Page 53 of Something Like Hail

“Really?”

“Yeah. Take me out for adrink. That way we’re forced to walk off some of thosecalories.”

“Physical exertion,” Noahsaid, feeling daring. “I’m sure we can squeeze that insomewhere.”

Harold shook his head ruefully. “You’ve beenspending too much time with Marcello.” He looked back at his phone.“I’m still confused about this address. Are you sure he didn’t makereservations for us somewhere? I’ll map it and see.”

“It’s fine,” Noah saidhurriedly. “Really. We’ve got plans already.”

“Yeah, but what if someonedoesn’t get a table because… Oh.”

Noah’s mouth was almost too dry to speak.“What does it point to?”

“A homeless shelter. Idon’t think we’re meant to eat there!”

“Yeah,” Noah said, managinga smirk. “Who would want to do that?”

Harold didn’t laugh. “You better giveMarcello the right address. He’ll need to mail your tax forms orwhatever. I wouldn’t mind having it either. Just in case I want tosend a birthday card or prank you with some pizzas. Here, I’ll putit in my phone and then text it to him.”

Noah clenched his jaw.He grabbed a can of black beans, shoving it into a kitchen cabineteven though he wasn’t sure if it was the right one. Picturing howthe conversation would play out was all too easy. Once Haroldlearned the truth, he would be too kind to judge Noah, but thatdidn’t mean he wouldn’t feel pity. No longer would they be on thesame level. In his eyes, Noah would be some poor wretch living onthe street and digging through dumpsters for food or half-emptybeer bottles. That’s what people thought of the homeless. Haroldwould just assume that Noah hid these things well or— Screw it! Nomatter what happened, this was the truth, and if Harold was evergoing to love him he needed to know it.

“I’m not homeless,” Noahsaid, turning to face him, “but I live at the homeless shelter.”That sounded ridiculous, so he tried again. “I live at the shelterbecause I don’t have a home of my own. I don’t know what that makesme.”

Harold shook his head. “But theapartment—”

“Wishful thinking,” Noahsaid, pinching the bridge of his nose. He sighed and let his handdrop “I was ashamed of my situation, and I didn’t want you to thinkless of me, so when you were taking me home that night and… Youknow what? Could we start over?”

Harold nodded uncertainly. “Okay.”

“Great.” He waved, tryingto inject humor into the situation. “Hi there! My name is Noah, andI’m homeless, even though I’m sometimes in denial about that, butI’m doing better now and I—”

“You can livehere.”

Noah’s jaw was still open from hisinterrupted speech, but it was just as well, since it would havefallen open anyway. “I can what?”

“You can live here,” Haroldsaid, his brow knotting up. “You should have told me! Do you reallythink I would have let you sleep on the street or at a shelter ifI’d known?”

“I don’t need charity,”Noah said, conflicting emotions making him feel both hot and cold.On one hand, he was moved by the generous offer. On the other, itwas exactly as he feared. Noah wasn’t an equal worthy of falling inlove with. He had already been reduced to a good cause.

“It’s not charity,” Haroldsaid, gesturing toward the dining room. “I only have a couch foryou to sleep on, but I figure that’s got to be better than… Are theshelters nice? I mean, because if they are, then I get why youwouldn’t want to stay here.”

Noah’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t want youto feel sorry for me. I’m okay on my own.”

“Okay,” Harold said,holding up his hands. “Just keep it in mind as an option. I couldclear out the spare room.” He hugged his arms to his chest andglanced around. “Sometimes it gets lonely here all by myself, so Iwouldn’t mind. That’s all I’m saying.”

Noah felt like kicking himself. The guy hehad a crush on was asking him to move in, and instead of thankinghim and reaping the benefits, he had managed to make them both feelawkward. At times he hated pride. At others it was the only thingthat kept him going. “I’m getting a place of my own. I just need tomake sure I have three or four months’ rent saved up and a landlordwho’s forgiving about my lack of employment history.”

“Sounds good,” Harold said,nodding curtly. “Sorry for butting in. I should mind my ownbusiness.”

Distance was the opposite of what hedesired. Noah wanted them to be able to confide in each other, notjust about the simple facts but their darkest secrets and brightestdreams as well. “It’s a nice offer. You just took me by surprise.I’ve been on my own for a while, and I’m not used to letting peoplehelp me. Can I think about it?”

“Yeah!” Harold said,nodding eagerly. “It’s an open invitation!”

“Thanks.” Noah licked hislips. “I know you probably have a lot of questions, but can we justgo have fun? I was really looking forward to it.”

The easy smile reappeared. “Totally! It’s onme though, okay?”

Noah looked skyward and groaned. “I don’tneed—”