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He laughed. “They’re just worried about you, I bet. They want you to have the whole experience.”
She held his hand a little tighter as they walked together in the dark. “You know they haven’t caught him yet, don’t you?”
“I know. It’s why I carry this around.” They stopped beneath the street lamp. He pulled out a knife, opening the blade, and showing her what he carried with him. “When I’m old enough, I’ll carry a gun as well, but until then, I’m going to stick with the knife.”
“I hate this,” she said. She took the blade from him, holding it in her hand.
“I hate it as well, but it’s not going to stop me from walking the streets or living my life. I want him to come back.”
“You shouldn’t say that.”
“You’re afraid.”
“Noah, I’m not like you. I don’t have the strength to fight him.” She had noticed how much stronger he was, his muscles a lot thicker than she remembered.
“I could teach you.”
She knew Mitch’s strength. There’s no way she’d ever be able to fight him. “Why do you want him to find us?”
“I want him to find me. Not you. That son of a bitch had me drugged the whole time. He knew he couldn’t fight me when I was at my peak. Now, I’m training. I’m ready.”
“You’re ready to fight him.”
“I’m ready to take that bastard down the moment he shows himself.” He took the blade from her, closing it up and dropping it into his pocket.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the cold. “Noah, you’re … scaring me.”
He pulled her against him, kissing the top of her head. “No need to be afraid. I promise you, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes. His warmth spread through her, and she held onto him, needing him more than she had ever needed anyone else in her life.
“Come on, let’s get to that party,” he said.
He took her hand, and they walked toward his friend’s house.
“Derek’s having a party.”
“Yes. It’s a welcome home party. Another reason you should be here as well. You and I, we’re here together.”
Outside Derek’s house was a huge banner that had the words, “Welcome Back!” She knew this had nothing to do with her, and as they entered Derek’s house, she was very certain of it.
A couple of people looked at her as if she was some kind of foreigner. She’d never spent any time with them at all. Her life had always been about her studies. Partying had been at the bottom of her list of things to ever do.
Noah didn’t let go of her hand, even as people held theirs up to be greeted. She tried to make him let go so they didn’t cause a scene, but alas, he wouldn’t have it.
In fact, he pulled her in front of him, and instead of holding her hand, he wrapped an arm around her middle.
“You’re making a spectacle of the both of us.”
“Again, don’t give a fuck.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “You don’t seem to give a fuck about anything anymore.”
“You got it, babe.”
They found Derek with several of his friends in the sitting room. They were all in a circle with a single, empty bottle in the center.
“Seriously, spin the bottle?” Noah asked. “What are we, twelve?”
