Thirty-Eight Days (15 page)

T
he way Clara told her story was like she was reliving it; every emotion-filled word and that lone tear killed him. The way she just lost herself in her story was something he’d never forget. He wanted her happy, not reliving the terrible events of her life. Noel wasn’t sure if he was able to keep it together. How she was able to, he didn’t know.

The water in the pot started to boil, and he placed the pasta in and stirred. He wasn’t sure what time Clara would be home. He should have asked before he left, but it never crossed his mind. All he could think about was how she fit so perfectly in his hands, the smoothness of her skin, and the blush that he saw creep across her face. He didn’t know why he kissed her forehead. He felt it was the right thing to do; he was pushing a boundary, but he didn’t care. In a strange possessive way, he wanted to be the only one to take away the pain she felt.

He thought about the way her left hand rested on his cheek. It caused his heart and his breath to stop in their places. Resting his hand over hers was purely instinctive, so when he looked into her eyes, he knew he could feel
something
between them. He didn’t know whether or not she felt the spark they shared, but when he looked into her eyes he saw something, a
future
.

That was something he’d never considered. Did he even want something with her? She was Alex’s little sister; the possibility of them even being together was ridiculous. So a future was out of the question. Noel shook the thought away. He would
never
have a future with Clara Lawrence.

It was a stupid thought that was definitely in the heat of the moment. Lost in those golden-brown eyes, they could make any man think ridiculously and unrealisticly. The sound of Noel’s phone pulled him out from his cloud of thoughts. He picked it up, saw the caller ID, and swiped to answer.

“Hey,” he greeted simply.

“Hi! So… tell me!” she shouted through the speaker.

“It went all right.”

“She forgives you?” Annie asked.

“Yeah, she did,” he replied after a moment with his thoughts.

“Yay! That’s great news! I’m happy for you, Noel!” The honest joy in Annie’s voice made Noel grin.

"Thanks for today, Annie. I appreciate it!” The pasta sauce continued to bubble, and Noel turned the fire down.

“No worries, I was happy to help. But listen, Noel…” Annie’s voice turned into a hush.

“Yeah?” he asked as he placed the glass lid over the sauce to simmer.

“Can we keep this between us? I mean, Clara’s my friend, but I don’t want her thinking too much into this. You know,
us in cahoots and everything.”

“So essentially, I don’t know who you are then,” he stated.

“Exactly! I know what Clara wanted to do last night, and I agree with you. I wouldn’t have gone to such extremes, but I’m glad you stopped her,” Annie confided in him. The sound of a key in the locks had him stilling for a moment. Clara was home. The realisation made his heart flutter and then came the nerves.

Crap!

“Annie, I have to go. Clara’s home. Thanks again,” he said quickly.

“No worries. Bye, Noel!” He hung up just as Clara entered the apartment. She was still in her work uniform, but she wore her hair down with some strands tucked behind her right ear.

“Hey, you’re home,” he greeted as he placed his phone on the bench.

“Hey, yourself.” She smiled and placed her keys on the hallway table. Clara walked over to the kitchen, setting her shopping bags on the counter.

Why does she have to smile at me like that? Don’t look at her smile… Damn it!

“I’m sorry I’m late. I went to pick up a few things at Melbourne Central while I was there,” she said as she looked through her bags.

“No problem. What’s in the bags?” he asked. He leant forward to see inside. Clara looked up from the bags to only be met by his face; they were eye to eye, and she looked a little taken aback. He watched as her gaze travel down to his mouth, and his lips twitched.

Clara shook her head, stood straight, and cleared her throat. The way she looked at him made his insides stir, his stomach knot. He watched as she patted her skirt and seemed to be lost in her thoughts.

“Oh, just a few things, a new blouse and a cardigan,” she finally replied. “What’s that smell?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, it’s pasta,” Noel responded as he turned around and stirred the sauce, then added the red wine he picked up on his way back to Clara’s.

“Pasta? You cook?” she asked, tilting her head. A laugh slipped from him.

“Why does that surprise you?” He turned to meet her stare. It was Noel that had an eyebrow raised.

"Yes, here I am thinking you lived the bachelor lifestyle! Restaurants and pubs every night,” she said as she swept her hair to the side.

I had to look at her at that moment, didn’t I?

“Sure, when there’s an occasion. If I’m not busy eating Chinese at my desk, I’ll cook. Mum made sure I learnt a few things before I went to Stanford,” he replied.

“Well, Alex was lucky he had you for a roommate, then; he can’t cook. If he had to he would have eaten two-minute noodles for all of college, and I’m pretty sure he’s been doing that lately.” Clara’s nose wrinkled, and he swore it one of the most adorable things he had seen.

Goddammit!

“Yeah, Alex is a horrible cook,” he agreed. “One time in college, he almost burnt down the shared kitchen trying to make grilled cheese. He left the plastic on the cheese slices and he put oil in the pan, so you can imagine the place. He didn't get the concept of grilled. We even got evacuated, and of course the girls loved it. You know, try and help him learn how to cook, but he’s hopeless,” Noel said as he shook his head at the memories.

“I can see why Alex never told me that story.” She giggled.

“Yeah, he gets a little embarrassed that he left the plastic on, not that he almost burned the building down.”

“Well, I can tease him! I’ll never let him live it down.” She laughed as she walked into the kitchen and to the stove. Noel stood there observing her; it was taking everything in him to not go over there and hold her in his hands again.

“Do you need a hand, Noel?” she asked.

“A hand?”

“With the pasta?” She raised her eyebrow at him.

“Oh no, I’m good here. I’ll call you when it’s ready.” He smiled as he raised the wooden spoon in her direction.

“Good. I was
only being polite. I would have helped, but my feet are sore from being on them all day. I’m going to go have a nice long bath,” she said as she walked out of the kitchen and into her room. Noel stood there staring at her bedroom door.

Clara in the bath… God, send me to Hell for all these damn thoughts.

If anyone ever told him just how torturous it was to be in Clara’s presence, he’d laugh in their face and hand them a beer. He’d probably call them a fucking idiot, too, but mostly hand the idiot a beer. Checking on the sauce, he decided he was the one that needed a beer. Walking to the fridge, he pulled out a bottle, unscrewed the top, and held it in the air.

Everything she says, does, and even her goddamn smile is getting to be too much.

“To Hell!” he muttered to himself and brought it up to his mouth. He let out a heavy sigh and took a mouthful before taking a seat on the barstool.

S
tevie: Jarred and I are hitting Geelong. The idiot wants to practice his diving off the boards. Wanna come? Invite your “problem,” too!

Clara stared at her phone. The heat radiating from her window was making her sweat a little. After last night, she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to be in the same room as Noel. He was sending her emotions in hyperdrive. The way he looked at her and his touch were making her thoughts foggy. She let out a sigh.

Why Nolan Parker? How many other boys are there in this Godforsaken world?

The thought ingrained in her: why him? Why was he making her want a little more than she should? It was a cruel trick by her body and mind. They were friends; she had to remember that. But it was too
hard, she had to admit that herself. The sound of Noel in the kitchen made her smile.

That is something you shouldn’t be smiling at, Clara! Wipe that smile away!

She quickly frowned. Last night was an apology dinner for the burnt pasta that occurred when he unexpectedly arrived at her doorstep. Nothing else. But each time their hands brushed as they washed the dishes, her head spun a little.

Everything about Noel was confusing, and whatever feelings she had in her continued to bewilder her. She placed her phone down on her pillow and stretched her body out from its sleep.

After she slipped out of the shower, she raided her wardrobe for her bikini. She hadn’t worn it before, not even when she dated Darren; apparently it was too revealing for him. Clara looked at the price tag of her two-piece red Seafolly bikini. She had paid a hundred and forty dollars for the two bits of material. It was a little revealing, but it made her feel good about her body; the fact that Darren didn’t made her resent the piece. But now times had changed, and she was excited to wear it; this was for her.

Clara ripped the tag off with her teeth and slipped the bikini on. Over it, she put on her light blue, washed jean shorts and a red chiffon sleeveless top. She slipped on her sandals, applied sunscreen, and placed a beach towel in her bag. Leaving her room and walking into the kitchen, she found a shirtless Noel behind the counter. Every curve and muscle of his defined back was on display. She tore her eyes away from him and let a soft sigh out.

Why is he doing this?

“You should put a shirt on, Noel.” She let out a groan. Not that she didn’t enjoy what she saw; she hated that she very much enjoyed it.

No distractions! Nolan Parker cannot be a distraction!

He turned to her and smiled, giving her a perfect view of his incredibly defined abs, broad shoulders, and his large arms. Clara mentally groaned. She wanted to feel each ripple of muscle under her fingertips.

Oh God, I’m so screwed.

“That shirt?” She faked her annoyance. Fantasies already invaded her thoughts, causing her to blush, and she refused to make eye contact with him.

“Your breakfast,” he replied, and placed a bowl of fresh fruit and yogurt in front of her, dodging her question. “Alex would kick my ass if I didn’t feed you. So pass last night’s dinner and this breakfast on to him,” he said, wiping his hands on a tea towel.

Clara moved her fruit around the yogurt before starting to eat a piece of cubed melon at a time. “Sure, I’ll tell him you’re trying to poison me to quicken his return,” she joked. Noel let out a laugh.

Am I going to ask him to the beach? It’s the nice thing to do after last night.

“Are you busy today?” she asked as she finished the last piece of rock melon she had.

“Why?” he asked curiously. Clara’s stomach filled with butterflies and her hands started to sweat.

“Stevie and I are heading down to Geelong today. You should come.” She tried to sound as casual as possible.