Chapter 5
Zach checked his watch again. It’d only been about forty minutes, but he already felt nervous about leaving Noah for so long. His feelings didn’t make a bit of sense, but they were what they were. As soon as he’d noticed how infatuated he’d been with his neighbor, he’d erected walls to protect himself. Noah knocked those fuckers down when he’d reached for him at the hospital—when he’d looked up at him like he’d believed Zach could save his life.
Noah needed Zach.
Zach wanted Noah.
If there was ever a wrong path to travel when trying to dip one’s toe in the dating game, he and Noah were taking that path. Everything was wrong with the groundwork laid between the two of them. They’d cleared up a few things, but so many lies and misunderstandings still existed between them…on both sides. Zach possessed some weird desire to fix the unfixable—it was one of the reasons he’d become a doctor.
Noah appeared to be pretty much alone in this world, addicted to prescription medication, suffering from at least one phobia, and didn’t have many other potential boyfriend/lover candidates because of his inability to leave his safe areas. Any of those issues could easily be the reason he’d shown interest in Zach. No doubt about it—they were reaching for each other for all the wrong reasons, but Zach couldn’t step away from Noah if his very life depended on it. Some unexplainable bond had formed at the hospital, and Zach had no interest in trying to sever it.
Just as he grabbed the basket of food he’d packed to carry to Noah’s apartment, his cell phone started to ring. Thinking it might be Dr. Nichols calling him back with psychiatrist recommendations, he set the basket down and answered, “Zachary Meadows.”
“Ha! Don’t you sound all professional,” Connor responded with a laugh. “Clearly you didn’t check to see who called.”
Zach rolled his eyes; he didn’t have time for Connor’s nonsense. He almost groaned when he remembered his clubbing date with Connor tonight. Yeah, that wasn’t happening. “Ha. Ha. Very funny. What do you need, Connor? I’m kind of busy right now.” He checked his watch again. Shit. He hadn’t meant to take this long. He frowned as he looked at the food basket and wondered if Noah had a grill on his outside balcony. Since there’d been one included with his apartment, he could only assume Noah had one too. He was also certain Noah’s had never been used. Double shit. He would need come back to grill the steaks.
“Okay, okay; I’ll make it fast, but there are some things I need to get off my chest…about what happened last night.”
Perfect. His future held a lecture. “Say it, but be quick about it,” he told Connor. “I want to go on the record before you start and let you know I know I acted like an asshole and I’m sorry about that. It won’t happen again. I’m over my dislike for my neighbor.” Yeah, understatement of the year.
Connor huffed into the phone. “Well, that wasn’t very fair. An apology takes the wind out of my sails.”
“Are we finished, then?” Zach asked hopefully. At this rate, the steaks would rot before he could get them on a grill.
“Okay, here goes. There’s room for only one asshole in our relationship, and I’ve kinda had the monopoly on that spot since I met you at the playground. To be honest, my title has gone uncontested, and it kinda sucks you’ve decided to give me a run for my money. Stop. It isn’t cool. Me the asshole; you the good guy. End of story.” Then in a much more serious tone, he said, “I know what you’re doing with your neighbor, Zach. It’s how you do things…how you keep everybody at arm’s length. Over the years, I’ve noticed you doing it over and over again. The very second you think someone might be capable of meaning more than a fun fuck, you jack up all these walls around your heart, shutting them out before they even have a chance to step a toe inside. I get it; I know why you do it. You’ve had a shit life. Everybody that should’ve loved you and protected you didn’t. Other than me and my family, every other person has disappointed you. To avoid disappointment, you simply stopped letting anybody in.” He paused and then, in typical Connor fashion, he tried to add a bit of humor to the medicine and added, “Doing shit like that, Zach, kind of makes you a pussy. Don’t be afraid of giving your heart to somebody. I’m never going to get rid of you at this rate.”
Connor had him pegged perfectly. Zach shut people out, especially those who could be capable of worming their way into his heart, like Noah. He’d intentionally treated him like shit and tried to pick out every flaw he could find as a way to convince himself Noah wasn’t right for him. Zach hated being so transparent.
He hated admitting when he was wrong too; it always left a bad taste in his mouth. Twice in one phone call was unacceptable…but necessary. “You’re right, Connor. I’m not even sure I realized I did that until today. I can’t promise miracles, but I’m going to try to do better.”
“Uh-oh. That was too easy,” Connor murmured into the phone. “Was that some kind of code that you need help? You never admit you’re wrong without a four-hour battle and a PowerPoint presentation proving it to you. What gives?”
Now he sounded worried. Perfect.
“I was wrong about my neighbor, Connor. I acted like an ass, and I did it for all the wrong reasons. I see that now.”
Connor coughed into the phone. “Oh, yeah, about that,” he started slowly. “That’s the other reason I called. I know I just gave you the speech about opening your heart and not shutting people out as a way to protect yourself, but I want you to stay away from the hot neighbor boy. Keep doing what you’re doing with him. He smiles; you look the other way. Maybe even growl. Do whatever it takes to make him understand you aren’t interested.” After a few soft curse words, Connor added, “Hell, we may have to have your eyes removed until he moves out. He is a hot motherfucker.”
“What the hell, Connor? You were practically all over him last night, but then today, I need to steer clear of him? Stop shutting people out in one breath and then shut my neighbor out in the next? You need to make sense really fast or I’m hanging up.”
“I told you I thought he looked familiar last night,” Connor said. “Well, it kept driving me crazy after I got home. I knew I’d seen him somewhere and I spent all fucking night digging around to find out what it was about him causing the ding-ding to go off in my head. Around four this morning, I found what I was looking for. His name isn’t John; it’s Noah St. Claire. He’s trouble, Zach. I don’t want you involved with him.” Connor puffed out a frustrated breath. “Hell, Zach, I may even want you to move out of the apartment complex.”
What. The. Fuck.
Noah was trouble? Zach shook his head. How much trouble could he cause locked inside his apartment, a prisoner of his own mind?
He proceeded with caution. “Yeah, he told me his real name a little earlier. I assumed he was hiding from somebody,” Zach answered. “That’s it, isn’t it? I mean, what else could it be? He’s a nice guy.”
“Oh, he’s hiding from somebody, all right,” Connor barked into the phone. “More important, though, is why are you talking to him and why did he give you his real name? What’s going on, Zach? Please tell me you didn’t fuck him.”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but, no, we didn’t have sex.” Fucking didn’t even begin to describe what Zach wanted to do with Noah, and that scared him. “They brought him into the emergency room today, and I learned some things about him that made me see things differently.” Like when Noah reached for him, his heart melted. “Whatever it is you think you know about him, Connor, you’re wrong. Noah isn’t the bad guy.” Imagining Noah being anything but innocently beautiful was impossible.
“I didn’t say he was a bad guy. I said he was trouble and I want you to stay away from him—for your own protection, Zach. I dug through my old crime DVDs and found the clusterfuck I remembered him from. Listen to me. Noah helped bring down one of the biggest crime bosses in Las Vegas. As in, knee deep in kill-people-for-looking-at-you-wrong shit. His evidence and testimony put Donovan Moretti in jail. Donovan Moretti, Zach. Nobody messes with the Moretti family and lives to tell about it. Nobody.”
Chills of ice-cold fear raced through Zach, nearly bringing him to his knees. Crime bosses? Somebody wanted Noah dead? Connor could be guilty of being overly dramatic at times, and Zach wanted this to be one of those times.
“You still with me, Zach? Did you hear what I said? The Moretti family. I’ve changed my mind; I want you out of that apartment building. Moretti only got a slap on the wrist for the money laundering Noah nailed him on, so I’m sure he’s still calling shots from his prison cell. There’s no way in hell Daddy Moretti doesn’t have an entire team of private investigators looking for the boy who did him in, and when he finds him, he won’t care what friendly neighbor might try to get in his way. Noah will be dead and so will you if you’re anywhere near the explosion. Pack your shit; you’re moving out.”
“Overprotective, much?” Zach squeaked into the phone. A mixture of emotions tumbled around in Zach’s head, but none of them were fear for his own safety. All of them were focused on keeping Noah safe…making Noah feel safe. No wonder Noah was afraid of his own shadow. “I’m not moving.”
“I had a feeling you’d say that,” Connor answered. “I knew it was too late. I knew it the second I saw you look at him last night. You’ve already tumbled head over ass for this kid, haven’t you?”
Zach leaned against the counter because there was a good chance his legs were about to give out on him. “The tumbling motion may already be in progress,” he answered honestly. “Just for the record, he isn’t a kid. It makes me sound creepy when you call him that, like I’m a pedophile or something. He’s only eight years younger than us.” Fuck, eight years sounds like a lifetime when I say it out loud.
“No, more like a cradle robber,” Connor answered with a laugh. “Okay, we’ve got to move on to Plan B, then. If you aren’t going to move, then we’ve got to make sure you and Noah stay safe while I work on another plan to make Moretti disappear for more than six fun-filled years in his local penitentiary. I’m going to meet with the head of security for your complex tomorrow. Do you think Noah would talk to me? I need to know everything he knows about Moretti. I’m sure he’s in some kind of witness protection program, so talking to me would break all kinds of rules. Of course, telling you his real name broke the cardinal rule, so I’m assuming he’s a rule-breaker by nature. Does he even know how serious this situation is? Hell, Zach, if he’s being an idiot about his safety, then we’re going to have a serious problem. I’m not going to let his stupidity put you in danger. Regardless of how bubbly his ass is.”
Zach rolled his eyes heavenward and answered, “Oh, trust me, I think Noah understands how serious the situation is. I can assure you he isn’t taking any unnecessary risks with his life.”
Connor went from run for your life to kick ass mode in a manner of seconds. Best. Friend. Ever.
“How nervous should we be over this Moretti family?”
“I have two answers for that question,” he said slowly. “First answer: very nervous.”
Zach waited a couple seconds before asking, “Second answer?”
“Fuck the Moretti family. They don’t mess with what’s mine.”
Laughter bubbled from Zach. “What’s yours? You and Noah seemed to hit it off last night, but I would hardly call him yours.”
“No, you’re mine; he’s yours. We’re family, Zach. You know this. If you’ve finally decided to take a chance with your heart, I’m not going to complain just because you picked the worst possible candidate as your choice. I mean, seriously, Zach? The Moretti family? You had to pick somebody who fucked over the Moretti family?”
“Fuck the Moretti family,” Zach said with a laugh, throwing Connor’s words back at him. “What’s your Plan B?”
“Don’t have one yet. I’ll be working on it while you’re working on sexing up your neighbor. Why do you always get all the easy jobs?” Connor started clicking away on his computer, the sound of the keys reverberating through the phone line. “See if Noah will talk to me, okay? That’ll be the first step. I’ve got to get a feel for the situation.”
“I’ll try. Needless to say, he’s pretty guarded around people.” Another thought occurred to Zach. “Hey, can you run some names for me?” He wanted to learn more about Cameron and the idiot doctor prescribing all those meds to Noah.
“Run some names? That is not correct police jargon, Zach,” Connor corrected while the clicking of the keyboard continued. “Yes, I’ll do a background check for you. Give me the names. I assume they’re connected to Noah?”
“Yep. See what you can find out about Cameron Maverick and a Dr. Robert Jones, definitely connected to Noah, and I don’t think in a good way. I don’t trust that either of them have his best interests as a priority.” Zach rubbed his eyes and struggled with how much to tell Connor about Noah’s problems. Connor was his best friend, and Zach trusted him with his life, but he still didn’t want to violate Noah’s privacy in any way. While he couldn’t share anything that happened during the hospital visit, he could talk with Connor about what he’d learned while performing his neighborly duties. Connor wouldn’t betray him or Noah.
“It’s bad, Conn. Really bad. He needs help…more help than I’m qualified to give him. He’s on a shit-load of meds that shouldn’t be mixed, and though I’m not an expert on his struggles, I do know some of these medications would have the absolute opposite effect of what he needs to make progress. There’s a basket of drugs, all with current prescriptions, but he says he hasn’t seen a doctor in three years. Cameron brings everything to him.” Zach’s anger escalated as he remembered the shit Cameron said about Noah in the ER. “I have no idea what that relationship is, but Cameron said he’d been appointed by the courts to make Noah’s medical decisions for him. That’s bullshit, Conn. He may have some problems, but his mental capacities are all intact.” They are, aren’t they? I’d know if they weren’t. “His apartment has the same setup as mine, but…but…hell, Conn, you wouldn’t believe how it looks.”
“He’s a single guy, Zach. A young single guy. Shit gets messy. I don’t think you need to base any judgments on his housekeeping skills,” Connor said quietly. “Do you think maybe your attraction to him is causing you to see things too critically?”
Zach rolled his eyes in frustration. “It isn’t his housekeeping skills. The place is spotless, organized, and coldly sterile. No pictures. No color. Thick black curtains cover every window in the place. It’s dark—like a dungeon. Hell, Conn, it isn’t a healthy environment for somebody his age.” It wasn’t a healthy environment for anyone, regardless of age. Zach had been shocked when he’d first entered the apartment. There hadn’t been a streak of sunlight to be seen.
“Set up a time for me to meet Noah. Tomorrow. At the latest, Zach.” Connor paused a second and then added, “I don’t think it would be good for him to come to the station—don’t need anybody else around here recognizing him. Could we just meet at your apartment?”
Zach smiled sadly. “Yeah, that would probably be for the best. I’ll call you in the morning.”
“Maybe I should sleep over tonight? I can do my research from wherever. You’ve got an extra bedroom”
“I don’t need a babysitter, Conn. Stay home and research. Security here is excellent; it’s one of the reasons I picked this complex.”
“Maybe, but…”
“I’ll call you in the morning,” Zach cut him off before Conn found a way to wrangle an invitation out of him. “See what you can find, and I’ll talk with Noah about our meeting.” He hung up before Connor could argue. Sixty-two minutes. Zach groaned. He hadn’t meant to leave Noah alone that long. Grabbing his basket of healthier food, Zach headed next door.
He tried to enter the apartment as quietly as possible so he wouldn’t disturb Noah’s rest. Between the drugs he took on a daily basis and what they’d given him at the hospital, he had to be about sixty-two minutes deep into a drug-induced sleep. Add the toll panic attacks had on one’s body, and Zach wasn’t sure he’d be able to wake Noah in order to get some food down his throat. That was why he nearly screamed out loud in shock after he eased the door shut and turned around toward the living area. Noah and Denala were involved in a slow-paced—because of Denala’s epic battle with birthing last night—game of fetch with what appeared to be one of Noah’s socks. Neither of them noticed him, so he took the time to admire his neighbor while Noah’s guard was down. When he’d been sleeping earlier, Zach stared at him practically the entire time, memorizing his perfect features, but also noticing that even when Noah slept, worried lines creased his brow. Playing with Denala put a look on Noah’s face that took Zach’s breath away. He was having fun…and looked fucking beautiful doing it. If Zach allowed it, he could fall in love with Noah.
He wouldn’t allow it, though. He couldn’t.
He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the metal door. Hell, he wasn’t going to be able to stop it. Something about Noah called to Zach’s heart.
Admitting defeat, he walked closer to them, making noise as he moved. He didn’t want to startle Noah too badly.
“Hey, Noah,” he said quietly as he set the basket on the bar connecting the living room and kitchen areas. “Why aren’t you resting?” He reached down and stroked Denala’s soft fur, making her whine happily and her ears lie back. His gaze moved to Noah’s face and his breath caught in his throat. He was in so much trouble—looking at Noah made him want to whine happily too.
“We took a power nap, but that was it,” Noah answered as he tossed the sock across the room and watched Denala gingerly cross the room to retrieve it. “Denala kept telling me her daddy never played sock with her, so I took pity and decided to show her a good time.”
Noah’s blue eyes crinkled when he smiled up at Zach; they also promised Zach a good time, if he was interested. “And I knew the minute you slid the key into the lock, you know. You didn’t have to walk across the floor like a herd of warthogs on the run from a pursuing lion.” His grin widened. “When you’re afraid of your own shadow, you tend to hear everything.”
“Sorry,” Zach answered, feeling like an idiot. “You’ve been through enough today, Noah. I didn’t want to do anything that might mess with your comfort zone.”
“Don’t worry about it, Zach,” he said as he threw the sock for Denala again. “And don’t treat me like I’m a freak, okay? I get that from everybody else. It’s covered. I’d like for somebody to treat me like I’m a normal man, not a wimp.” He shrugged and looked away, an embarrassed blush shading his cheeks. “I mean, I know I’m not normal, but maybe we could just pretend.”
“You are normal, Noah. Stop saying that,” he ordered. “How many times am I going to have to warn you before making you stand in the corner until you learn your lesson?”
“Stand in the corner?” Noah said with a huge frown on his face. “Trust me, it won’t work with me. I like corners—me, myself, and I—it’s cozy. I’ve always been a fan of corporal punishment.” Blue eyes flashed an invitation Zach couldn’t miss if he were an inexperienced virgin, which he wasn’t. “Maybe you should spank me,” Noah suggested playfully.
Zach’s cock tried to come to life, but he imagined tossing Denala’s puppies over the balcony in order to get that bad boy settled back down. What he wanted to give Noah and what Noah needed were two very different things. There was no point in denying his desire to fuck Noah in every position known to man and the gods, but Noah needed someone to take care of him and protect him from whatever the shit was going on behind the scenes with his life. Zach was good at fucking but even better at protecting.
“Maybe I will,” he countered softly. “One day.”
Noah’s smiled turned downward so fast Zach almost laughed at loud. Pretty boy had the skills to take pouting to an entirely different level than Zach was accustomed to dealing with. With the same stealth Zach imagined a large cat would use to stalk its prey, Noah stood and moved in his direction. Zach tried to keep his eyes on Noah’s face but failed miserably. Regardless of how much of a hypocrite it made him out to be, Zach couldn’t stop his gaze from straying downward.
Noah hadn’t bothered with a shirt, and Zach really wished he would have. There was no way he could think about anything other than manhandling his gorgeous body into fucking position and slamming into him until the only thing scaring Noah would be whether he would be able to sit down the next day. His pale, hairless chest consisted of lean muscles that formed sculpted shoulders, perfect pecs, a nice six-pack, and a sexy V that highlighted his hip bones. Baggy sweatpants hanging lower than Zach was comfortable with did very little to hide Noah’s trophy body. They were standing face-to-face, but Zach didn’t need him to turn around in order to determine if his ass was as perfect as the rest of him. Zach had eyeballed it enough in the gym. It was firm and had a nice bubble shape that succeeded in causing every gym-goer, male or female, to stumble on the treadmill at one time or another.
Only inches separated them before Noah finally stopped. “One day…as in tomorrow? One day…as in next week?” He grinned because he damned well could see how uncomfortable he made Zach and apparently found it quite enjoyable. “One day…as in one minute after midnight tonight?”
Zach took a step back. He was determined not to take advantage of Noah’s situation. “You don’t know anything about me, Noah. Let’s work on building a solid foundation of friendship before we consider putting sex on the table, okay?”
“Not okay,” Noah answered quickly. “Absolutely nothing about that statement is okay with me. I’m a grown man, Zach. You’re a grown man. I’m gay. You’re gay. I’m not in a relationship. You’re not in a relationship. If I remember correctly, I really like to be fucked.” He reclaimed the step Zach put between them. “And I have a feeling you really like to fuck. I’m not seeing the vast array of problems you are.”
“How do you know I’m not in a relationship?” Zach asked.
Noah’s eyes darkened. “Are you?”
The way Noah’s eyes changed colors mesmerized him. They reminded him of a turbulent ocean right before a storm. Darker rings of blue edged the bright blue of the inside. Noah’s eyes spoke volumes to Zach.
“I’ve watched you, Zach. I don’t have another goddamned thing to do, so I’ve watched you. If you’re in a relationship, you’re treating the other person poorly.” His tongue toyed with his bottom lip for a few seconds. “Are you?”
“No.”
Noah smiled. “Good. Wanna fuck now?”
Zach gasped and stepped back again. The storm in Noah’s eyes settled in an instant and the usual sadness he’d grown accustomed to seeing in those blue orbs returned, making Zach feel like scum. Noah laughed softly…sadly.
“Just kidding, Doc. If you’re determined to try the stupid friend thing, then I’ll stop messing with you.” He shrugged. “I’ve gone this long without getting laid. I can surely make it a little longer, right?”
Noah turned and walked back toward Denala and started the tug-of-war game again. He smiled and laughed at Zach’s dog. He’d seemingly blocked Zach out altogether. Zach could see the hurt all over Noah’s face, even if the other man appeared to have tried, failed, and moved on. But why would he be hurt because Zach wanted to be his friend…or at least start their relationship with friendship and hope it might move on to something better?
“What do you have against my friendship, Noah? I’m not understanding what’s happening here. I’m trying to be the good guy and you’re making me out to be Dr. Evil.” That comment got a soft chuckle from Noah’s pouty lips.
“Nah, you aren’t Dr. Evil, Zach. You’re the good guy.” Noah tossed the sock a little too close to the French doors and cringed when Denala tugged the curtain back when she lunged for her prize. When the black fabric fell back against the door, his body relaxed. “You’re a doctor. You’re hot. You’re smart and funny. There isn’t a spot on your body that isn’t covered with bulging muscles and hot tattoos.” He frowned and turned his attention on Zach for a second and said, “Tattoos, Zach? Never ever would I guess you to be a doctor with all that hotness decorating your body.”
“My rebellious days,” Zach answered. The truth was, everybody in his father’s motorcycle gang was tatted up, so he had started early on. Up until the moment Noah called his tattoos hot, Zach had hated seeing them on his body. They were a horrible reminder of where he would be if Connor and his family hadn’t intervened and helped him escape the shitty life planned for him.
Then, realizing Noah purposely tried to lead him astray from their conversation, he circled right back around. “Why don’t you want us to be friends?”
“Just forget I said anything, okay, Doc? I was just being an idiot—my social skills are a bit rusty. The drugs killed my sex drive, remember? It’s no biggie. If you wanna be pals, we’ll be pals.” A sad smile tugged at his full lips when he added, “You know—as long as you enjoy hanging out at my place…all the time.”
Zach frowned as he tried to understand when and where things had gotten so far off track. Had it been so long since he’d been in a relationship with a person other than Connor that he’d forgotten proper dating etiquette? Better yet, did modern gay guys have a dating etiquette? Maybe people Noah’s age weren’t looking for anything other than a good time in the sack? Shit, Zach was just thirty; it wasn’t like he’d come from the stone ages. Maybe the flame he’d thought was burning between him and Noah was really only a flicker and it had already fizzled out on Noah’s end?
“You’re overthinking it, Doc,” Noah said, interrupting Zach’s clumsy attempts of getting a grasp on the situation. “Move on; it’s over. I won’t hit on you again. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
Noah threw the sock again, but instead of retrieving it, Denala walked to the door and whined. Uh-oh. Puppy time. Momma just remembered she had responsibilities other than sock retrieving and tug-of-war-ing.
Noah’s voice sounded different. His face looked different, as if he’d slipped away right in front of Zach’s eyes. It didn’t appear to be a panic attack, more like a total shutdown. Denala whined again, dragging Zach’s attention back to her. He had to handle her, but he wasn’t leaving until he and Noah were back on the right track.
“Let me take care of Denala, and I’ll be right back, okay? It must be feeding time for the puppies.”
“Sure. No problem.” Noah popped up and walked over to Zach’s dog. He fluffed her ears and said, “Thanks for the visit, noble protector. I don’t give a damn what the police academy said. My vote says you’re a total badass.”
“I’ll be right back,” Zach promised as he opened the door. Denala shot across the hall and waited for him to punch in his code. He stood inside Noah’s apartment, holding the door open and wishing he knew what to say to fix what he’d screwed up. Since he wasn’t sure what he’d done, he didn’t have a clue what to say.
“I’ll be right here,” Noah said with another one of his sad smiles.
“Okay. I shouldn’t be longer than five minutes.”
“Take your time,” Noah said as he wandered over to the food basket and started exploring what was inside.
Shit, everything felt wrong. “Five minutes,” Zach promised as he stepped outside into the hallway. Noah’s door closed quietly, but to Zach, the noise echoed through his head.
“Come on, Denala,” he said as he punched in his code. “I’ll get you settled and then Daddy needs to take care of your new friend. I messed something up back there, and I’m not quitting until I know what it was.” Zach got her settled onto her dog bed with all the puppies surrounding her, made sure she had fresh food and water, and then headed back to Noah’s apartment. He was nervous—terrified he wouldn’t be able to fix what he’d broken. It would be easy to blame Noah’s shutdown on his phobia, but blaming him would be total bullshit. He’d done something wrong and he needed to make it right.
Zach felt both determined and optimistic when he opened the door of his apartment and stepped out into the hallway. That, of course, came crashing down when he noticed the basket of food sitting right outside Noah’s door.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he muttered in frustration as he crossed the hallway, digging into his pocket for Noah’s house key as he walked. “Double fuck!” He’d laid the key on Noah’s kitchen counter next to the food basket.
A smart person would take the hint and leave things alone; Noah had made it crystal clear their night was over. Hell, probably more than their night. Zach didn’t feel very smart at the moment, though, so he pounded on Noah’s apartment door. “Open the door, Noah.”
Silence.
“Come on, Noah,” he urged through the door. “Let me in.” He knocked again. More silence. “Noah! Please, open the door.”
Silence.