Page 11 of Catching My Dreams

“It does,” Noah said with a content smile that he didn’t feel. “It really, really does.”

“Okay, well, I’ll count you out for tonight then. Do you think Asher would stand in as my wingman since you’re not up for the job?”

“Doubt it. He’s probably got plans with Riley.”

Chris sighed. “I love your stepsister, you know I do, but she’s turned Asher into one of those guys who can’t do anything without their girlfriend.”

“Your stepsister is hot, Warner,” one of the guys who was still listening in on their conversation helpfully chimed in. “Do you think Asher would mind some not-so-friendly competition?”

“Riley is off-limits,” Noah said, sending a death glare his way.

“Sorry,” he replied, holding his hands up. “Just making an observation.”

Noah didn’t believe it for a second. “Leave Riley alone. If you know what’s good for you, you won’t even breathe in her direction.”

Both Riley and Asher had been through enough without some dumbass trying to cause drama. He wasn’t worried that his teammate could get between them—Riley loved Asher too much for that to happen—but they didn’t need some guy stirring up trouble.

Like he knew what Noah was thinking, Brady intervened. He slapped the back of their teammate’s head and shook his head. “You know what Asher went through. Don’t start trouble.”

Thanks to the media coverage Asher’s case had received, almost everyone at Georgetown knew he’d been kidnapped and held in a basement for five weeks. They just didn’t know that he’d been in a kind of magical coma for those five weeks and had met Riley, who’d just moved in with her mom and Noah’s dad, during that time.

“As fun as this has been,” Noah said, returning his attention to Chris. “I need to get going. Are you fine to get home tonight?” He, Chris, and Brady carpooled to campus, so they’d need to make a plan.

His friend nodded. “I’ll get an Uber.”

“Brady?” Noah asked. “You going to the party?”

“Yeah. I’ll catch a ride home.”

“Great. I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Practice had run a bit late, and he couldn’t afford to spend any more time getting grilled about his sex life.

“Don’t be late,” Chris called out once Noah had almost reached the door.

He’d been late to pick up Chris once, but you’d think it was a regular occurrence based on the constant reminders his friend gave him.

“It was one time,” he yelled over his shoulder as he left the locker room, and Chris’s snicker echoed behind him.

Noah didn’t waste any time getting to the parking garage, where his Jeep Wrangler was waiting for him. Within seconds of getting in the car, he was peeling out of his parking space.

It took him a little over half an hour to get home, but it felt like an eternity. He practically ran into the house, barely stopping to put his gym bag and backpack down next to the front door on his way to the living room. His heart clenched when he found the room empty.

He went to his mom’s bedroom next, knocking softly on the half-open door. “Mom?”

“Come in,” she responded, sounding more awake and chirpy than when he’d left that morning.

Noah let out a silent breath of relief and made sure to wipe the concern from his expression before opening the door wider and walking in.

His mother was sitting up in her bed, one of her well-worn mystery books open on her lap. She looked pale and tired, and the smile she sent her son was a shadow of the radiant grins she’d used to be capable of.

The one he sent in return was just as lackluster. “Hey, Ma. How are you feeling?”

“Much better. I had a nap this afternoon, which helped.”

Her radiation therapy had ended about a month earlier, but she was still struggling with fatigue. Noah didn’t think it helped that the oncologist wasn’t happy with the results of the treatment. They had another checkup scheduled in two days, but his mom’s mental health had taken a hit after the last one.

Hearing the doctor say the treatment hadn’t had much of an effect on her breast cancer had hit both her and Noah hard, and while the oncologist had told them it could take time for radiation therapy to yield results, it was hard to stay hopeful.

His mom had always been the most positive person he’d ever known, but even she had her limits, and her breast cancer was testing all of them.

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