She must’ve looked as stunned as she felt because he asked her if she was okay. She assured him she was, thanked him for the information and again told him she had to leave.

Noah was one the most loyal, responsible persons she knew. It was one of the things she loved most about him. The disappointment was so overwhelming she had to fight back the tears.

CHAPTER 25

Noah went through his usual fight-day rituals Friday. Skipped his morning run, had a hearty breakfast, tons of water throughout the day. Since the gym would be a mess with the all day radio broadcasting like last week, he stayed home for the day.

He never really got nervous before a fight and he wasn’t at all worried about tonight’s fight. Jack and Abel never liked over confidence but Gio seemed to be with Noah on this. He was just as confident that Noah had this. With all the radio broadcasting going on at the gym, his friends wouldn’t be spending all day there either. They were both stopping by Noah’s around lunch time which meant Noah would have to triple the pasta he was planning on having for lunch. He’d just finished preparing it when they arrived.

“Smells good,” Gio said as he made himself comfortable at the table.

Noah did the host thing and served his friends while they went over strategy. Abel reminded him for the hundredth time of the things he’d really need to focus on. Not surprisingly talk of focusing brought up the subject of Roni.

“What time is Roni getting there?” Abel asked.

Noah knew Abel still wasn’t convinced that Roni wouldn’t be a distraction so he knew Abel wouldn’t be happy about his answer, but he didn’t care.

“Same time I get there.”

Both Abel and Gio stopped eating and stared at him. “You gotta warm up.” Abel reminded him.

“Yeah, I know. I’ll get there early.”

“She’s gonna be there while you warm up?” this time Gio was the one asking.

Noah frowned. “Yeah, so what?” he shrugged, not caring that both his friends were staring at him like he was crazy. “I want her there.”

Last night during their very long goodnight kiss, he made her promise she’d be there with him the whole time. She’d started telling him she might in fact be a little late but after a few persuasive kisses she actually agreed to leave work early.

“So you never told us. What was Kratz doing here last week?” Gio asked surprising Noah by the sudden change in subject.

Noah glanced up in time to see Abel shoot Gio a look. Noah glanced at Gio then back at Abel. “Why?”

Abel shrugged as if he’d asked the question to begin with. “Curious, is all.”

Abel had never been curious about anyone’s private life and he was as discreet as he was nosey. Noah caught him trying to give Gio a look again. He didn’t know what to make of it but he seemed annoyed or something.

“They used to go out,” was all Noah offered.

“Is she gonna start going out with him again?” Gio asked.

Abel threw his napkin on the table and sat back in his chair very obviously irritated now.

Just as irritated but confused by Abel’s reaction Noah turned to Gio. “Hell no she’s not.” Then turned back to Abel. “And what’s with you?”

“Nothing,” Abel said shaking his head then glared at Gio. “I just think talking about this right before your fight is a bad idea. You have a hard enough time focusing now that she’s around, and thinking about her and the f**king dean is not gonna help.”

Noah couldn’t help feeling a little pissed that his friends would think she’s still interested in anything with her ex when things between Noah and her had obviously progressed. But neither of them had any way of knowing just how much his relationship had progressed, and he knew they meant well. “Yeah, well, there’s nothing going on with her and the f**king dean so there’s nothing for me to think about alright?” He stood up from the table and carried his plate to the sink. “Will you two just relax? This is gonna be fine. I got this. Trust me.”

He saw them exchange glances and then Gio nodded. “Okay no more talk about this before the fight.”

“Thank you.” Abel added, again his attitude about the whole thing seemed a little strange but Noah decided to just let it go.

“Or after.” Noah said feeling even more annoyed now. “Roni wants nothing to do with that douche so there’s nothing to talk about.”

Gio said nothing, just glanced at Noah and nodded then looked back at Abel who was staring at him hard. It was all very weird but Noah chalked it up to the fight. Abel was worried about Noah’s concentration and it was true, Roni was a distraction. But he’d show them all tonight he could do this even with her there the whole time. He had to. He didn’t want them ever trying to talk him out of having her there at all next time. That wasn’t happening.

They finished eating and Abel and Gio left. Noah got his stuff together and sat down on the sofa to wait for Roni. For the first time that week he finally had a moment to catch up on emails and texts. The whole week he’d pretty much ignored everything outside of the gym, except Roni. It’s what he always did fight week. He clicked through the many unopened emails and texts he’d gotten that week surprised to see Rita’s name near the top of his latest messages since she hadn’t sent him anything in months. But he didn’t have anything new from her.

Not wanting her name up there he clicked on it to delete whatever he did have from her. What he saw had him sitting up straight. “What the f**k?”