Beautiful Storm (22 page)

“Wakey-wakey, sunshine.” Caitlin’s voice invades my dreamless sleep, jolting me into reality. With a start, I sit up abruptly, silently thankful for spewing my guts up last night, otherwise I’d be on the run to the bathroom.

“Ever heard of privacy?” I grumble at her beaming face.

“Ever heard of clothes?” she counters.

Looking down, I instantly grab for the duvet to cover my morning glory.

“Again, ever heard of privacy?” I snark at her.

“What? Don’t tell me the great Noah ‘Sex God’ Hamilton is shy of little old me seeing his penis?”

“Piss off, Caitlin.”

She chuckles at me as she waddles out of the door. “Noah?” she shouts from the landing.

“Yeah?”

“You pull a stunt like last night again and I’ll be chopping it off in your sleep. Women’s hearts will break all over the world… Oh, and breakfast is ready.”

“Heard you loud and clear, on both counts.”

I heave myself out of bed and shuffle over to the dresser in search of clothes. Finding what I need, I throw them on and head downstairs to find a welcoming committee. Bear’s leant against the kitchen units with a steaming cup of tea in his hands. Spud’s sitting at the breakfast bar reading the morning paper. He and Cait look up as I walk in.

“Morning,” I mumble, looking at the floor, and walk over to Caitlin to give her a hug.

She steps into my arms and I bend down to whisper in her ear. “Thanks for not decapitating Noah Junior, and for giving me yet another chance.” I kiss the top of her head, and she leans back slightly to look up at me then sighs.

“Little brother, I love you. I’d give you a million chances. I just wish I didn’t have to.”

It’s only at this point I realise the effect my piss-poor conduct has been having on my family. I glance around the room and stare at the guys, then back at Cait. Everyone looks like death warmed up. I release Caitlin and go make myself a cup of coffee. They’re all uncharacteristically quiet like they are waiting for me to say something. I spoon in the coffee granules, add a couple of sweeteners, and pour in a splash of milk, then turn to address my adoring crowd.

“I’m sorry, okay?” I feel like I’m on the naughty step and waiting for punishment.

Bear’s the first to respond. “Shit, man, you’re going to be the death of all of us. You do realise that, don’t you?”

“Look, I know I’ve been dealing badly but—”

“Badly?” He cuts me off. “More like you bought a one-way ticket to hell. Do you have any idea the amount of shit I had to deal with from Layla? You owe me, mate, and when I say owe me, I mean it’s a give-me-your-first-born sort of debt. That woman is hell on wheels.”

He talks to Layla? When the hell did they become friends?

Bear may sound pissed, but there’s a glint in his eye, which isn’t usually there.

He continues. “Normally I don’t give a shit, mate, but do you know if you screwed anyone last night?”

“Why the fuck is everyone so interested in whether or not I got fucking laid last night?” I glare at him.

“It may have to do with the fact that Lizzie was just a little annoyed you didn’t finish something you started, and was exceptionally troubled at the thought of you finishing it somewhere else.”

Well, fuck me.
“She told you?”

“What? God no, but I’ve been getting shit from Layla all night. What do you think that was about?” Shit, how much does he tell this woman?

Initially I’m stunned into silence, but then my annoyance surfaces. “It wouldn’t matter a shit if I fucked every single woman in the northern hemisphere. She sure as hell doesn’t need me, she’s got someone else.”

“Are you completely deranged, Noah?” This comes from Spud.

“Why would you ask me that?” I whip my head around to glare at him, but it’s Cait who answers.

“Have you actually listened to anything she’s said to you?”

My head’s splitting, my sanity has frayed and
my
family is ganging up on me in Lizzie’s defence.

What the fuck?

“I’ve heard every damn word she’s said,” I snap. “Why do I get the feeling you all know something I don’t?”

I glance around at my family and their faces tell me all I need to know without them opening their mouths. Again, what the fuck?

“Well, is anybody going to fill me in?”

They all look at each other and then simultaneously shake their heads.

Cait walks over to me and places her hand on my forearm. “You need to hear what she has to tell you, and this time, you need to listen.”

Bear leans forward and places his mug down. “Cheers for the coffee, but I’ve got to run,” he states, nodding towards the clock on the wall. He fist bumps Spud and then thumps me hard on the back. “Don’t get yourself in any shit today. I’ve got a really busy day.”

“I’m not a fucking child,” I retort.

“Then stop behaving like one,” Bear answers coldly.

“What’s so childish about getting wasted?”

“It’s not the getting wasted part that’s the problem. It’s the burying your head in the sand shit. I’ve told you before, man the fuck up and sort your shit out, before it’s too late. We’ve pulled you back from the precipice once. Now you need to do that shit on your own.” Bear sighs and his shoulders drop. “Look, man, there’s a bigger picture here and you need to see it for yourself.”

What the hell do I say to that?

T
HE MEMORIES OF
the previous afternoon cling in my mind. The smouldering touch of Noah’s roaming hands burning trails over my skin. His greedy mouth taking everything from my lips, demanding surrender. The heat from his desperate body moving deep inside mine. My nether regions clench at the memory. Sighing, I shift in bed trying to relieve the tingling feeling.

My thoughts slip from passion to devastation. He left me again. The fuzzy feeling wilts. Reliving the pain of seeing the fire in his eyes being extinguished grasps at my heart. I have only ever seen his eyes darken that much once before. The day I ripped our worlds apart. Swiping the tears, which track down my cheeks, I shift again and wrap my arms around myself.

Why couldn’t he just listen?

Restless, I get up and out of the warmth and comfort of Layla’s guest bed. Heading out of the room, I go and stick my head in Layla’s room. She’s not there.

“Boo?”

“In here,” her muffled reply sounds from the bathroom.

“You want me to stick the kettle on?” I ask through the door.

“No need. I’ve already made a pot of tea. I’ll be down in a minute.”

I nod my head, though she can’t see me, and amble my way down the stairs and into the kitchen, still dressed in my pyjamas. Layla’s kitchen is such a homely place. Being an old Victorian town house, there are fireplaces in most rooms, and she’s restored them all. The one in the kitchen is lit, giving off a warm glow and gentle heat, which is comforting, and takes the chill off the cool summer morning.

The room is filled with an eclectic mix of knick-knacks, furniture, and kitchen products. I smile to myself because it’s all so Boo. I pour myself a cup of tea and sit at the old oak table she has near the fireplace, pull my legs up and lose myself in the burning embers, which resemble Noah’s eyes. So much so that when she comes into the room I don’t hear her. When she scrapes a chair back at the table it makes me jump and I spill hot tea down my front.

“God.” I jump up from the table to get a cloth and wipe myself down.

“You okay?” Layla asks from the table.

I groan and look over to her. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I huff, and return to the chair. Again, I lift my legs up, but this time I wrap my arms around them and rest my chin on my knees.

“I spoke to Ted again after you fell asleep. If it’s any help, Spud found Noah and took him home. Apparently there were no other women involved,” Layla offers with a smile.

My worst fear. Noah’s coping mechanisms—alcohol and women. I can’t escape the visions in my head thanks to Noah’s talk of threesomes. Layla’s comment helps to relieve some of the ache in my chest. The thought that he would leave and touch someone else like he did me makes me feel physically ill. I swallow deeply.

“I just don’t see how we are ever going to be able to sit down and have a conversation,” I continue and then sigh. “The physical attraction is what it’s always been. It was always a good thing in the past, but now…”

I don’t really know how to finish the sentence. The fact we want to tear each other’s clothes off, even after all this time, has got to be a good thing.
Hasn’t it?

Layla’s expression grows concerned as she speaks again. “You’re worried that’s all it is, right?”

“I just don’t know how we move forward,
if
we
can
move forward. It’s all so messed up. And he’s still pushing me away.” The words hang in the air for a few seconds.

“No one said this was going to be easy, hun. You’ve been apart for three years, a lot has happened in that time… For both of you.” She takes a drink from her mug. “Talking of which, have you spoken to—”

“Of course I have. Not that I can get a conversation out of him, he’s enjoying himself too much.” I feel a different squeeze on my heart. “I really miss him, but I don’t get the feeling it’s mutual.” I half moan and smile at the same time.

“I’m sure he misses you like crazy, it’s just you’re the one that was left behind while he went off visiting friends. He’s fine. You’ve got abandonment issues.”

She’s really amused herself and laughs her heart out. It’s infectious. Finally the weight in my mind lifts slightly, and I laugh along with her.

“Yes, you’re right. I suppose it’s best he missed out on all this drama, though. At least I can keep that from him. He only knows I’m visiting you.”

“Cool. Well, give him my love next time you speak to him, okay?”

“Of course, I will. He’ll be here in a couple of days, and you can tell him yourself.” I squirm in my seat a little, as an uncomfortable feeling washes over me. “Do you think Noah will understand?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“Not a chance.” Blunt and to the point, that’s Layla. “If the shoe was on the other foot, would you? But he’ll come around.”

“How can you be so sure? I’m not certain I could forgive him. I mean, the one-night stands are one thing, because we aren’t together, but this is much more than that. I think it would break my heart if he did the same to me.”

“Because Noah loves you enough,” she says, like the statement would solve world peace. “And you would come to terms with it eventually, you’d have to. The bigger question is do you think he’ll understand about Noah?”

“He knows all about Noah.” My hackles come up. I take a drink of my tea and fidget with the mug in my hands. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Layla’s front door slams and heavy footsteps pound down the hall. I jerk as she touches me and my world halts.

“It’s okay, Lizzie, it’s just—” Before she can finish her sentence, a blond-haired man comes strolling into the kitchen like he owns the place. “Ted.”

“Morning, ladies.”

My heart races and my palms go clammy.

“You bloody halfwit,” Layla snaps at him. “Do you have any idea what you just did to Lizzie?”

His jaw drops and he gapes at me. So this is Noah’s friend, Ted, but he calls him Bear. I’m sure I look the image of loveliness with perspiration dripping from my forehead, as cold sweats engulf my body. Loud noises can still make me uncomfortable, unless I’m with Noah. Even when he’s angry, I never feel threatened, just safe.

He turns back to Layla. “Is she okay? She looks like she saw a ghost.”

“Don’t you ever think?” she scolds. These two must be closer than Layla has let on for him to just wander in.

“Why, what did I do?” he asks, his eyes wide and tone exasperated,

She looks at him as if he’s stupid and an expression of understanding flows over his face. It appears Layla has clued him in on some of my situation as it relates to his friend. Unsurprising when Ted is the only reason Noah calmed down outside the coffee shop.

Ted turns to me with a regretful expression on his face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s okay.” My heart’s still racing, and I want to be alone. I get up out of my chair. “I’ll leave you both to it. I’m just going to go and have a shower.” I walk over to the sink and place my mug down. As I’m walking out, his fingers wrap around my arm, making me turn back to look up at him.