Abel (5th Street 4)

“What do you think would be best to wear to a Slightly Stoopid concert? This is Nellie’s second attempt to find something for it. Last time we walked out with nothing. She’s kind of worried about looking out of place.” Roni looked up at them again, and Abel couldn’t be sure, but it almost felt as if she were asking him, not Noah. “Concerts at the House of Blues are generally not the dressy kind, right?”

“I’ve only been there a couple of times,” Noah said, standing up. “Both times, I wore jeans and a t-shirt. Most of the guys were dressed just the same. Of course, the ones there to pick up dress a little spiffier. But concert or not, girls typically dress up a little more than guys.”

Roni was still looking at Abel curiously. Done helping Jack with this pants, she shrugged and stood up too. “I suppose you could dress up anything, even a pair of jeans if you wear the right shoes and top. I’ve never been to the House of Blues,” she said as she walked away into the kitchen, holding Jack’s hand. “Maybe someday someone will take me,” she smiled playfully at Noah before picking up Jack and sitting him on his high chair.

“Next time, for sure,” Noah said. “I’ll look into it, and next concert we’ll go with her.”

It didn’t even dawn on Abel until he and Noah were headed out the door. Roni wasn’t going to the concert with Nellie. He was anxious to ask Noah about it but knew his interest would spark suspicion. Noah would no doubt start up with one of his perturbing lectures about why getting involved with Nellie in any way right now was a bad idea, so he refrained.

They headed out to Griffith Park, where they usually ran a good four to five miles. Today they’d be doing twice that since they were working on Abel’s endurance. Noah filled him in on more of the details of the mixer on their way, giving Abel an excellent excuse to get back to Nellie and her concert Friday. “So that meeting we’re having Friday night with the director of PR,” he said, avoiding eye contact with Noah so his question would sound as natural as possible. “I guess Nellie won’t make that meeting like we talked about if she’s gonna be at a concert Friday night.”

“That’s right,” Noah turned to him, but Abel kept his eyes on the road. “I forgot the meeting was Friday night. Hmm.” Noah was quiet for a moment then went on. “If it were anything else, I could probably get Roni to see if Nellie could skip out on her plans or postpone them, but I know she won’t for this.”

Now Abel turned to him, the curiosity beating out any attempt to not appear too interested in Nellie’s plans. “Why’s that?”

Noah shrugged. “I guess it’s because it’s Nellie’s first real date in a while. Roni’s all excited for her.”

Abel gripped the steering wheel, remembering how nonchalant Nellie had been back, when she’d mentioned the concert to him. Sure they had an understanding, but after the incredible time they’d had in San Francisco, it was hard enough to concentrate on anything else right now much less make arrangements to spend any of his free time with someone else. All morning he’d already been mentally making room in his busy schedule for when he could see her again. And she was going on a date—a first real date? What the hell did that even mean? Had she not mentioned San Francisco to Roni?

Logically, he knew he shouldn’t be upset. He’d agreed he’d be “game” to this, and at the time, he had every intention of this being just a fun thing—neither had a right to be upset or ask questions about each other’s personal lives. But he’d been certain this trip had been a game changer. He was more than upset, damn it. He was pissed.

He was afraid to speak for fear that even one word out of his mouth at that moment would be loaded with indignation so toxic that Noah would be all over it. He parked and got out of his car without saying another word: not about Nellie, not about his training, and not about the meeting Nellie wouldn’t be making because of her f**king date. All he wanted to do was run—run the annoying and unreasonable thoughts right out of his head. Visions of her doing what she had been doing with him for weeks after her date inundated him almost throughout the entire galling run.

“You okay?” Noah asked as their run finally came to an end.

Abel took a long swig of his water, still unwilling to speak. Catching his breath after drinking his water, he nodded.

“You didn’t overdo it, did you?” Noah’s brows were pinched, his eyes full of concern. “Something hurt?”

Yeah, his ego was crushed. But hurt was maybe pushing it—or not. “Nah, I’m good. I had a long night. That’s all.

“Another date,” Noah frowned. “I’m telling you, dude, you’re gonna have to cut down on the late nights or all-nighters anyway. This fight is no joke, and your body needs all the time to recoup from the extra training you’re doing now.”

They started back toward Abel’s car, the irritation still weighing heavy. “I’ll be fine.”

Out of nowhere, Noah chuckled. “Roni was a little pissed at you the other night. I was actually worried she might bring it up today.”

Abel turned to him, his forehead pinched now. “Pissed at me? For what?”

“I told her you had a date the night after you got back from San Francisco, and when she confirmed with Nellie that Frisco wasn’t all business, she was hot.”

“Nellie was?” Abel asked, feeling hopeful.