Derek’s expression seemed even more off put by Roni’s sudden dismissal than Noah felt about the idea of her wanting even another minute alone with the douche. He blatantly smirked at Derek then turned to Roni. “I’ll wait for you to eat,” Noah said meeting Roni’s eyes and to his relief she nodded.

The smug smirk he’d given Derek when Roni announced she was seeing him off whether he was ready or not was all the goodbye the guy would get from Noah. His hypocrisy only went so far. As much as he hated leaving Roni out there with Derek, he wouldn’t give him the pleasure of knowing it, but pretending he’d been even slightly pleased to see him again had been as far as he was going.

Noah slowed as he walked by Roni, giving her a knowing look. She may not have given him the go ahead to question her personal life like he’d given her but she had to know this was something that would be discussed as soon as he got a moment alone with her.

It wasn’t just the fact that her hanging out with an ex-boyfriend was enough to make Noah’s insides grind, but this guy was scum as far as he was concerned. Not only had Noah always thought him a total prick, he’d left Roni high and dry at a time in her life when she most needed him. Why would she even consider staying friends with him? He didn’t deserve her friendship.

Gio eyed him as Noah stalked through the front room toward the kitchen. The guys all followed him stopping around the center island where he put the boxes of pizza down. “Let me grab paper plates,” Noah said as Hector reached for a slice.

“So what’s Dean Dickhead doing here? Don’t tell me he and Roni are related.” Hector said as he chewed.

“He’s an old friend.” Noah said placing the paper plates down on the counter.

He walked over to the front stopping at an angle where he could see Roni and Derek talking by his car but they couldn’t see him. The dean’s body language was just as Noah remembered, upright and full of authority. Noah hadn’t asked Roni much about her relationship when she’d mentioned Derek before but now Noah had plenty of questions, especially since she obviously held double standards. This guy was way older than her.

~*~

“Wow,” Derek said as they walked down her porch steps. “I haven’t seen that kid in years. I’m surprised he’s not in jail.”

Roni turned to him, her arms crossed in front of her. “What makes you say that?”

Derek chuckled. “That kid sat outside my office more than my damn receptionist when he went to Garfield.”

She wasn’t sure but it made sense that Derek might have reason to try to discredit Noah. She’d seen his expression when she told him Noah was her roommate. Just the fact that she’d previously mentioned her new roommate was a guy she was sure had already gotten him speculating. His showing up here unannounced today was not on impulse like he’d said it was. Derek did nothing on impulse.

But she decided to bite anyway. “Why was he at your office so often?”

“Typical troublemaker. Did you run a background check on this guy before letting him move in?”

The thought had never even occurred to Roni. “No, because he’s a friend. What do you mean troublemaker? What kind of trouble?”

Derek shrugged leaning against his car, obviously in no hurry to leave. “Ditching, fighting, drug trafficking, you name it.”

“Drug trafficking?”

“Yeah, I’m telling you the kid is trouble with a capital T.” He frowned glancing back at her house. “So what? This guy trains you and you just invite him to move on in?”

“No.” She hesitated, fumbling to find the best wording. “He had issues.”

Derek scoffed. “Yeah, I’ll bet.”

“Issues with his place,” Roni added, the annoyance building by the second. She knew Derek would have something to say about this, and his emphasis on referring to Noah as a kid hadn’t gone unnoticed either. “The storms did a number on his roof.” She wouldn’t mention it was the roof over a garage. Derek would love that. “I had the extra bedrooms so I offered to rent him one.”

“Convenient. I’d get the money upfront if I were you.”

Roni rolled her eyes. “I gotta go, Derek.” She began to walk away.

“Hey, listen, Veronica.” Derek’s condescending tone had suddenly softened. “I’m sorry. I know you said he’s your friend. It’s just that I’d like to think me and you can still be friends, too…at least. And I do still care about you, so I can’t help but feel a little concerned here. Who knows maybe he’s changed. It has been a few years. All I’m saying is what I do know about him is no good. So just be careful. Okay?”

Roni turned back to him with a weak smile. “No need to worry. He’s a great guy.”

As expected, her last comment raised questions. She saw it in his eyes but he didn’t ask. Instead he went on to a topic she’d hoped to avoid. At least for now.

“So once you get settled in at work you think we can get together some time?”

She’d used the excuse of being too busy trying to get back on track with her work schedule to answer or return his calls and texts. It was a lame excuse and she’d hoped he’d take the hint. She didn’t see how getting together with him would work now. Noah would no doubt have issues with it.

Every moment she spent with Noah now, every one of their friendly good night kisses, her need to move things forward with him began to outweigh the feeling that she’d be taking a huge risk. All this time she’d been telling herself that he was too young and would want to be out there playing the field. Yet he was free to do that now and he spent all his free time with her. That had to count for something.