Page 49 of Echoes of Us

ELEVEN

AFTER

Ihad never been in a relationship before, but I was sure that being in one with Noah was nowhere near the standard. First, I didn’t even realize we were in a relationship yet. I thought we were just in the getting-to-know-each-other phase, even if we had been sleeping in the same bed for a week.

It started on Monday. Noah liked showering in the mornings but didn’t follow dorm etiquette. I had to cover him so he wouldn’t walk barefoot and stripped down to his boxers at peak hour. He wasn’t leaving at the same time I was, and when I told him he could shower later, he just shrugged and went anyway, not caring that people knew he didn’t live in the dorm. His lack of concern for modesty should have tipped me off about what would happen after.

Then came having to part ways for the first time. He almost didn’t let me leave. I missed my jog and arrived ten minutes late for my first class. I really couldn’t be upset overit. He had held me back by climbing on top of me and kissing me until I wasn’t sure what day it was. His kisses tasted faintly of mint toothpaste and something uniquely Noah, making my head spin. I started getting nervous when he texted to tell me he was going to training. We hadn’t talked about what we would say to people, and knowing Noah now, I wasn’t sure he would care.

Then came training, and it turned out I was right.

I walked in, and Noah wasn’t there yet. I changed and stood with Colin and Ezra, waiting for the rest to arrive. They asked me what was going on between us, and I gave a noncommittal grunt in response, not knowing what I was supposed to say to them anyway. They were still understandably worried about the whole rehab thing, and I didn’t want to make things more complicated.

Noah walked in a rush, half-waving at me before changing in the lockers. My stomach turned and started bracing for whatever would happen.

“What?” I asked, turning to Ezra. He had just asked me something, and I had no idea what it was.

“I asked if you were going to the gym later,” he said. He was annoyed, I could tell that much.

I thought about Noah. “I’m not sure. I’ll let you know before six,” I told Ezra, and he gave me a disapproving look.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing. I guess I’m just surprised you can go to class alone.”

I scowled.

“Ezra,” Colin said with a warning tone.

“Whatever,” he said quietly.

Noah walked over to us, and Ezra rolled his eyes and moved a little farther away. Noah seemed unfazed. How long had that been going on?

“Hey, how’re you doing?” he said with a smile. He didn’tget too close, and I relaxed. Maybe I was just worrying over nothing.

“Good. How about you?”

“I’m swell, Atty,” he answered with a grin.

I tried to bite away my smile.

“God, this is going to be terrible,” Colin said.

Noah laughed, shoving his arm playfully. “Don’t be jealous, Col. You’ll always come first,” Noah told him.

Colin scoffed. “That’s a fucking lie. I know you, Noah. Don’t think I don’t,” he said and gave him a look.

Noah’s smile faded slightly, and he glanced at me, shrugging it off. One of the guys called Noah and he moved towards them.

“Hey,” I said, calling Colin’s attention. “Don’t you start too. He’s having a hard time. He doesn’t need more crap from people.”

He gave me a long look before nodding. “I won’t start, but watch yourself, Att. Remember, I do know him. I know why I’m telling you this.”

Noah seemed like he was doing okay, smiling and laughing like usual.

We started training, and everything seemed normal. The only thing out of the ordinary was Ezra. At least for me. Noah kept ignoring his rude behavior towards him. I had to pull Ezra away and ask him to cut it out. He told me he would back off but wouldn’t sit back if he saw Noah put one toe out of line. It went smoothly after that, and when we finished, we stood huddled like we usually did, with Hank going over the rest of the week. Noah usually didn’t stick around for those, but this time he stood beside me.

When Hank stopped talking, Noah reached for my elbow to grab my attention. “Atty, come here,” he said, pulling me a little away from the group. I guessed he was trying to get out of Ezra’s earshot.

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