I never thought Noah had real feelings, and that was wrong. I hang my head.
“Sorry.” My voice is a whisper. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Noah.” I glance up at him again. “But you and me…we’re not going to work out. You know that, right?”
Something flashes in his eyes, but it’s gone so fast I can’t get a handle on exactly what emotion it was.
“Ny,” he begins. “We’ve known each other for years. Don’t just write us off because you met some new guy. You and me are good together. How much do you know about him? You know he runs an illegal gambling ring, right?”
His voice, even though it’s earnest, irritates me. Maybe it’s his condescending tone, or maybe it’s the fact he’s trashing Ace.
And then the little voice inside my head speaks up. Is he trashing him? What he said is only the truth. You don’t know much about Ac. And he does run an illegal gambling ring.
Noah pulls back from me and grabs the side of the car door. “At least let me give you a ride to campus today. We’re still friends, right?”
I take a deep breath and release it with a slow stream of air. “Yeah, Noah. We’re friends. Thanks for the ride.”
He gives me a quick smile, and the cockiness in it pulls an eye roll from me.
I instantly compare it to Ace’s confident smile. Where Noah grins like he knows he’ll get his way no matter what, Ace smiles like he’s won every battle he’s ever fought. Like there’ve been a lot of them. And he knows he can come out on top.
It’s funny how clear the difference is.
Fourteen
ACE
My phone burns my leg through my jeans. At least it feels like it does. Since I added Naima’s number to my contacts this morning, I’ve wanted to call her, text her, something.
When I woke up this morning with her beside me, it was the best feeling. More than the best. It was perfect.
She’s perfect.
And that’s how I knew I needed to walk away. I can’t bring anything good into her life, at least not right now. Not while being with me puts a target on her back.
So me grabbing her number? Not part of the plan. It was just a compulsion, something I had to do.
But the whole ride home, I promised myself I wouldn’t use it.
As I stopped at the coffees hop down the street from my condo, I imagine her walking around her campus. I wonder what kinds of classes she’s taking, what she wants to do with her life when she graduates. From what I can tell, she has the whole world at her fingertips.
I have goals, too. I’ve always been driven. When I was younger, I was motivated to get the hell out of that trailer park. And then I wanted to attain the things I’d never had before: a real home and a career that allows me to make something of myself. A life I can be proud of.
Right now, my main goal is to stay alive. Naima doesn’t fit into any of it.
But she’s also not the kind of girl I spend one night with. She’s more. All I want is more. It’s a contradiction I can’t wrap my head around.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as I’m sipping my black coffee, and the vibration makes me jump. I know it can’t be Naima, because I didn’t give her my number.
And that makes me freeze, because I didn’t give her my number.
What if they find her? What if she needs me?
Pulling my phone out I scan the identity of the incoming caller.
Carson.
“Uncle C.”
His voice is gruff when he responds. “I’m at the condo. You’re not. Tell me there’s a good reason for that, Ace. Because from what I remember, you agreed to stay put until we had more information on who could be looking for you.”
I switch the phone to my other ear as get up from my table. Walking down the street in the sunshine with Carson reminding me what I’m up against makes me feel like a target. My gaze keeps constant movement as I walk toward my building, scanning my surroundings with purpose.
“Yah, I said I’d lie low. But I don’t want to hide, Carson. Plus, how do we know they don’t already have my address? In that case, staying at home is being a sitting duck.”
Carson sighs on the other end. “I can stay with you until this is over. You won’t be alone, Ace. Never.”
My chest tightens as it does every time Carson treats me like I’m his to protect. Never had it from my parents, but I’ve always had it from him. Without that guidance, I don’t k now where I’d be right now.
I swallow hard as push through the revolving front door of my building. Carson and I are both tough; we’ve been through a lot of shit together. But knowing that he’s there for me changes everything.
“Yeah.” Pressing the button for the elevator, I glance up to watch the digital numbers dropping. “I’m downstairs. You find out anything?”
A sigh travels through the phone, and my jaw tightens in response. I close my eyes briefly as he clears his throat.
“Found some leads, but nothing’s adding up, man. I don’t know where we go from here, but we’ll come up with a plan.”
I give a curt nod, realize he can’t see me, and speak into the phone. “See you in a minute.”
Ending the call, I pull up Naima’s number right away. My fingers fly as I type out a text.
Hey, angel. You OK? Use my number if u need anything.
By the time I step off the elevator, there’s a text waiting for me.
A puff of air escapes me at the same time my stomach flips as I see Naima’s name
