Page 24 of Saving Noah

Funny story, Zach. Because I’m on so many medications, sometimes I forget entire conversations. Sooooo, I forgot what you told me in my bedroom, and when you rejected my advances, I let my paranoia and insecurities make me act like a teenager. How’s the weather, anyway?Noah groaned. Nope, that wouldn’t scare him off.

He kept pacing. Surely there was another way.

He frowned and walked over to his door. After chewing on his bottom lip for a full minute, he finally looked through his peephole to see if Zach was out there. He’d heard the elevator door earlier, heard another man’s voice, and then Zach’s door had opened and closed. After that, things had gotten quiet. That was when he’d taken his shower. He supposed Zach had probably left for work; he was usually gone by this time of morning.

The hallway was empty.

Maybe he could leave a note on Zach’s door? Just a casual‘I’m sorry’and ask him to drop in later. That way, he wouldn’t put Zach in an uncomfortable position. If Zach wanted to give him another chance, he would drop by. If he didn’t, Noah would just have to accept it and move on.

Move on to where, Noah had no idea.

Okay, a note was the cowardly way he planned to go. As he got up in search of pencil and paper, his phone chirped again. He nearly broke his neck when he tripped over the chair to make a wild grab at his cell. Chirping sounds equaled Zach. A grin the size of Texas covered his face as he tried to push the correct buttons to make it show him the text message.

“Hey! This is Connor; Zach’s inappropriate friend from the hallway a couple nights ago. Zach had to leave for work and I think there may be something wrong with Denala. Any chance you could keep an eye on the puppies while I run her to the vet? I hate to ask, but I’m really worried about her and don’t want to leave the puppies alone.”

Noah’s grin grew even wider. If Zach was at work, why would Connor have his phone? He didn’t care. If Zach needed to think he was dumb enough to fall for something like this, he was okay with it as long as it got him another chance with his hot neighbor.

He punched in “sure” and scampered over to his door. Wait. Zach would know he probably wouldn’t, or couldn’t, go into Zach’s apartment without hyperventilating or having a panic attack. What if it really was just Connor needing help? He nearly yelped when the sound of a fist knocking on his door intruded on his internal debate. After peeking out his peephole and seeing it was, unfortunately, Connor standing on the other side of the door, Noah opened it and offered a smile he hoped didn’t show his disappointment. He did, however, still hold out hope that Zach was just using his friend as a way to help lure him out of his apartment.

“Hey,” he said to Connor as his eyes kept darting toward Zach’s closed apartment door. When it didn’t suddenly burst open, he turned his full attention to Connor. “How can I help?”

“I didn’t feel comfortable leaving the pups by themselves, and I think Denala needs to see the vet,” he explained again as he reached down to lovingly stroke Denala’s neck. “She isn’t acting like herself. Zach mentioned you probably wouldn’t be comfortable hanging at his place, but I thought maybe you could help me grab a handful of pups and we could carry them to your place. I swear I shouldn’t be gone longer than an hour.”

Noah tried not to look like a deer caught in headlights when Connor mentioned him going into Zach’s apartment, but felt confident he’d failed. It wasn’t as if he could just waltz into new places like a normal person. Yes, Zach’s apartment was technically part of his ‘safe zone’ but that didn’t always mean he could do it. Hell, it had taken him nearly six months to gather up his balls and head for the gym. Six. Fucking. Months. Connor wasn’t even giving him six minutes.

“Uh…yeah…about th-that,” he stuttered, feeling like the biggest of fools. “I’m not sure I can…uh…do that.” He seriously contemplated slipping back inside his apartment, locking the door, and never coming back out again when Denala’s wet nose nudged his hand. Just like last night, her presence calmed his nerves. “Okay,” he said quietly. “Okay, I think I can do it.”

Connor paused. “You sure? I can bring them over to you if that would make you more comfortable,” he offered.

“Nah, I’m good,” he answered. He hoped he was good. Another panic attack would definitely be taking a step in the wrong direction.

He paused only a few seconds at Zach’s doorway before stepping inside. Zach’s intoxicating scent and the whining of puppies greeted him. Unfortunately, there was no Zach to be seen. After another comforting nudge from Denala, Noah followed Connor down the hall and into the first bedroom. Noah looked around a room identical to the spare bedroom in his apartment except this one was filled with some unopened moving boxes and a giant dog bed covered with squirming puppies. His spare room had sex props in it for his photo shoots; just another huge difference between him and Zach.

Thankfully, he couldn’t worry about how perfect Zach was and how imperfect he was because those tiny puppies were calling to him. Without hesitation, he crossed the room and dropped down onto his knees in front of the dog bed. They were so cute and tiny. His soul felt peaceful as he used the tip of his finger to stroke all of them. Their eyes were still sealed shut, but whenever he touched one, they squirmed around to try and latch onto his finger. He had no idea how long he knelt there, doing stupid puppy talk and eventually picking each one of them up and rubbing them against his face, but the sound of Connor clearing his throat jerked him back to reality.

“Oh, sorry,” Noah apologized. “I got carried away. Should we carry the bed next door? I think they’ll be more comfortable in their bed.”

He looked at Connor and noticed Zach’s friend had an embarrassed look on his face. “Yeah, about that,” he said. “I was in the living room calling the vet and Denala let out a huge burp.” He stroked the top of the German shepherd’s head. “I think she feels better.” He shrugged, looking humiliated. “Man, I would have been embarrassed if I’d run her to the vet and she just had a bad case of gas.”

A wave of disappointment flooded Noah’s heart. He’d already determined the next hour of his life would be one of the happiest he’d had in years. Unfortunately, Denala burped that happiness away. Oddly enough, he felt the urge to cry. “Oh, okay; no problem. I’m glad she’s all right.”

“I can’t believe Zach conned me into puppy parenting today. I have to be the worst possible candidate for the job—absolutely no qualifications in caring for things smaller than me,” Connor said with a smile…and a gesture for Noah to follow him to the door. “So, I’m guessing things didn’t work out with you and Zach last night, huh?”

Noah’s eyes jerked toward Connor. How much did the other man know? “Uh, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he answered.

Connor’s eyes twinkled. “Sure. Okay. Keep Zach’s best friend out of the loop; I get it. That’s okay,” he joked as he opened Zach’s apartment door and leaned against the frame. “You didn’t ask for it, but I’m giving you my two cents anyway. Zach’s a good guy. He’s a catch and keep. Don’t give up on him, kid. He’ll be worth it.”

Noah narrowed his eyes. “I don’t think you’re as out of the loop as you’re pretending to be, best friend. You knew to be concerned about me leaving my apartment earlier. You knew how much I loved Denala. You somehow knew my cell number would be in the phone Zach conveniently left behind.” Noah stopped and stared at Connor. Connor didn’t intimidate or scare him in the least; he wasn’t sure why but assumed it had something to do with Connor’s connection to Zach. He took a step closer to Zach’s friend. “And you did a real dick-ass job of sliding that piece of plastic between my door and the doorframe when you came to get me earlier,Detective. Did you think I wouldn’t notice that the door didn’t click shut properly? That I’m not hyperaware of my surroundings?” Noah scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest. He hoped he looked at least slightly menacing. Connor was about Zach’s size so he could easily overpower Noah, but he wasn’t concerned. “I don’t play games, especially with my safety, so what kind of games are you playing with me, andmore importantly…is Zach playing them with you?”

Connor glanced nervously at Noah’s door and then held his finger to his lips. “Shhhh,” he whispered and then moved his body to block Noah’s view of his apartment door. A grin split Connor’s face. “I should have known you’d be incredibly perceptive, Noah, considering what you did with the Moretti family.” He leaned lazily against the doorframe and asked, “Can I call you Noah or would you prefer I stick with John?”

Noah snorted. “I think it’s a little late to ask me that now, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I guess it is,” Connor conceded. “Listen, little man, I just want you to know Zach didn’t tell me who you are; I figured it out on my own. I thought I recognized you the other night and went home and dug through all my crime videos.” Looking slightly embarrassed, he added, “I may or may not have an addiction to following crime current events. I’ve been a crime junkie since all that shit happened with…” He frowned and straightened his shoulders before continuing, “I’ve been that way forever. So, just so you know, Zach hasn’t betrayed your trust or anything like that. I’ve been on a need-to-know basis only,” he explained. “If it matters, I haven’t seen another guy mess with Zach’s head the way you’ve messed with it. He wants you. He isn’t used to feeling that way, Noah. Be patient.”

“First of all, don’t ever call melittle managain.” When Connor’s eyebrows shot upward, Noah said, “Yeah, I have a chip on my shoulder. It’s impossible not to with all my other shit continuously lowering my opinion of myself. I don’t need you or Zach acting like I’m a kid or little man. So…just stop. Secondly, I’m pretty sure you’re speaking to the wrong person. I’m the one with issues, not Zach. He’s the one that will need to work on his patience skills.” Noah looked around Connor’s broad shoulders. “He in there?” he asked, nodding toward his own apartment.

“Yeah.”

“Then get out of my way,” Noah quipped.

Connor grinned. “A firecracker; I like that.”

Noah rolled his eyes. “I guess firecracker beats little man or kid.” He nudged Connor out of his way and punched in his code. He had another chance with Zach and he was determined to not fuck it up.

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