“Where you staying?” he asked, as they were in the truck.

“No clue. Just ended up here.” Noah pushed the button so the window went up and down, up and down, like he was eight years old. “Needed to get away. Packed. Ended up in Blackcreek.”

Cooper looked over, trying to read the expression on his old friend’s face. The fact was, he didn’t know him anymore. Didn’t know what the tone of his voice meant or if it meant anything. That honestly made him a little sad. He’d known everything about this man when they were kids.

“I have an extra room. You’re welcome to use it.”

“Don’t know how long I’ll be here.”

“I was planning on renting it out.”

Noah’s head rolled to the side, flopping around as though he couldn’t hold it up. This look he recognized. Noah didn’t believe him.

“I’m not shitting you. Just bought the house. It could use some work, but it’s huge. I can put your ass to work.”

“You don’t know me anymore. You sure you want a stranger in your house?” Noah almost sounded sad when he said that.

“Eh. I’m sure I can still kick your ass. That’s all that matters.”

Noah started playing with the window again. He looked fascinated by the damn thing. Those pills must have really fucked him up. When the window got boring, Noah closed his eyes. He was almost out by the time Cooper pulled up at his house. Noah put his arm around him as Cooper helped him inside. He went straight for the guest room. His old friend was like dead weight, so trying to help him up the stairs wasn’t an easy feat. Noah leaned right out of his arms, and dove into the bed, and then groaned and cursed, before clutching his side.

“Dumbass.” Cooper shook his head. “Where’s your car? I’ll get it towed in and grab your prescription. Don’t think you won’t owe me, though.” Cooper felt this crazy thrill of happiness. It was fun teasing Noah. It always had been.

Noah’s face was in the pillow as he mumbled his answer. Somehow, Cooper managed to understand him.

Cooper walked to the door, but paused there. “Get your ass feeling better. We’ll go out and meet some women,” he joked.

“Nope,” Noah mumbled. “I’m gay.” That easily, he was passed out again. Cooper couldn’t help but laugh. Jesus, the man really couldn’t handle pain pills.

CHAPTER TWO

Noah rolled over in bed, all of his muscles stiff. He felt like he’d been hit by a truck. As soon as the thought struck him, he realized how ridiculous it was, considering that’s exactly what happened. Cooper Bradshaw had collided right into him.

All these years later, and he still didn’t watch where the hell he was going.

Noah tried to get up, and groaned at the foggy feeling in his head. It wasn’t his ribs that bothered him at all. No, he felt like he was swimming through muddy water, and the only thing that made him feel like that, was Demerol. Why didn’t he tell them he couldn’t take it?

Fighting his way through the murk, Noah stood. He was a little shaky on his feet, but kept on going. The only way to get out of this was to push himself. He needed a hot shower…something to drink. Then, maybe he would start feeling like himself again.

As much as a shower called him, he not only didn’t know where it was, but his mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton balls. So kitchen first, shower second.

Coop’s house. He couldn’t believe he’d landed himself in his old friend’s place. Cooper had been the best friend Noah ever had. After they left Blackcreek, he stopped trying. Didn’t want to make new friends, because it would hurt when he had to leave them.

Noah padded his bare feet down the stairs, wondering where his shoes were. How they’d gotten off, and how the hell long he’d been out. When he got to the bottom, it opened into a large living room with oversized-dark green furniture, and a big-ass flat-screen on the wall.

“H’llo?” His voice came out raw and scratchy. Damn Demerol.

“In the kitchen,” Cooper’s voice sounded from the other side of the living room. Noah followed it, until he found Coop standing at the stove in a pair of jeans and nothing else. The years had been good to his friend. His muscles were firm and defined. His skin golden and sun-kissed, and fuck if he didn’t have a six-pack. Noah fucking loved that.

He walked over and fell into the kitchen chair. “I feel like hell. My brain is all foggy.”

Cooper laughed. He was always laughing at something. That’s one of the things Noah remembered about him. He loved to laugh. “No shit. I thought you died in there. I went in a few times to make sure you were still breathing.”