Chapter forty five
"You really think he's going to tell Noah?" Emily was leaning too close beside me as she whispered. All the while, we both watched both men a fair distance away as they moved along side by side in a deep conversation.
As I watched Noah roll his wheels along and Simon stalk beside him, there I was striving to fill my head with thoughts so abstract it could concern no one at all.
Things like why carrot was actually called carrot. Or why a half broken building is now an attraction site in Rome.
Of all colours, why's fire yellow and blue?
" Your brother is actually cute, yunno." Emily's words spurred me out of my world of madness. What a beautiful day for everyone to be suddenly shameless.
Finally, I turned my head to look at her." Firstly, take two steps back."
With a knowing roll of her eyes, she fortunately succumbed and stepped three feet away.
"Secondly, do not tell me that demon's got you too," Narrowing my glare, I pulled my attention back to my brother and my ex Coach.
Before today, the plan was simple. Go on my knees, force out some tears and cry before Simon with an almost genuine apology and ask for forgiveness. However, when he chose to pop in and tell my brother I'd actually killed four people, apologizing was almost a tad above difficult.
"What demon?!" She faked offense, acting like I'd spoken German or something.
"The demon of shame." Once again, I faced her
The news about Noah being alive had shocked her more than it did to me. Literally, she'd stared at me blankly for two minutes. I was expecting her to bombard me once again with the information that my victims had all been innocent as if I did not know it.
However, she'd dried my tears, squeezed me into a hug and demanded to finally meet this brother of mine.
Well, it was all beautiful until I popped her cloud of fantasies and told her Simon was back with an even bigger dose of his attitude.
"You can't possibly be staring at my brother right beside me," flapping both arms like a child, I stated. "I mean, he came in. As soon as everyone heard of the great news of the boss's long lost brother, Noah turned to everyone's favorite. Noah this… Noah that. Now, even Emily thinks he's cute."
She burst into a wide smile. Leaning closer once more, she sniffed me in and leaned out."You wreak of jealousy."
I'd only shaken my head and watched Noah and Simon once more. They'd finally stopped moving when they reached the boxing ring.
Why did humans have two hands?
Okay, fine. To be very honest and serious, the main thing on my mind right now was how I was going to explain to Noah Thompson how I'd not drugged Willie on purpose.
The expression I read on his face had no bearing at all. Consequently, at this point, I had no idea whether or not Simon was telling him everything.
"I think they're done with their chitchat." What was with Emily and interrupting my thoughts? However, she was right. Noah and Simon were truly coming back towards us.
Quickly, I turned away and tried to find something to get busy with; anything at all.
"I highly doubt Noah would be all that smiley if he'd actually told him about the murders," she said again. At those words, I frowned.
Smiley?
When I faced both men once more, there was my brother grinning up at me. Behind that look of his, I saw pride. "Just look at the empire you have here, Jones! Who would have known?"
The smile I returned was forced and snickering. Cautiously, I looked upon Simon who returned a silent dare with his eyes. Almost like, "you should see the look on your face" or "I really got you there!"
"Uh…Hey Noah," Emily stuttered weirdly. "I'm Emily Randall. Nice to finally get to meet you."
She ignored the glower I cast upon her. Rather, she took Noah's extended hand in hers and smiled like some overly excited kid.
"The pleasure is mine," my brother nodded and grinned even more. Shockingly, both of them started along, away from our gathering and ignited a convo as though it was completely normal. Yes…I did wreak of jealousy.
Was I surprised? No.
Why wouldn't everyone like him when he was the exact opposite of everything I was. Sweet and listening.
Back to Simon and I…
"Why didn't you expose me like you wanted to?" Crossing my arms, we both studied the two ahead of us. Who'd have thought they'd just met a minute ago?
Maybe he was attracting all the attention to himself; but if he was happy, I was happy. And he could rule over all their hearts for all I cared.
Simon's stare stayed on me for nothing less than three seconds. Soon, he sighed and followed the direction of my eyes. "First of all, it's his first day of real happiness in a really, really long time. As much as I'm pained by our actions, I believe Noah needs a chance to relish his moments with the brother he thinks he still knows."
Out of nowhere, extreme sadness befell me. "I'm sorry…" I said, "…for everything." It was genuine yet plain.
Unfortunately, my change of heart wasn't going to be of any use now, was it?
Simon left no immediate reply. Rather, I heard him sigh softly, probably also wondering what my apology was going to change at the moment.
However, he glanced at me.
I lacked the guts to look back. Cringing my eyes to hold back emotion, I gazed unto my shoes instead.
The brother he thinks he still knows…
Well, that was accurate. And painful.
"If there's anyone telling him anything, Jeffery, it's you. Whenever you find the courage in you to face his outburst, you come clean."
Before he strode off, he placed a strengthening hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. "I know you're scared shitless right now that everything might turn out wrong. But you know, they don't call you Jeffery for nothing."
Right after, he left me alone in my world of pain and regret. Quietly, I watched his back as he moved, feeling numbing pain choking at my throat.
I blinked tears back and braced a palm on my desk as support when I began to go weak in the knees.
Maybe it was about time I left my shell and tried something I hadn't done in a really long time.