Noah offered to buy me dinner at Saul’s Steak House in Sparks, Nevada. I imagined him charming me the way he did Abby, but it became apparent that wasn’t going to happen. He was strictly business.
Carly: Thank you for meeting me, Noah. And you were right – this is fabulous steak.
Noah: Sure. And damn straight. Best place on the western side of the U.S. Believe me, I’ve been just about everywhere, and I know.
Carly: I’m sure you do. You can visit a lot of steak houses in two hundred and eleven years!
Silence.
Okay, so he didn’t find me funny. Back to business.
Carly: So how are things going with the other warriors and Abby?
A slow smile crossed his face as he mulled over the question while enjoying the garlic mashed potatoes.
Noah: She fits in really well. She’s strong. She doesn’t take any shit. And any problem she has with anyone usually gets rectified over a game of pool. Where she wins.
It was obvious to me that Noah held nothing but pride and love for Abby.
Carly: How’s her writing going?
Noah: Great! She hasn’t published anything, but she will. She likes writing fiction.
Carly: How’s the hunt for the Colonists going?
Noah’s face became dark, and he shook his head.
Noah: I got off the phone today with Rayner. He’s down in Phoenix with Hudson and Cohen hunting one of those bastards. I don’t know about that mission, to be honest. Seems things are a little fu…screwed up. Rayner…he’s either losing it or…I don’t know.
Carly: Wow. I hope they’re okay.
Noah nodded solemnly. I do too, Carly. Rayner’s head isn’t in the game. I worry about all of them.
Noah poured the rest of the bottle of wine in our glasses, and there was silence as we finished our dinners.
Carly: So any kids in the future, Noah?
He looked at me with surprise. But then a small smile played on his lips.
Noah: Guess we will have to see about that, he said. I’m definitely up for it though.
Saul came by and cleared the empty dishes.
Noah: I need to get back to the silo.
I have to admit, I was disappointed. Noah is strong, good natured, quick with a smile and terribly nice on the eyes. I wanted to spend more time with him, but I knew that his mind was on other things…and other people.
Carly: Okay. Thanks for meeting me.
Noah got up from the table, and I did as well. He threw a couple of hundred dollar bills on our table and began to walk out. Saul yelled out, “Noah! You know your money isn’t good here!”
Without missing a step, Noah flipped him the one finger salute and kept walking for the door.
I looked over my shoulder to see Saul and a couple other patrons laughing.
When we were outside, I noticed that it was almost dark.
Noah: Goodnight, Carly.
He put on his sunglasses just as his eyes started to glow a warm, bright orange. I watched him walk away, hoping that I would eventually be able to interview the rest of the warriors at some point in the future.