Thirty-Eight Days (30 page)

“Want to grab a beer?” he asked as Noel wiped the sweat off his forehead. The thirty-degree heat did not help with the ease of their workout, but he had promised Rob a tougher session than their usual five-kilometre row.

“Yeah, I’m up for one.”

“We’ll head down PJ’s. It’s only five minutes away,” Rob said as they headed inside the row club and towards the locker room.

Noel had forgotten how much he loved PJ O’brien’s Irish Pub
.
The smell of Guinness and roast was in the air. Nothing beat PJ’s on Southbank; the one at Melbourne airport held nothing to the pub he was currently standing in. Spotting a free table towards the back of the bar, they walked towards it.

“Carlton or Guinness?” Rob asked as Noel took his seat on a stool.

“I’m at an Irish Pub, like you have to ask!” Noel laughed. He was thankful for the shower he had at the row club. His clothes didn’t stick to his body from sweat, and the cold water did wonders to relieve the burning sensation in his body. Feeling his phone vibrate, he reached in his pocket and retrieved it to find a message from Clara.

The smile on his face stretched farther as he looked at her name. It had been three days since the engagement party, and ever since that night they had been inseparable. He had spent every night with Clara in his arms, and everything between them was perfect. But he could see the doubt in Clara’s eyes, and that had him on high alert.

Clara: Hey, I know you’re on your play date with Rob. Just wanted to let you know that I’m at the bakery for a bit. I’m working out the kinks with this cupcake. Not sure when I’ll be home. Have fun on your row date!

“Hey there!” he heard a female voice greet. Looking up from his phone, a dark-haired, pale-skinned woman with bright red lips took the seat in front of him.

“Hey.” 

Noel found himself comparing the woman in front of him to Clara. Her hair was far too dark, skin too light, and lips too red. Had she been sitting in front of him almost a month ago, he’d have been interested, but right now he wasn’t.

“Jewel,” she announced as she nursed her Carlton draft. Taking in Jewel, he noticed she didn’t have Clara’s cheekbones or that faint mole on her cheek. Her eyes were too dark and ominous, not the pure golden brown colour like Clara's. She simply wasn’t Clara.

“Noel.”

“I’ve had my eyes on you for a week now. I see you rowing every time I go for a jog,” Jewel said in a low voice, her hand stroking his. Jewel’s touch felt off, almost too rough. He pulled his hand away. His heart only wanted Clara.

“Look, Jewel, you seem lovely. But I’m seeing someone at the moment. I’m honestly flattered, but I’m quite happy.”

He watched her frown, down the rest of her beer, and say, “Always the good-looking ones. She’s very lucky.” Jewel got off the bar stool and sulked towards the front of the pub.

“Did I just see you turn down ‘Jewel
the runner’?” Rob asked in disbelief as he set down their beers and sat in the stool in front of Noel.

“So, what of it?” Noel replied as he took a sip of his Guinness. He always loved the coffee-like aftertaste of it.

“It’s ‘Jewel
the runner!’” Rob emphasised as he looked at her disappearing figure.

“Well, Jewel doesn’t have what I want.” Rob turned his head back at Noel.

“You mean she
isn’t
Clara?” Rob asked, raising his eyebrows. Noel shrugged as he took another mouthful of his beer, savouring the taste.

Bingo!

“Actually, I’m quite impressed. I seriously thought you’d crack for her. ‘Jewel the runner’ has all the rowers on high alert. She runs in this sports bra, and you should see the young rowers. They stop in the middle of the river and try to take videos of her. It’s the breast factor that gets your attention. I can’t say I haven’t had a look. She’s hot as hell! But
you
turned
her
down!”

“And?” Noel raised his voice as the pub started to grow louder with the increasing number of patrons. The dark oak furniture of the pub and the amount of people made the place feel smaller than it was.

“You told her you were seeing someone,” Rob clarified as he took a long pull of his beer, almost draining it of all its contents.
“I stood there and watched you. I thought for sure you’d chat her up, but instead you shut her down. Is this
seeing
someone Clara?"

Things with Clara weren't defined, and maybe that was because he wasn’t willing to push her. Heated kisses and innocent touching was all they really were. Besides that, he could see the doubt and resistance in her, and Noel wasn’t sure how to rectify that. As sorry as he was, he was sure she didn’t forgive him.

“She still seems to be a little…”

“Cautious?” Rob offered.

Noel nodded as he stared at his phone.

“What do you expect? Her boyfriend cheated on her, and now she has Nolan Parker after her. You’re the guy who treated her like shit when she was a kid, and the guy who slept with his ex-girlfriend in her apartment on her birthday. She’s going to keep thinking this is a game. You've got to prove to her how much you want her. It’s not just Valerie that’s playing on her mind. It’s the whole situation between the both of you and Alex. If you want to be with her, you really got to step up your dates with her! This isn’t any girl,” Rob explained as he looked up at Noel.

Dates?

“Motherfucker!” Noel slammed his fists on the table, drained his Guinness and grabbed his keys as he quickly leapt out of his seat. Rob let out a hard chuckle.

“I
never
took her on a date!” Noel explained as he pulled out a twenty for their drinks.

“Well, I can see why she’s cautious about you. You wine and dine a girl, Noel! You wine and dine!”

I asked for her heart, and I didn’t even ask her out on a date!

“Gee, thanks, love guru. I’ll remember that when you strike out with Jewel. I’ll be back in a few!” Noel teased as he turned and ran out the pub doors. He ran straight back to the row club’s parking lot and towards Alex’s Mustang. He was out of breath and his muscles pleaded for him to stop, but he had to get to the car as quick as possible. His heart thumped hard against his chest as he roared the engine of the Mustang to life. He didn’t have time to waste. He had to ask Clara the one thing she deserved—a proper date.

Parking the car, and to his delight he saw the bakery was quieter than he expected. Outside of the front door were a few customers sitting on the tables, enjoying the October sun. Noel took a deep breath in before placing his hand on the door handle and pushing the door to hear the familiar bell ring.

The first thing to hit him was the sweet smell of cinnamon and apples in the air. He looked over to the counter to see Josie standing behind it.

“Well hello, sexy! You just missed the rush!” She winked as he approached her.

“Hey, Josie. Clara free?” he asked, his palms sweaty and his muscles still burning from his row.

“I’ll go grab her,” Josie said before yelling out, “Clara, god is here!” Noel couldn’t help but laugh at her.

“God? What are you on about? Did you eat a bag of icing again?” Clara asked as she walked to the counter, an icing bag in one hand and a plain cupcake in the other. Clara laid eyes on him, and the smile on her face was literally heartstopping.

“Oh, hey. This is a surprise,” she said pleasantly. Only the counter separated them.

“Hey yourself!” he grinned. His mouth twitched from the sight of her lips. Removing his gaze, he looked at her warm eyes and his insides started to melt.

I shouldn’t look at her at all. Too. Fucking. Sweet!

“What are you doing here? What happened to rowing with Rob?” Her eyes flashed with fear. She feared bad news when in reality he was the one that was on the brink of collapse.

“I just came by to ask you something before I go back to the pub. Can we uhh… talk?” he asked as he looked at Josie suspiciously.

“Fine! I know when I’m not wanted,” Josie whined as she turned on her heels and walked towards the tables, cloth in hand.

“What’s up?” Clara asked as she placed the cupcake and icing bag down. He took in a deep breath to calm his nerves. His heart was straining and his knees shaking.

Just ask her. You’ve asked women on dates before… stop being shit scared. Ask her!

Noel shook his head and placed both hands on the counter to steady himself. “Have dinner with me?” he blurted out. Clara’s facial expression didn’t change; she still had the same smile, and that worried him.

“I’ll order some Thai from Poppy’s on my way home an—” She didn’t get the concept of his question. He wasn’t sure if he should laugh or run.

“No, Clara. I’m asking you on a date,” he corrected. He watched as Clara’s lips parted and her smile faded, his stomach dropping. 

“A date?”

“Yes, a date. One with just you and me. Tomorrow night, dinner?” he asked, his hopes a little dashed.

“I uhh… a date?” she asked in shock.

“You can say no, Clara. You said you wanted
us
,
and I’m hoping a date would cement that idea in your head. I told you I wanted you, and I’m hoping you give me the chance to prove myself. One chance to prove my worth. I just want one date, just one. I’m begging here, and I’ve never begged before. Please give me an answer, because you’re killing me with your silence.” He breathed out heavily. He stood there patiently waiting for her answer, but Clara seemed to be lost in her thoughts.

“Christ, Clara! Answer him. Look at the desperation in his eyes! You’re killing him. If you don’t say yes, I’m revoking our friendship, and I’m taking Noel!” Josie argued behind him. Turning around, he smiled his thanks to Josie for her reassurance. He turned back around to face Clara, unable to read her.

“Let me get this right. A date. You
and
me. Tomorrow night?”

I should just go back to the pub. She doesn’t want this. She doesn’t want it with me.

“I can see you don’t want this. I get it. I’ll see you back at the apartment,” Noel said, deflated. He looked at Clara one more time to still see her confused expression. Noel turned and signalled his farewell to Josie, her mouth dropping, and he walked towards the front door.

“What are you doing?” Clara asked as he reached the front door. Turning around, Clara stood in the middle of the shop floor, eyebrows raised.

“I’m leaving. I’ll let you get back to your cupcakes.”

“I can see that. But you’re so quick to take my silence as a ‘no.’” He watched as Clara crossed her arms protectively over her chest. Noel ran a hand through his hair and walked back towards her.

“So your answer is?”

“No
.
”

That simple “no” pierced his heart and almost caused his knees to buckle from under him. That protective stance told him of her seriousness and he had to accept it. 

“Okay, I understand. I’ll see you later,” Noel said as he tried to contain his frustration. He had never been rejected before. It was new to him, and it hurt him deeply. As he turned for the door, Clara’s hand gripped his arm. He stopped in surprise and looked at her.

“Wait! I wanted to see how you would react if I said no. I wanted to see how much you wanted this. I said we’d give us a try, so
yes.
One date. Tomorrow night.” She smiled. His heart fluttered and relaxed its anxious beats. The relief that consumed him was utter bliss.

“God, Clara, I swear you just ripped my heart out.” He breathed out as he took two steps towards her. He brushed the loose hair out of her face and placed it behind her ear.

“That was the idea.” She laughed. He placed a kiss on her forehead, then her nose and then her lips, allowing his lips to linger on hers. Fisting his shirt in her hands, Clara deepened their kiss to another level, one inappropriate for the bakery.

“Umm, I have to get back to work,” she mumbled against him before she stopped their kiss and let go of his shirt. Clara’s cheeks were a vibrant red. It gave him a lift, a sense of ownership that he could give her cheeks that colour.

“It’s a date,” he announced proudly.

“A date,” she replied with that smile that was stealing his breath more often than once. He bent down and placed a kiss on her red cheek.