Page 98 of Catching My Dreams

“To check on Ella,” Asher replied, sending a hateful look at Noah over his shoulder.

Noah hadn’t thought the ache in his chest could get worse, but it turned out to be possible. He’d known Asher would be pissed, but he hadn’t realized he’d be angry enough to cut him out completely.

“I’ll come with you,” Riley called after her boyfriend. “Just give me a minute.”

Asher nodded, but he didn’t stop walking. “I’ll be in the car.”

Riley watched him go, and when he’d passed through the gate, she spun around to face Noah. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she asked. She didn’t sound angry. She just sounded confused. “You and Ella were so happy.”

Noah bit the inside of his cheek to keep from saying something that would give the truth away. “It’s complicated,” he finally settled on.

Riley scoffed. “That’s such a cop-out.”

Noah shrugged. “It’s the truth.”

She frowned. “I can’t believe you,” she muttered. “I really thought you’d changed.” She left with that parting blow, not sparing him another glance.

Noah closed his eyes for several seconds and let out an audible exhale. He knew he’d painted a bad picture, but a part of him had hoped that at least one of them would see through his act and know that he’d never do something like this.

“I don’t get it, man,” Chris said, breaking him free from his thoughts.

Noah turned to face another one of his disappointed friends. He’d thought Chris looked upset with him after he’d lost them the previous night’s game, but this was so much worse.

“This isn’t you.” He had no idea how right he was.

Noah threw his hands up in defeat. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

Chris looked ready to punch him too, but all he did was shake his head and say, “You’ve really messed up this time, Noah.”

He left as well, maybe not to go check on Ella, but certainly to get away from the person who’d hurt her.

“What’s going on, Son?” his dad asked when it was just him, Edith, and Olivia left to berate him.

Noah licked his dry lips. “Nothing. It’s like I said. It just wasn’t working anymore.”

Olivia let out an angry huff. “You’re such a dick.”

“Language,” Edith snapped.

“Well, it’s true,” Olivia retorted.

“Breaking up with someone doesn’t make someone a bad person,” their dad argued. “Some people just aren’t meant to be together.”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “Obviously, but Noah broke up with her because he thinks she’s got too much drama in her life. That’s not really the move of a kind and caring individual.” She pinned Noah with a scathing glare. “She has a stalker, you douchebag. It’s not like she’s creating the drama herself.”

“I just have too much on my plate with my mom,” Noah said, not sure why he was defending himself when it was all complete bullshit and his half-sister was right. “I can’t deal with her shit too.”

“And let me guess, Ella didn’t once complain about all the drama in your life?” Olivia assumed correctly.

“Well, no,” he replied. Ella would never do that. She never complained. She only ever helped.

“So you are an asshole,” Olivia concluded. “I’m going inside.” She spun on her heel and marched across the grass.

“So much for our barbeque,” Noah’s dad said with a sigh.

Noah looked at the steaks piled on the grill. They’d be eating leftovers for a day or two. “I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to ruin lunch.”

“The lunch doesn’t matter. Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

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