Page 123 of Echoes of Us

“I’m sorry, Att.”

I wasn’t sure what he was sorry about.

I glanced back at the club. I didn’t want to go back in there. My phone vibrated. Noah was calling. I didn’t want to pick up. How had everything gotten so messed up in less than half an hour?

I was still looking down at it when the club door pushed open and Noah stepped out.

“Hey, there you are.” He hung up and moved toward me.

He reached for me, and I pulled back. He stopped, confused.

“Don’t,” I said simply.

“Atty, I’m sorry I got so mad. I was fed up with him being so rude to me. I know you’ve seen it too,” he started.

I shook my head, cutting him off. “Did you lie to me about using, Noah? Are you still doing it?”

He glowered. “Did he tell you I was? He hates me, Atty. He’d say anything to get you to stop being with me,” he said defensively.

“That’s not what I asked.” My eyes tried searching for the truth.

“No, I’m not,” he insisted.

“Don’t lie to me, Noah. Not about this. You promised you would stop.”

Noah glanced down at his feet and then up, stepping closer to me. His voice softened. “I’m not lying to you.”

“You know, I don’t know about these things. Don’t take advantage of that, Noah. Don’t play me for a fool.”

Noah walked closer and placed his hands on my arms, his eyes fixed on mine. His pupils were still dilated. “I’m not, Atty.”

“Did you flunk out?”

He closed his eyes and sighed heavily. “Yeah, I did, but I’m fixing it,” he said, looking away.

“How?” I pressed.

He scratched his head, making a face. He didn’t want to talk about it. “I had to pay a fine. I’m taking two classes this semester to stay enrolled. I have to take a full load next semester,” Noah explained.

“What do you mean pay a fine? Like a bribe?” A cold knot formed in my stomach.

Noah shifted uncomfortably. He made a dismissive gesture, moving his head from side to side. “A donation.”

“Are you serious?” I knew my eyes were wide.

“My mom told me to do it,” he explained.

Somehow, that made it worse. For the first time since I’d met Noah, a wave of inadequacy washed over me. It wasn’t just that we had little in common—we came from vastly different worlds. I had ignored so much about him.

“Was that what was upsetting you last week?”

“No, I really did have to sign stuff. All this happened two weeks ago.”

That didn’t make it better either.

“How could you not tell me about this, Noah?”

His gaze fell to his feet.

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