“You didn’t have to do that,” Noah mutters once the guys are out of sight.
“I think you meant to sayyou’re welcome.” I bend down to scoop up a phone that’s lying on the ground. “Is this yours?”
He takes it from me and shoves it into his pocket. “It must’ve fallen out when I tripped over the bench.” His chest rises and falls as he huffs out a breath. “I’m so screwed.” He reaches up, drags the hood of his head, and yanks his fingers through his hair.
“Why?” I wonder, shifting my weight.
“Don’t worry about it.” He starts to walk away.
I snag a hold of the sleeve of his jacket. “You owe me an explanation because I have a feeling that what I just did is going to come back to bite me in the ass.”
His eyes search mine, and then he sighs. “I was supposed to sell them something, but I couldn’t get the merchandise.”
“What? Like steroids?”
“No,” he responds too quickly. When I lift a brow, he anxiously scratches the back of his neck. “It’s not steroids, butanother type of performance drug … How did you even know it was about that?”
“Lucky guess,” I reply. “But mostly, it was because the auburn hair guy looked like a wannabe athlete.”
“That auburn-haired guy’s name is Daniel, and he may look like a wannabe athlete, but Greyson—the big dude—is on the boxing team, so Daniel could’ve had mine or your ass kicked. I think he just backed off because you’re a girl.” He pulls an apologetic face. “Sorry, that probably sounded sexist. I just meant that most guys don’t feel comfortable hitting girls.”
“You’re fine,” I assure him. “And maybe most guys around here don’t, but on northside, they do.” My mind drifts back to the night I was arrested when Drew and his friends jumped me. God knows what would’ve happened to me if the police hadn’t shown up. Then again, I was arrested, so …
“How come you came up short?” I wonder. “I mean, with the steroids? And why are you even dealing, anyway? Because I’m guessing you don’t need the money.”
He wavers, fidgeting uncomfortably, heavy reluctance flowing from him.
“You owe me,” I remind him again. “So, come on; tell me your story, bro.”
His gaze slides to mine, and his eyes are sparkling with shocked surprise. “You’re extremely pushy.”
“And you’re being extremely cagey. Which, whatever, I really don’t care. But like I said, I just put myself on the line for you, and I’d like to know why.”
He blows out a breath, his lips parting, “When I was in high school?—”
“Maddy?” River’s voice cuts through the moment as he walks toward us from the direction of where I was heading before I decided to intervene with this guy’s drama.
He’s wearing a pair of dark blue running shorts, a blank top, and running sneakers. His dark eyes shift from me to Noah, and he literally stops in his tracks. He blinks a few times then continues toward me.
“What’re you doing?” He directs his question to Noah.
“Standing here, talking to Maddison,” Noah replies in an even tone.
“No, I mean, why are you even out here?” Noah stops just short of him. “You don’t usually get up this early.”
“There’s a first for everything,” Noah tells him while pulling his hood back over his head. “Chill, I was just out for a walk. And now I’m going to go get ready for class.” With that, he walks away, his gaze sneaking in my direction.
I give a look that warns him this conversation isn’t over.
“What was that about?” River asks when Noah is out of earshot. “I can tell Noah was lying through his teeth.”
“Maybe you should talk to him about it,” I suggest. “I don’t want to get caught in the middle of this.”
He wavers, rubbing his lips together as he studies me. “Just be careful around him, okay? He always comes off nice initially, but there’s more to Noah than what he shows people.”
“All right.” I’m surprised he’s letting this go so easily. “Sorry I’m late for our practice session. I was on time, I promise. But I got distracted with … well, you know.”
“You’re fine,” he assures me as we walk up the path toward the track. “I always add ten minutes onto any time I give someone to meet me. I do it mostly out of habit because Finn is always late.”
