“I told you. I had to see you. Are you okay?” He reaches for my face.
I smile and shake my head. “Compared to you, I’m fine. Thank you for coming for me. YouandMax. I don’t understand, though. What did you mean Brent told you?”
Noah turns to look at me better. “There’s something you don’t know about me. I-I’ve kept it hidden and to myself because it’s not who I am. I …” He pauses.
I wince and chew at my middle fingernail, bracing for it. I can’t picture Noah in trouble.
“Years ago, I came home after a night class at my community college to find my mother crying in her bedroom. You know her … she never cries. So, I scoured the house looking for what may have triggered her tears and found a stack of bills on the counter. All past due.
“I was angry for her. My mother, who works harder than anyone I know, was struggling to keep the house she loved because she was paying for my college.”
Noah sighs, turning away to stare out the window.
“Brent concocted a plan one evening while we were out with friends. He said tourists were rich and often kept cash in their hotel safes. It was stupid, but I went along with it thinking—well, I wasn’t thinking, just remembering the pile of overdue bills.”
He shakes his head and drags a hand down the front of his face.
“We broke into three motel rooms before the police were called. I managed to get away, but Brent was caught. The police had security footage, but we had black ski masks on. It was so stupid, but he never gave me up. He took the fall, was charged with grand larceny, and spent six months in jail.”
I’ve never stolen anything, but I know desperation can make people do things they’d never dream of. Trust me, I know. Those first years making it on the road were brutal. “That was years ago, Noah. Years. I know that isn’t you.”
“Yeah, well after he got out things were never the same. He went away and came back addicted to drugs, then shortly after started to hit me up for money to feed his addiction. It’s horrible, but I gave it to him, feeling guilty for letting him take the fall and terrified he’d ruin the reputation in the career I’ve worked hard to build for myself. I love my job and working with Max. I was afraid of losing that.” Noah grimaces and shakes his head. “I let him manipulate me. Then his boss came and got involved.”
“It’s not your fault, Noah. When did you meet him, Raven?”
“One of my meets with Brent. He came and wanted to recruit me. Wanted backroads into the park to move product. When I told him no … I didn’t know he was Bran. I didn’t know. Maybe I should’ve when I found that poem with those two words on it. If I’d known … I would’ve killed him, Lil. I wouldn’t have waited.”
I stare at him. So hedidfind the poem.
Noah shifts like he’s uncomfortable, maybe with his words or from the pain I’m sure he’s feeling.
“I was going to tell you about it, the poem. I thought perhaps it was a prank. I don’t know what I’m doing, Noah. A real relationship—that’s not something I’m good at. I don’t want to let you down. I don’t want to let your mom down.”
He screws up his face. “My mom?”
“She told me you’ll try to take on everything alone and I told her I’d be there for you …”
I move to throw the car into reverse—I need to get him back to the hospital.
He throws a hand on top of mine. “Tell me you won’t leave. Tell me this is forever. You and I.”
My mouth falls open.
“I’ve walked a lot of trails, run many miles, climbed just like you have to see what’s on the other side. I thought nothing could make me feel more alive. Mountains, the rivers, storms rolling in on my patrols. I chased the wild. I kept moving, thinking there had to be an untamed love that defied the expectations put on me. Then you happened. You are my wild—fierce and breathtaking. If I have to spend the rest of my life keeping up with you, chasing you, loving you like I do the wilderness, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
“They’ve given you too much pain medicine. I have to get you back.” I move to shuck his hand away.
“Lily, stop, please. I’ll go back, but I can’t stay there wondering if you’re okay, if you’re going to leave. Because if you are, I’m coming with you.”
I bite my lip, shaking my head to hide my smile. This man. The one person I’d jump off a cliff for. The one kind of person I swore to hate.
I take his hand. “I’m more at peace here, now, than I’ve been in six years. I’m tired of running, Noah. I want to make my home here with you. I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter 37
Lily
Two Weeks Later
