Part 6 (1/2)

I narrowed my eyes at him in suspicion. ”Why?”

”Because I'm a growing boy,” he laughed, shuffling awkwardly. ”And dinner is important?”

I studied Liam's face for a long moment, trying to figure this whole thing out. For a while now, Liam had been acting a little more like old Liam as in boyfriend Liam.

Getting back together wasn't something I had any interest in. To be perfectly honest, I didn't think I would ever trust another guy again. Like ever.

”It's just dinner, Teegs,” Liam reminded me, all humor gone from his expression. ”As in two friends sharing a meal and paying separately afterwards.”

”Right,” I muttered, feeling like an overreacting tool. ”Well, then I'll definitely go for dinner with you...”

The front door of the flat flew inwards and slammed against the wall.

”I can't believe it!” Hope practically screamed as she appeared in the doorway, with her phone pressed to her chest. Her eyes landed on me and widened.

”Teagan,” she blurted out, rus.h.i.+ng towards me. ”Logan's on the phone. He says that Noah has been involved some sort of incident at the prison again”

”Don't,” I warned her, waving my hand in front of my face. ”I can't hear about him, Hope. Okay?” One year had pa.s.sed by since I left the Hill and I was struggling to block it all out; all my thoughts, my memories of him, my guilt for the way his life had turned out. I was getting there. I was rebuilding my life, a life that didn't include Noah Messina. But I couldn't handle another sentence with his name in it. I wasn't strong enough. ”Just leave me out of your family business.”

”Dammit, Teagan,” Hope huffed, as she padded through the flat towards me before thrusting her iPhone into my hand. ”You need to hear this.”

”I can't,” I warned her, clenching my eyes shut. It was too painful and I was feeling weak.

”What's going on?” I heard Liam ask, but his question went unanswered.

”Talk to Logan,” Hope demanded. ”For the love of G.o.d, Noah was stabbed, woman.”

”What?” I deadpanned.

Dread devoured me.

Fear claimed my heart.

With trembling hands, I dragged the phone to my ear. ”Is he alive?” I heard myself ask in a voice so shrill that it didn't sound like mine. ”Logan,” I heard myself scream louder. ”Is he alive?”

Please G.o.d, let him be okay...

Please, G.o.d, please...

”Yes.”

That was the most perfect 'yes' I had ever heard.

”What happened?” I found myself asking. My legs gave out beneath me and I fell to the floor in relief, cradling the phone to my ear.

”Teagan?” Liam dropped to the ground, attempting to comfort me, but I pushed him away.

I couldn't have him near me right now.

”Liam, go,” I heard Hope warn him. ”She'll call you later.”

I didn't listen to their exchange or check to see if Liam had in fact left. I was too busy having my life ripped out from underneath me. ”He got into it with Angelo Javi in the yard the other day,” Logan announced, getting straight to the point. ”The f.u.c.ker and his posse waited for Noah and jumped when he was showering later that day, nicked him twice in the side with a blade.”

”Angelo Javi? As in...”

”Gerome Javi's brother,” Logan said, confirming my worst fears.

”Oh my G.o.d.” A tsunami of emotions burst through me, overwhelming me, attempting to strip away my sanity. ”Where is he now?”

”He was sent to the hospital, got st.i.tches and what not.” I heard Logan sigh. ”They sent him back there, Teagan.”

”Can they do that?” I demanded, frantic. Climbing to my feet, I began to pace the flat. ”It's not safe. Jesus Christ, they can't f.u.c.king send him back in there!”

”They can and they have,” Logan replied, ”It's a joke.”

”What can I do?” I heard myself ask.

”Write him a d.a.m.n letter for starters,” Logan shot back. ”And if it's not too much trouble, maybe you could get on a plane and come see the guy.”

I cringed when I heard the venom in his tone.

Logan wasn't an aggressive person and we were friends; or so I had thought.

Not anymore apparently.

”He's going through h.e.l.l inside, Teagan,” Logan added. ”And you checked out on him. Imagine how he feels.”

”Logan, he cheated on me,” I cried out in defense. ”He f.u.c.ked that girl right in front of me and he didn't bat an eyelid doing it. What am I supposed to do? Run back to him and wait for it to happen again?” I shook my head and wiped my cheeks with my free hand. ”He broke me, Logan.”

”He knew they were coming for him,” Logan hissed in tone of pure disgust. ”And do you know the only person Noah was worried about? You. He could've been killed in there, and the only thing that concerned him was getting a f.u.c.king message to you. You don't deserve him, Teagan,” Logan hissed and I paled.

I tried to find the words to defend myself but Hope's younger brother continued before I had a chance.

”This is on you,” he added in a deathly cold voice. ”If you hadn't come around and f.u.c.ked with his head, Noah wouldn't be where he is today. He was protecting you that night, to keep you safe from JD and George, and you betrayed him, Teagan. You f.u.c.king buried him and you bailed when it got tough.”

”Alright, Logan, that's enough,” Hope, who s.n.a.t.c.hed her phone out of my hand, warned her youngest brother. ”Don't even think about putting any of the blame on Teagan.”

I didn't hear Logan's reply, but from the way Hope's face reddened and her voice rose, I guessed it wasn't pretty.

Was Logan right?

Was I responsible for this for Noah being in prison?

”You are not responsible for this,” Hope growled, reading my thoughts. Tossing her phone on the couch, she knelt on the floor and pulled me into her arms. ”None of this is on you, babe.”

I nodded and agreed and held onto Hope for dear life, all the while wondering if Noah blamed me too.

Did he go down for me?

Did he hate me?