“I know it’s one of our favorite places to order from, too. We never go to their physical store, though, and that explains why we also didn’t know about this bar.” I smile. He is easy to talk toand keeps the conversation going with ease. He is polite and like a breath of fresh air, effortless to entertain. If I were a different man, I would have been falling for this man. I would have been chasing him like a lost puppy, making heart eyes, but I am not that type of man, and he is not my type.
I take another bite of my food and try to think of something to say, anything really, but the only thing I come out with is, “So Kai told me you are a hair stylist?”
He nods. “Yes I am.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed it, to be honest.” I take another bite, not thinking this through. “ You look more like an accountant to me.”
“Well, and you look like an underpaid male stripper, but you don’t hear me pointing it out.” He bites back with his words, and I laugh. That was a decent comeback and, kind of, a compliment at the same time. I would probably make more as a stripper.
“Fair.” I say with a smile. “But considering how my life was before I met Kai, I think it’s not too far-fetched. I could easily be a male stripper if Kai didn’t come up with the plan about this bar.” I could also easily be dead or in prison, but I choose not to say this. The majority of kids who are released at eighteen from the juvenile system end up soon enough, in prison. Especially those that were convicted for the crime I did.
“I am sorry.” He says quietly. “ I didn’t want to offend you.”
“You didn’t.” I say, and despite my better judgment, I decide that the guy deserves more information to understand why I said this. “Kai and I met in juvie, that’s why I said that. Before I met him, I didn’t have the best life.”
“He was in juvie?” Noah focuses on that part of the information completely, ignoring my part in it, and I am not sure if it is because he is a really good friend or he is just worried to associate with criminals.
“I promise he is not that bad.” I try to ease his worry a little, it’s not like I don’t get it. If my best friend were Rachel, I would also be worried about her messing with Kai. Hell, I am friends with this guy, and I still worry for the girl. His last girlfriend had a fucking restraining order against him for stalking her. God knows how far he will take it this time.
“I’m not judging you.” He finally says, changing the subject to me this time. “I get that life can be hard, and you seem to have done great for yourself.” His words creep inside me, providing a warmth I didn’t expect. They are sweet words of kindness, and what makes them so important is the fact that they are not coming from a friend or a family member. They are coming from a stranger who has nothing to gain by being nice to me, yet here he is doing exactly that. My own family disowned me after I was convicted, but a stranger shows kindness to me, probably because he doesn’t know the type of crime responsible for my years spent in the juvenile system. He doesn’t seem to care, which makes me think he is either focusing on the man I am now, or he is just as crazy as his friend. Either way, those words bring a smile to my lips, one I am unable to hide. They make me feel seen, and that alone is a feeling I will always be grateful for. It’s not often that someone who learns this fact about me reacts this way. Maybe it’s a good thing Noah is so different from the people I surround myself with after all.
I take a sip of my beer. “All thanks to Kai.” I admit, and he smiles in return. It’s not a lie. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t meet Kai. I am pretty sure that goes both ways, too. Kai would definitely not have been here if I wasn’t by his side protecting him from himself. It’s as if we are two pieces of a puzzle destined to click together, helping each other navigate life. If platonic soulmates exist, Kai is definitely mine. He is the friend that anyone would want by his side. The type who would kill for you, burn the world for you, help you rise from the ashes whilecheering you all the way to the top. Because he doesn’t care for himself but for the people he loves? He would give his soul for the people he loves. He would do anything in his power for their happiness. You have to like a man like that, even if he is a psycho.
We continue eating mostly in silence, with the occasional joke from time to time, and for once this feels cosy enough that I could get used to it. Not that I will have to, because people rarely stick around anyway. Soon enough, he will leave, too; no point in getting attached to this handsome stranger.
“If you ever need to talk about that time of your life, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I know we don’t know each other, but I promise you I am a great listener.” He says, bringing back the subject subtly, and I smile at him.
“Thank you.” I don’t say anything else. I don’t say that’s the nicest thing someone said to me after hearing I was in juvie. I don’t say that besides Kai no one has ever shown compassion about it. I almost say the reason I was there. I almost open my mouth and blurt everything out in a word vomit of despair, but I keep myself from it at the last possible minute, and instead I lean in and kiss his cheek. A simple gesture. It’s not romantic, or flirty, or anything close to that. It’s a thank you wrapped in a small gesture. It’s everything I can’t say in words. That probably means nothing to Noah, but the smile on his face means everything to me. And just like that, in one mere moment, all of my objections about this guy vanish.Sometimes it only takes a moment. Maybe this is a new friendship starting. Maybe this guy is here to stay.
Chapter 5
Noah
We have been back at Rachel’s house for a while now, back in our usual routine with our books and wine and pizza, because you can never have too much pizza. Rachel is giggling while texting on her phone, and I am trying to be a good friend and not tease her about it, so instead I focus on my book. It’s not too hard a task, since the male main character in my book is currently fucking one of the betas in his werewolf pack, and I’m way more into it than I’d like to admit. Don’t get me wrong, I am not ashamed of reading smut. It’s the type of smut I read that makes me a little shy about it. It’s not a bad thing for a man to enjoy a little spice, is it?Many do. I think. I am sure they do.
The fact I enjoy this book is not exactly what I hate to admit though, it’s the fact that I have a very vivid image of Leo as the MMC of this book the whole time I am reading it and that’s plain wrong. It’s not my fault the author has described the character exactly like Leo. Blond, tall, broody and full of tattoos. She even has mentioned a deep voice. It’s truly not my fault my brain made the connection and now I can’t get rid of the image in my head. I know I shouldn’t be getting attached to a man who probably won’t be into me anyway. Kai told me he is into both men and women when he was at the salon earlier, and the information imprinted on me like a tattoo. That doesn’t mean this man will be into me just because he likes guys. I am convinced I wouldn’t be his type. Even by looking at him, youcan tell we are on different levels. He is all tall and handsome, and I am... just me. I am pathetic for even fantasizing about this. He just flashed a sweet smile and talked to me in that deep voice, and I am ready to plan our fucking wedding like a good little dick-hungry slut. I am worse than Rachel.Pathetic. I should be on a leash. He can hold it!
My phone rings with a notification, and I reach over while still reading as I open the message, completely blind without drifting my eyes from my book until I finish the paragraph I am reading. When I finally read the text, I am left looking at it like a damn idiot. Leo, the man who’s clearly not into me, is texting me. He has my phone number. The phone number he got from his friend Kai. The guy who my friend is texting for the last hour, giggling like a schoolgirl. Seriously Rachel?Who gives their best friend’s number to their stalker?
Unknown: Hey. I hope it’s okay. I got your phone number from Kai.
“Rachel did you give my phone number to your boyfriend?”
She giggles, “If I am going to receive messages, you should receive some too.” She says with that smug attitude of hers. I sigh, because why is this always happening to me? Can’t I just get a normal best friend who asks before she sends my number to random people?
“You are a terrible friend.” I say as I type a response to Leo.
Me: Totally fine. How are you doing Leo?
‘How are you doing?’Seriously?I couldn’t think of anything more interesting? No wonder I can’t find a decent man. Who would stick around for responses like this one?
Leo: You are into paranormal books right? The wolf on your book is looking very interesting. How do you like that book?
“Ummmmm. Rachel?” I say looking at the phone in shock. Did she tell Kai about my book? I am sure she did. How else could he know?
“What?” She replies unbothered while still reading a message on her phone and smiling like an idiot.
“Why does Leo know I am reading a book with a wolf on the cover?” I ask hesitantly.