Chapter 126: Later, therapist
Noah tugged Ryder’s arm hard, his pulse quickening with nerves as he dragged him away. "Let’s go. You’re making a scene."
Ryder’s eyes flared with anger, his muscles tensing as he watched Damon walk away with a smug look. "I’m making a scene? You heard what that bastard said to you!" Ryder’s voice rose, his irritation palpable. "He insulted you to your face, and you’re telling me I’m the problem?"
Noah was tense, but his voice remained calm, though there was a deep frustration simmering under the surface. "Ryder, you’re not helping the situation either."
"Not helping?" Ryder scoffed, yanking his arm free from Noah’s grip. "You blow up on me for every little thing, but when some asshole calls you—" he stopped, his jaw clenching, "—when he says that garbage, you don’t say a damn word!"
Noah’s shoulders slumped slightly, and he looked away, his gaze dropping to the ground. The mood between them thickened with tension as Ryder waited, his chest still heaving with anger. But Noah remained silent.
Ryder huffed. "What, no defence? You’re just gonna let him say that shit about you and do nothing?"
Noah’s lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t want to talk about this. He didn’t want to dig up old wounds, especially not with Ryder. But as the silence stretched, Noah finally sighed. He turned his face slightly, avoiding Ryder’s sharp gaze.
"That guy..." Noah started quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, "he’s my senior."
Ryder blinked, thrown off by the unexpected response. "Senior?"
Noah nodded, his face tightening. "We were...friends. There were three of them. Damon and two others. We were close. Real close." His voice cracked slightly at the memory, but he forced himself to continue. "I thought I could trust them."
Ryder’s brow furrowed as he listened, the aggression draining from his face as Noah spoke.