The shower is surprisingly decent, hot and more powerful than it looks too. I come back out in my towel, steam swirling around my head to find Noah hasn’t moved. I turn the lights down, thinking he’s gone back to sleep.
‘I’m awake,’ he grumbles.
‘You wanna get a shower?’ I ask.
‘I’m good,’ he says.
I switch the AC up to the max. ‘Get out your clothes then,’ I tell him.
Normally, I sleep naked, because it’s so hot inside the loft space above Scotch & Smoke. I’m not used to having somebody else in the room, unless it’s a hookup, so I pull on a clean pair of underwear. Noah tears off his hoodie and strips down to his boxer briefs and socks, then slithers under the covers.
‘You’re not gonna brush your teeth?’ I ask him.
He grumbles, gets out of bed again and roots around in his backpack, pulling out his toothbrush. I hear him shuffling around the bathroom, switching on the faucet and the sound of him taking a long piss. When he comes back, he launches himself at the bed.
I get under the covers and switch out the light. I’ve set an alarm for just before five-thirty.
‘Everything all right with Hollie?’ I ask in the darkness.
‘She’s nice,’ Noah says. ‘She made me pancakes, with chocolate sauce and maple syrup.’
‘I hope you thanked her.’
‘I’m notthatdumb,’ he says with a sigh. ‘Wish I could stay with her instead of Aunt Rita.’
‘You can’t stay with Hollie, Noah. We don’t even know her.’
‘I know that she cares about me. You just want me off your hands already.’
‘That’s not true.’
He makes a huffing sound. ‘So is true. And don’t try anything with Hollie. You’re not her type.’
‘Keep your voice down, shitbird. She’s right next door.’
Noah clicks his tongue like he couldn’t care less.
I roll over to face him. I don’t know why exactly, but the next thing to come out my mouth is, ‘What’s her type?’
‘There’s some guy who wants her to go back to England to be with him. Like a guy with actual brains and a good job.’
‘She told me.’
‘Yeah, well, at least he ain’t from a shithole like Rapture. She’s too good for you. Did you know the mayor’s her stepmom?’
Well, at least he knows now who his savior is. ‘Yeah, I knew that. But I barely even know her.’
‘She don’t seem a lot like other girls from Canyon.’
‘That’s because she’s not from Canyon, idiot.’
We lie there in silence.
‘Mom’s worried you’re gonna die alone, you know.’
‘What?’ I blurt out, even though I heard him crystal clear.
‘Thinks it’s your pa’s fault you don’t know how to love anyone.’
