aye. Keven appealed it, though,” Finn added, “on the grounds they’re both students.”
“And he won.” His words came out rough. A man had beaten up the woman Noah cared for, and he’d ghosted her. He was no better than Keven.
“I’m remembering how you used to feel about her,” Finn said.
“Not used to.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Finn grinned for the first time. “I like Caitlyn, and I would be happy to see the two of you together again, but you have to break it off with Keven.”
“I’ll be breaking him is what I’ll be doing,” Noah said through clenched teeth.
“Don’t be getting yourself thrown into jail. You must be smart about this.” With a dark chuckle, Finn picked up two of the pitchers and left.
Heaving out a breath, Noah grabbed the last pitcher and tried to calm himself. Keven had lied to Noah and played him for a fool. But ‘twas nothing compared to what sweet Caitie had gone through at the brute’s hands.
Noah had to force his body to relax before going to the dining room.