Chapter 19 Noah
Nineteen: Noah
I Dare You to Move - Switchfoot
I’m exhausted and missing Audrey, my performance all week has shown as much. My head hasn’t been in it. I head to our physical therapist again because I told the field manager I may have pulled a muscle in my back— even though it's a lie. But now he’s worried it will impact my playing this weekend.
I thought it might reassure him that I'll have my focus back in time for the weekend games. As nice as it feels to get my back muscles loosened up, I’m pretty sure physical therapists don’t put hearts back together—no matter how nice Daisy is.
“You’ve got a busy head, Noah,” Daisy assesses as she takes the heating pad off my back.
I chuckle. “That’s an understatement.” I’ve been waiting for Audrey to reach out, but she’s been radio silent. I can’t tell what that means, but I also don’t want to reach out in case she needs space.
Daisy gives me a warm smile. “I bet whoever has your head so busy has a pretty busy brain too.”
“Wishful thinking, Daisy. But I appreciate the sentiment.”
“Well, I may not be able to help ease your brain, but your throwing arm is well taken care of!” Daisy adds, patting my shoulder. “I’d say you’re good to go.”
“Thanks.”
Pointing at my heart, she adds, “As for this, I have a feeling it’ll sort itself out really soon.”
I sure hope so.
I’m excited to get to know Daisy a bit more, because Connor always brags about her giving great advice— and so far it’s proving true.
I briefly thought he was interested in her last season but he reassured me he sees her as a little sister and that her daughter is adorable.
He loves to help the two of them whenever possible.
From what he tells me, Auddie loves them too.
Once I wave goodbye to Daisy and a few of the guys that are also in the work-out room, I collect my gear and head out into the hall, ready to go home and relax with my best friend. I need to be on my “A” game in Baltimore tomorrow evening, the last thing I want to happen is for them to bench me.
“Hey, Noah.” Kristen walks towards me with a tight dress on. I offer her a small smile, but don’t slow my pace as she adds, “What are you up to tonight?”
Shaking my head, I move past her, not in the mood for her over-the-top flirting. Ever since Audrey left on Sunday, it seems Kristen is at every turn.
She hasn’t been subtle and even her brother has started to get annoyed with her behavior.
“Just heading home, Adam was almost done with Daisy,” I tell her, trying to keep my tone friendly, even though she’s been getting on my nerves. “I’ll catch you later.”
“You want company?”
My feet stop moving and I cross my arms over my chest, letting out a frustrated sigh. “No, Kristen, I don’t. Okay?”
Her fingers trail my arm as she moves in front of me. “I hate to tell you, but I love a good chase.”
Words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them, “There is no chase. I’m taken.”
Kristen pouts at me before a slow smile creeps over her face. “We’ll see about that.”
“No, you really won’t.” Clenching my fists, I walk off before she says anything else.
When I get home Connor is watching a movie in the living room.
“What’s with the long face?”
I bite my tongue, silently responding with: your sister hasn’t spoken to me since she left and I’m sad about that. But out loud I say, “Kristen is really trying to sink her claws into me,” before grabbing Connor and I each a beer from the fridge.
“She’s giving stage-five clinger vibes, huh?” Connor comments, taking a beer from me.
I snort, before taking a sip of my drink. “Kind of. I told her I’m taken.”
His eyes widen and he flashes me a smile. “Oh, are you? Have you heard from Audrey?”
I frown. I know she’s texted Connor a few times since she left. “Technically, no. But I’ve been taken by your sister: body, mind, and soul … since I was five.”
“You should text her,” he replies, matter-of-factly, nudging my shoulder.
“I told her to take time for herself, I don’t want to reach out if she’s not ready, or dating other people,” I reply, hoping it’s not true.
“Trust me, she’s not dating anyone, and you know as well as I do that she won’t.”
Hearing my best friend say that eases some of the anxiety in my head, so I relax.
“You should dare her to come to our next game. Or, ya know, dare her to move here.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Don’t tempt me. You know I'd love that. She’d be a far better roommate than you.”
“Ouch. How dare you?!”
“What? You know she’s the better Mendez, through and through.”
“You only stayed friends with me because of my sister, didn’t you?” Connor fake gasps, clutching his heart.
“Sometimes I think so …” I joke. “And your mom’s cooking.”
“You’re a shit best friend,” Connor snorts out.
“You too,” I smirk, clinking my bottle against his as a memory passes through my head.
“GET THE FUCK OUT CONNOR, I DON’T NEED YOU!” I shout, banging my fist on the wall beside me.
“It seems like you do, Noah,” he states slowly, testing the waters.
My nostrils flare. “Go home to your perfect little family. Go hug your dad since you still fucking have one … and he fucking loves you.”
Connor leans against the door frame, crossing his arms. “Say whatever you need to say Noah, get it all out. I’m not moving. I’m not leaving.”
His lack of reaction frustrates me, so I keep unloading the anger that is very much meant for my dad. I don’t stop pacing the room until my swearing and annoyance blossoms into sadness.
He doesn’t move from his place, unphased by my words. When I finally start to calm down, he asks, “Are you done?”
I look up at the ceiling as tears escape my eyes. I've never cried in front of anyone but my mom and dad. Connor moves towards me, tightly hugging me while my emotions pour out of me.
When I finish crying, I whisper, “You’re a shit best friend, but I love you.”
He responds with a quiet, “I love you too, Noah. No matter what you say or do, I’m still here and I’m not going anywhere.”
From that day on, “You’re a shit best friend,” became our weird way of communicating “I love you.”
We sit silently, watching Fast & Furious play out on screen until Connor’s phone lights up with a text.
A smile consumes his face.
“What are you smiling about?”
He looks at me with a secretive smile. “Oh, nothing that concerns you.”
I shrug, knowing that even if it’s Audrey he won’t tell me.
“So you’re signing papers for the house tomorrow morning?” He changes the subject.
“Yeah, why? Are you eager to kick me out all of a sudden?” I joke while Connor smirks at me.
“Nah, man. I just think it’s cool you’re setting down roots here. It feels like everything is finally starting to fall into place.”
If only the final piece was here too.
Maybe I actually should dare her to move here.