How to Love Your Neighbour(28)

Nodding like he understood, Chris said, “Okay. Sorry. It’s a tougher transition than you thought it’d be but come on, you’re a third owner with us, you have the house, will probably have the house beside it because you’re bullheaded, you’ve got the office buildings downtown, with full rental income. What’s going to be enough? What’s it going to take for you to feel successful?”

Damn. He almost wanted to punch his brother for getting to the heart of the restless spinning. What the hell was it going to take to make him feel good enough?

“Maybe that’s something I should figure out. I gotta go.” He stood, needing the fresh air, the space.

Chris stood as well, clapped him on the shoulder. “Hey. I’m here. I wasn’t trying to piss you off. I know it’s hard to get out from under Dad’s foot. But you’re doing it. So what if a few deals didn’t pan out. Let’s do dinner. Forget about business for a bit.”

Noah nodded as they waved to Tara and walked out together. “That sounds good. Sorry I snapped.”

“I get it, man. You know I do.” Chris held his gaze. Sometimes Noah felt like he was the older one. “Right?”

Noah nodded again, gave him a one-armed hug, then shoved him just because he felt like it. Chris laughed. “You’re such an ass.”

“Takes one to know one.”

Chris laughed harder. “Good to see you’re all grown up.”

He didn’t feel less restless when he got in his truck, but he did feel happier.

Noah might not be entirely sure what was going on with him lately but he knew, as he parked his truck in front of the worn-down recreation center about twenty minutes outside of Harlow, that this place brought up a lot of memories and feelings. Good ones.

Grabbing the huge duffel bag from his backseat, he had a wide smile on his face when he met up with Rob in the parking lot.

“Hey. Sorry about last time, man,” Rob said, coming up beside him.

“No worries. It was fine. Relationships take time. Think the kids will show up?”

“I do.” Rob jutted his chin toward the duffel. “I told them there was a surprise. Thanks for doing that. I really didn’t tag you into this for the money.”

Noah knew that but had some ideas about it anyway. He’d been invited to enough things in his life because of his financial status or his family name to know when something was genuine.

“It’s all good. I’m happy to do it. I’m not above a little bribery to get them to let me in a little.”

He also knew that it took more than some nice jerseys to actually make headway. He just hoped they’d let him try. Noah and Rob found four kids waiting for them on the basketball court behind the rec center. They were an eclectic mix of heights, ethnicities, and ages. If he had to guess, he’d say the youngest one was about ten, the oldest just about done with high school.

“This guy again?” Leo said, making a derisive noise as he grabbed the ball from the youngest kid to start dribbling.

“I know,” Rob said. “With your moody teenage hormones, I didn’t think he’d want to come around again either, Leo.”

Noah looked at Rob. “I grew up with two brothers and a sister, a little attitude can’t scare me.” Noah smiled at the other kid, tossing the duffel on the ground. Two more boys came out from the center doors.

“Who’s this?” an older kid with an Afro bigger than the basketball asked.

There was a pale blond kid, slight thing though he was tall, walking alongside him. “Probably Rob’s lawyer.”

The others laughed, but Noah didn’t know what made something funny to teenagers.

Rob put up his hands. “All right, bunch of comedians, get in here.”

To their credit, the ragtag group of kids listened, standing in a semicircle around them.

“What did you think of me when we met?” Rob asked them, then held up a hand again. “The PG version.”

The kids snickered. Even Noah grinned, wondering what they’d said.

“Thought you were lost,” the pale blond kid said, showing crooked teeth when he smiled.

“Thought you were a lawyer or some schmoozy politician,” the Afro-haired kid said, another smirk.

Rob glanced at Noah. “I was wearing a button-down, collared shirt. Unless you never want to hear the end of it, don’t wear one.”

“Noted.” Noah glanced around, caught Leo mean-mugging him.

“We thought you were just another sucker who had to do some community work for some program so you could get a fancy degree,” the little guy said.

“You were all wrong about me. Whatever perceptions I had about you guys were wrong, too. We talked about that, judging people at first glance.”

“Happens all the time,” Leo said.

“To more people than you’d expect,” Noah said, holding the kid’s hard gaze.

He scoffed. “Oh yeah? Someone judge you on sight, rich boy?”

“Leo,” Rob said in a warning tone.

Noah patted his shoulder. “It’s okay. I get judged all the time. Not as much here as in New York where I’m from. Nothing you can do about what people say or think except be yourself and walk away from anyone who doesn’t like it.”

His words were met with silence, and for about three point two seconds, he felt like he’d imparted some strong wisdom to today’s youth. Until they started to laugh. Leo doubled over, holding the basketball to his side while he let out deep chuckles. Even Rob laughed, shaking his head.