Page 133 of Echoes of Us

“I want to do it,” I told him.

Noah’s smile grew. “It’s small. It’s not a big pull. It won’t be noticeable,” he said, his green eyes shining with delight.

I sauntered towards the court. Colin was taking a drink and talking to Ezra.

“Col,” I called out, and he turned towards me. “Give me a serve.”

He grinned while shaking his head. “Just one, Att.”

I walked to the back center of the court, bending my knees. Colin grabbed a ball and moved to the far end. I glanced at Noah. He had his hand over his mouth, his knuckles pressing against his lips, probably hiding his smile. He was trying to look disinterested and failing miserably.

I focused on Colin. He stood there, both hands on the ball, smirking at me. He took three steps back, tossed the ball up, and his hands dropped to his sides. It was subtle, but I saw it—a slight rub of his thumb over the fabric on his right side. My eyes focused as he took two steps and pushed off.

I darted quickly to my right, bending my knees, and heard the loud slap of his hand on the ball just before the satisfying sting against my arm.

I lifted the ball. “Yes!” I shouted, watching Colin’s jaw drop in disbelief.

Applause erupted around me, Noah’s loud laugh ringing above the rest.

“And on the first try,” I told Colin, laughing.

Colin shook his head and glanced at Noah. He was clapping too.

He made a face at Colin and turned back to me, mouthing, “Good job.”

My heart surged, and I quickly looked away.

You’re doing it again.

I spent Saturday and Sunday looking down at my phone, seeing new texts from Noah. It felt like going back in time to when we were just getting to know each other and he texted me constantly. I still got a thrill from them, but it was also loaded with emotion. I wondered if unblocking him was a good idea.

The day I had decided to block him was when I admitted to myself he had left me for real. It wasn’t just him disappearing for a few days and returning like nothing had happened. It was weeks after he left. I kept showing up at his building, calling him, texting him, and getting nothing in return—just radio silence.

Now I was smiling at his texts and looking at my phone like nothing had happened. I was falling into the same trap again. I had sworn it would never happen.

I glanced back and saw him smiling, feeling my heartclench. It was as if his smile had a direct line to my heart, controlling it. He didn’t seem like the same person. I wanted to believe he had changed, but it was still Noah. I dreaded the end of training. I had no idea what I was going to say to him. I had decided to let him talk and figure out what I wanted afterward. It sounded like a terrible plan, but it was the best I had.

After training, Noah approached me and asked if we were still going to talk. I nodded, and he smiled in response. After we changed, we headed out, me with my heart pounding and Noah biting the side of his thumb, when the coach called him back.

“I’ll be right out.”

I made my way outside. I had no idea what I was playing at.

“Att,” I heard and turned.

Mathew was walking towards me. Shit.

“Hey.” I glanced behind me. Noah was still talking to the coach.

“How are you doing?”

“I’m good, you?”

He gave me an uncertain smile. “I’m a little embarrassed, I guess. You never texted back, and now I’m ambushing you.” He let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

“Sorry about that. I had a lot on my mind. I didn’t mean to leave you on read.”

“That’s okay,” he said and took a step closer.

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