“I know first hand what it’s like to be discarded by family. That’s why I don’t turn my back on friends or people I care about. That’s him.” He jabbed a finger in the air in the direction the f**ker had driven away in. “He does that shit, not me. But apparently that doesn’t count for anything where you’re concerned right? Because you’re so ready to believe something like that about me just because he told you so.”

Her hands were at her mouth now and she took the steps down the stairs to approach him as he backed up even more. “I never said I believed him, I said I was curious. I didn’t know what to think. He said it was a long time ago. People do things they regret, I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Even if it were true it wouldn’t matter. None of it matters.”

That confirmed it. She did believe all those things about him even after what he’d just told her. “I just said…” He started to articulate then spun around; he couldn’t stay there even another minute. “You know what? Believe whatever the f**k you want. How ‘bout that? I don’t give a shit anymore.” He was done trying to convince her that he was worthy of being part of her life.

“Noah, I’m sorry. If you say you didn’t then I believe you.”

Wonderful now she was going to humor him. He jumped on his bike and pulled his helmet on glad it muffled her words because he couldn’t bear to hear another word. If he was anything like the type of young immature punk she clearly thought him to be he might’ve had thoughts of flipping her off, instead all he could think of as he pulled out of her driveway was how the hell was he supposed to get over her? This felt a million times worse than his breakup with Tessa.

He drove stupidly fast around the area for a while before deciding on a destination. He didn’t want to be near anyone. It was crazy the effect Roni had on him. Emotionally he was a wreck. She’d only been in his life a few months and the thought of not having her in it anymore was unbearable.

Twenty minutes later he sat at the edge of the boxing ring at the gym. He hadn’t bothered turning on the lights when he got there. The only light was the bright moonlight that came in through the windows and the streetlight just outside the front door that flooded in through the glass doors.

He realized that he wouldn’t have blown up the way he did if he hadn’t already been so worked up. Hearing about Roni spending time with the ex she probably still had feelings for had really done a number on him. He’d never felt so pissed and hurt at the same time in his life.

The whole damn week had been building intensely until he’d just come apart. Maybe if he would’ve explained to Roni about what really happened in high school with the girl he got pregnant instead of going off on her she would’ve understood. He might have even convinced her of what he’d been trying to all this time. That he was mature enough to handle things like an adult, and had been even back then.

The front door opening jerked him out of his thoughts. He’d been so damn heated when he burst through it tonight he hadn’t thought to lock it and this wasn’t the best of neighborhoods. He jumped off where he sat to his feet fully expecting to have to take on homeless person or two when he heard Roni.

“Noah, is that you?”

She came around the corner into view and she may as well have been an angel because that’s how blissful the sight of her was. She stopped when she saw him.

“I believe you, Noah. I believe you.”

He took a deep breath unbelievably ready to forgive and forget everything that had happened earlier and just run to her but he had to say something to her first. “I dropped out to get a full time job when I found out she was pregnant.”

The shadow over her face prevented him from seeing her expression clearly. But she stood motionless for a moment as he held his breath in preparation for her response.

~*~

Afraid to say the wrong thing Veronica chose her words carefully. She’d hated seeing him so hurt and she was not about to say something that would hurt him again. She started walking to him. “So you’re a dad?”

He shook his head. “Nope. When she first told me it scared the hell out of me. But then the more I thought about it, the more it hit me. I was going to have a child. My own flesh and blood. She said she didn’t wanna have it. She was too young. That’s when I dropped out of school. I told her I was getting a job and I’d raise the kid myself. She’s the one that disappeared not me. Her parents set out looking for me, sure that it was me she’d run away with, but I had no idea where she was either. The next time I saw her, she’d already had the abortion and then she and her family moved away.”

Veronica didn’t think her heart could break anymore for him than it already had. “Where you in love with her?” she asked as she reached him, touching his face.

He shook his head again bringing his hand over hers then brought it to his mouth and kissed it. “The only person I’ve ever been in love with is you.”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Veronica hugged him hard, furious with herself for ever questioning what or why she felt for him. “I love you, too,” she pulled away to look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry I ever doubted you—us.”

His eyes were wide and almost wild, but not in that horrible way they’d been earlier when he’d been so angry. Now he was smiling. “You love me?”

“Yes!” She hugged him again. “And I’m so sorry about doubting you.”