Thirty-Eight Days (18 page)

After having done his hair as decently as possible, he put on his dress shoes as Clara said, “Ready? Let’s hit the road.”

“Yeah, let’s go.” Noel stood up from the couch and turned to see Clara. He froze at the sight of her.

“You don’t mind driving my car do you? I kinda can’t drive in these.” Clara wiggled her red high heel in front of him. His eyes made their way from her feet up to her face. She wore a white dress that fitted her body perfectly. He eyed the daisy detailing at the top that sat above the red belt she wore. She had always loved daisies, but tulips were her favourite.

How do I know Clara’s favourite flowers?

“Yeah, no problem. I’ll drive,” he said after clearing his throat. They both walked out of the apartment, grabbing their keys, and made their way for the elevator. When the doors dinged closed, he felt trapped; he couldn’t escape. Unlike the night she wore that black-and-gold dress. She looked hot that night, hell bent on seduction, but now with her curls in a messy bun and her makeup minimal, she looked
heavenly.

When the doors opened, he breathed out in relief; he could take in fresh air and not get intoxicated by her perfume. Once they arrived at the parking garage, he unlocked the car and walked ahead of Clara to the passenger door, opening it for her.

“Thank you,” she said as her brows lifted up, surprise gracing her face as she got into the car. He refrained himself from stealing a glance at her legs. He closed the door behind her and balled his fists to control himself. Shaking his head, Noel opened the door for the driver’s seat and put the keys in the ignition.

Why am I acting as if this is a date?

There wasn’t a moment of awkward silence. All they did was talk and laugh. If this had been a date, it would have been the best goddamn date he had ever been on. There was no pretending coming off of her. She wasn’t seducing him for a night in bed, and she wasn’t coaxing a deal out of him; Clara was just there to enjoy dinner with him. She didn’t want anything but his company, and that made him smile.

Why is this so easy with her?

Pa La Blue was formal, but it had a homey sense to it. He could see why she loved the place. Each table was draped with a dark red tablecloth, fresh bouquet of flowers in the vase, and two candles on their table. When the main course was placed in front of them, he watched as Clara closed her eyes and smiled, no doubt taking in the essence of her meal. There was no denying the fact that the restaurant deserved a Michelin star. Noel’s steak was tender, and the sauce was silky smooth and rich; he had no doubts Clara’s steak was the same.

“So how do you like Jarred?” she asked as she wiped her mouth on the napkin and took a sip of her red wine.

How do you like him?

“He seems nice,” he replied, not knowing what to make of his jealousy.

“He’s lovely. He and my friend Annie used to date; they’re perfect for each other, but things haven’t gone exactly their way. I think they just need time. You’d like Annie,” she said smiling. The guilt in him overtook the jealousy; he knew Annie more than she thought.

“The dessert menu,” their waitress said as she gave them each a menu. Clara had taken a liking to her, and even made small talk in between orders. Looking up from the menu, he noticed Craig Harrison enter the bar. He hadn’t seen him since high school.

“Clara, do you mind giving me a second? I just saw Craig Harrison at the bar. You don’t mind if I go say hi?” he asked.

Clara looked up from the menu and smiled at him. “No, go ahead, I’m still indecisive about the cheesecake or the chocolate mousse.” The sight of her smile unnerved him. He got up from his chair and walked over to the bar to see Craig ordering a drink. He was happy to have a little space from Clara. His thoughts were taking a direction they shouldn’t.

“Nolan bloody Parker! Good to see you. What are you doing in
my
town?” Craig asked in bewilderment as they shook hands.

“Our town,” he corrected as they finished their handshake. Craig Harrison had always been a big guy, but since high school he looked ready to take on a bull.

“Hey, you might as well be an American, renounce your Australian citizenship,” Craig joked as he sipped his gin and tonic.

“You’re
so funny. How you been? Heard you got married,” Noel said as he sat on the stool next to him.

“Doing the cliché; wife’s pregnant. It went from university, to house, to married, and now to a kid.” He shrugged happily at Noel. “What are you doing here?” Craig asked, signalling for another gin and tonic to the bartender.

“Just dinner.” Noel tipped his head in Clara’s direction. “You?” he watched as Craig turned his attention from Noel to the dining room.

“I’m here with clients to seal a merger deal. There’s something familiar about your date.” Craig’s brows bunched together; he was thinking really hard about where he had seen her before. Noel let out a heavy breath. Not like it was a secret; Alex was the one to set it all up.

“Clara Lawrence,” Noel said simply.

“Get the fuck out!” Craig said astonished, even doing a double take of her appearance. Noel smiled when Clara pulled a cute face as she continued to stare at her menu.

“How the hell did you manage that? Look at her!” Craig continued to stare at her, and even shook his head.

“Alex couldn’t make it to dinner.”

“Cancellation fee,” Craig responded understandingly. They watched as a group of men in expensive suits walk through the doors. Craig downed his drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Showtime! Better run, Noel. Good to see you. Catch up with the boys soon!” Craig said as he patted Noel’s shoulder.

“Yeah, good luck!” Noel called after him. He watched as Craig turned to face him.

“Don’t need luck, Noel.” He had always been a cocky bastard.

Leaning onto the bar for a moment, he collected his thoughts before he going back to dinner with Clara. It was getting difficult to see her as Alex’s little sister, and it was getting too difficult to tell himself
no.
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed; he would just have to pretend to be that asshole she met on the first day. Getting off the bar stool, he made his way back to Clara.

“Noel?”

The familiar voice calling his name made his heart ache at the sound of it. He turned to see the owner of the voice. He couldn’t believe she was there in front of him. The last time he saw her she had blonde hair; now it was a red, almost crimson in colour. Her bright blue eyes were still majestic and beautiful. That all-too-familiar smile beamed at him. It was her, the girl he left behind, the girl he first loved.

“Valerie.”

C
hoosing a dessert was hard, but it wasn’t as hard as sitting across from Noel. It was even harder acknowledging the fact that she had such feelings for him inside of her. Since yesterday at the diving boards, she kept wondering what to do with said feelings. She couldn’t possibly be falling for him. Pushing the thought away, she concentrated on the menu. It was better choosing a dessert rather than contemplating what to do with her harboured feelings.

“Miss Lawrence,” she heard their waitress, Stacey, say. Clara turned to smile at her, only for her heart to sink. Stacey held in her hands a small chocolate cake with a message iced on it.

Happy Birthday, kiddo! Love always, Alex.

She knew what was coming. The live performer of Pa La Blue would sing her happy birthday. She looked over to the bar to see Noel was nowhere in sight. Relief washed over her. He didn’t know it was her birthday, not that she expected him to.

“I’m going to kill my brother!” Clara threatened.

Stacey tried to stifle her laugh.

“I can’t believe he did this all the way from New York! Do you really have to sing me happy birthday?”

Stacey nodded with a playful smirk.

“Fine! But do you mind doing it now before Noel returns? He doesn’t know it’s my birthday, and I don’t want to make him feel bad,” Clara asked as she kept her eye on the bar. She turned her attention to Stacey as she nodded to the pianist. The singer in the sparkly long black dressed walked off the small stage steps towards Clara’s table.

The performer smiled at Clara before she sung a slow version of
Happy Birthday.
It was sweet that Alex set it up, but she could have gone without the attention of the other diners. Clara also knew that this birthday surprise would have costs Alex, Pa La Blue wasn’t known for their happy birthday performances. When the singer finished singing, the restaurant filled with applause. Clara’s cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

She quickly blew out the candle and took out her phone. Clara didn’t care that it was three in the morning in New York. Alex deserved the early morning text message.

Clara: You’re an asshole! Don’t do that again! Thank you, Alex. I love you, you jerk!

Locking her phone, she placed it on the table as Stacey brought two slices of cake. Clara looked at Noel's piece; the cake had no icing to indicate her birthday and she smiled gratefully at Stacey, who winked at her. As Clara sat there, she couldn’t help but wonder what was taking Noel so long. He said he would just go say hi, but how long does that take? She hadn’t seen Craig since Alex’s graduation pool party almost five years back.

“Stacey, don’t clear the table. I’ll just go find Noel,” Clara instructed as she got out of her chair and made her way over to the bar.

As she entered the bar she couldn’t see who was who in the dimly lit room. She walked to a bar stool and looked around; there were small tables and chairs located in the brightly lit section of the bar opposite to her.

“Noel?” she called out, but got no answer. She wasn’t sure where he sat or where Craig was, but Clara saw Noel from the corner of her eye walking towards her. She couldn’t help but feel the butterflies in her stomach flutter and her heart beat rapidly.

“You’ll never believe what Alex just ordered for us. Crazy, I know, but you sho—” She stopped mid-sentence; something in Noel’s face frightened her. He looked pained, almost disgusted to see her, and it confused her. He looked down at her and took in a deep breath.

“Go home, Clara,” he said sternly, the aggression quite clear in his tone.

“What?” she said, startled.

“I said go home, Clara.
NOW!
” he growled at her, causing her to take a step back. She had never seen such hate in his eyes since their childhood.

“What? You want me to go home?” she asked again.

“Alone!” His hands form tight fists, his knuckles turning white. She was speechless. She couldn’t find the words needed to respond to him. It felt like he had just punched her right in the stomach, all breath fleeing her. He didn’t meet her eyes, looking back for a moment, and Clara followed his sight.

Sitting at the small table was a woman with crimson hair in beautiful curls. She circled the brim of her martini glass with her finger, and opposite to her, a beer and an empty seat. The realisation hit Clara like fifty tones of water crashing over her. It was his.

Looking back at Noel, his eyes searched hers, but Clara glanced at the woman sitting with a martini in her hand. When the woman looked up at the beer in front of her, Clara took a startling step back. She knew the woman. A tight ache in her chest engulfed her at the realisation.

Valerie.

Her name drove a stake through Clara’s heart. Her eyes met Noel’s. He was emotionless towards her. She tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. But to no avail.

“Go home, Clara,” Noel said cruelly. The bitterness and hate stung her. His eyes were empty as he turned and walked away, taking the seat in front of Valerie. Noel never looked back; instead, he continued to talk to Valerie, his hand stroking hers. Clara took two steps away before turning and heading back to her seat.

Sitting at the table, the sight of her birthday cake made her sick. Two more tears started to fall before her vision was completely blurred. She saw a napkin brought before her, and looked up to see Stacey holding it out. Smiling weakly, she took the cloth and dabbed her cheeks and under her eyes.