Page 16 of Catching My Dreams

Noah grunted in response.

“I don’t think Coach was too happy with you tackling Eric, though.”

“He deserved it.” The cocky bastard needed to be taken down a few pegs, and nobody else was doing it, so Noah had done it himself.

Chris rolled his eyes. “Sure, but you’re the QB. There’s a reason you haven’t been sacked during practice, in case you didn’t know. You’re not meant to be risking injuries.”

Noah knew he was right, but he’d needed an outlet, and tackling Eric had provided precisely that. “It was fine. No one got hurt.” They’d reached the locker rooms, and he started taking off his gear.

“This time,” Chris grumbled. “But you’re our best chance of the team having a shot this season, and if you get yourself injured during practice, Coach might actually kill you, and I definitely will.”

“No pressure or anything,” he replied dryly.

Georgetown wasn’t really known for its football team, and if Noah’s mom hadn’t gotten sick, he would have been playing for UCLA or Ohio State. But he needed to be close to her, so he’d settled for playing for the Hoyas.

It helped that Georgetown had been at the top of Asher and Chris’s lists as well. Not to mention that the school was one of the best academically. Noah just wished their football team was as good and as popular as their basketball team.

“I know I’m a godsend to the team,” Chris continued, his arrogance all for show. The man put on a cocky attitude ninety percent of the time, but Noah knew it was mostly bullshit. “But without a good QB, we’ll be slaughtered.”

Chris was usually the friend Noah could rely on to make him feel better, but Noah’s irritation only seemed to mount with every passing second. “I just needed to let off some steam. It won’t happen again.”

“It better not. We can’t aff—”

“I said it won’t happen again,” Noah interrupted, his words far too sharp.

Chris’s mouth snapped shut, and he turned his focus to getting out of his uniform, his expression becoming shuttered.

“I’m sorry, man,” Noah sighed. He ran his hands through his sweat-dampened hair. “It’s been a rough day, and it’s turned me into a real asshole.”

“Is your mom still struggling?” There wasn’t a trace of bitterness or hurt in Chris’s voice. Only concern.

“She seemed better this morning but still not great.” It wasn’t just his mom, though. But Noah hadn’t told Chris or Asher what had happened with Ella, and he wasn’t about to spill that secret. “I’m just stressed, is all.”

“I get it, man.” He slapped Noah’s shoulder. “If you or your mom need anything, you know you can count on me, right?”

“I know.”

“Good. Now, why don’t we get this show on the road and meet up with Asher? That sappy bastard can probably cheer you up.”

“He’s not that bad.”

“The man is in love, and it’s so obvious it’s basically a flashing neon light above his head.”

Noah chuckled and shook his head. “He’s happy. It’s not a bad thing.”

“It’s not,” Chris agreed. “But I don’t know if I could do that.”

“Do what?”

“Let some chick become my whole world.” He shuddered like just the thought of it gave him chills. “What if Riley cheats? Or dies? Or decides she doesn’t actually like Asher all that much? Where would that leave him?”

Noah’s eyebrows soared until they nearly disappeared in his hairline. He knew Chris wasn’t into serious relationships, but it sounded like the guy was afraid of caring about someone. “I don’t think Riley is the type to cheat, and you know she likes Asher. She’s just as disgustingly in love as he is.”

Noah’s stepsister was stubborn and sarcastic and, much to her mother’s dismay, lavender-haired, but she was also soft-hearted and loyal despite how tense her relationship with her mom was.

Noah was sure there was a bigger chance of the moon being made of cheese than her intentionally hurting anyone. Well, anyone who wasn’t on her bad side because Riley was a lot of things, but forgiving wasn’t one of them. The only one who held onto grudges more than her was their shared half-sister, Olivia.

“You’re leaving out the most important one,” Chris said, sounding unusually somber. “She could die, and Asher would be a heartbroken mess.”

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