Thirty-Eight Days (40 page)

I love you.

Ripping the piece of paper from the notepad, Clara placed it on her pillow. She leant over and placed a soft kiss on his forehead; she was happy that her hair was tied back and didn’t drape all over Noel’s face. Clara tiptoed out of her bedroom, closing the door quietly behind her. She walked over to the kitchen bin and opened it, taking one last look at the picture of her and Darren before she dropped it in the trash. With a satisfied smile, Clara walked out of her apartment and towards the elevator.

Lost in her own world that she and Noel created together, Clara couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. The happiness flowed so freely in her veins. She had never been so happy. The elevator dinged before it opened. Clara took a step forward before she stopped. Guilt and shock cemented her feet to the ground.

“Liam… you’re back?” she breathed out. Clara noticed his arm around a leggy strawberry blonde. He looked her dead in the eye, and Clara could see the torment in his eyes.

“Got back last night,” he said flatly.

Clara gave him an unsure smile before entering the elevator. It was seven in the morning and Liam had his arm around another woman. She wasn’t sure if it was guilt or jealousy that burned through her.

Tension filled the confined space, and she felt like she was drowning in it. She shouldn’t be mad with Liam for already finding another girl when she had gone and fallen in love with Noel. When the elevators opened to the lobby, Clara raced out without a goodbye. She almost reached the double door entrance before she heard Liam call her name.

“Clara, wait!” He grabbed her wrist and spun her around. She frowned in confusion at his action and sighed.

“I’m happy for you,” Liam said sincerely, and Clara’s brows knitted. She was confused by what he meant by “happy for you.”

Did Liam see Noel and I together last night?

Liam bent slightly and kissed Clara’s right cheek.

“I really am,” he added. Sadness crept into his eyes as he squeezed her hand and left the apartment building holding hands with the strawberry blonde. Clara stood there speechless and completely bewildered. He was happy for her, and that confused her. The only thing that brought her back from Liam’s message was the feel of her phone vibrating.

Alex: I know you’re probably asleep, but we won the case! I’ll see you in five days, kiddo! Love you and can’t wait to see you!

She dropped her phone at the sight of the message. She was completely horrified. It had been less than twenty-four hours since Noel told her he loved her, and the universe had done a complete three-sixty. Alex was coming home in five days, and Liam had another girl. Warm tears slid down her face and her heart strained.

I only have five more days with Noel before Alex comes home.

Picking up her phone, she reread the message. Her brother was coming back. Noel only just told her he loved her. She found the unfairness in it all. Clara wiped the tears away and thought about running upstairs to show Noel. To have his strong arms cradle her until she stopped crying at the possibility of Alex’s disapproval. She placed her phone in her bag and raced to her car. The faster she got to the bakery, the faster she could lose herself in the cupcakes rather than her life. Clara unlocked her car and sat in the driver’s seat. She let herself cry for a moment before starting the engine and pulling out from the parking garage.

“I don’t know how you do it. All your recipes are about to replace mine on the menu,” Danny wowed as he finished his vanilla and lavender cupcake. The secret ingredient was a splash of honey and extra milk. Clara gave Danny an appreciative smile.

“You’re just saying that.” She wiped her hands on the nearest tea towel and started to pick up her mixing bowls.

“I’m not, and you’re wasting your time with that business degree. I’ve told you to consider culinary school, Clara. I wish you’d take my advice. How about I clean up? You’ve worked without stopping at all today. You should go home early,” Danny said as he started to clear Clara’s workstation.

“You okay? You seem distracted,” Josie pointed out as she returned with an empty tray.

“I’m good just… lost in thought that’s all.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth, either.

“Go home, Clara. Lazy and I will clear up. We’ve got it sorted!” Danny winked before a tea towel hit the back of his head.

“Josie, you’re so lucky I’m a great boss or I’d fire your ass for that!” Danny laughed as he rubbed the back of his head.

“I’ll claim unfair dismissal!” Josie glared and Danny rolled his eyes at her.

“Go home, Clara. I’ve put you under a lot of pressure with these recipes. Rest up, and I mean it. Have a bubble bath and a glass of wine,” Danny said as he ushered Clara to her bag.

I need more than a glass of wine. I’d need the bottle.

It didn’t take much to convince Clara to go home; her feet and her head hurt. As much as she tried to get lost in her work, Alex coming home still played in the back of her mind. She even ignored all the calls she received from Noel. It was too hard to answer them. It caused her to feel nauseated, and she couldn’t will herself to press answer. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t tell Noel about Alex’s message, but it felt better if she prolonged it for a few hours.

The familiar elevator ding rung and the doors opened to her floor. Her footsteps dragged as she reached closer to her front door. Clara let out a deflated sigh and fished out her keys. She closed her eyes tight before she placed the key into the lock and opened the door. She had to tell Noel that Alex was coming home. They had to make the most of what little time they had before all hell broke loose.

I need to feel him and have him touch me. I need Noel to make it all go away. I need him to make love to me and reassure me that he’ll fight for me. I need his love.

Opening the front door, she placed her keys on the hallway table before walking into the lounge room, and stopped immediately. First, she noticed Noel’s concerned eyes planted on her, his fists clenched beside him. Clara’s eyes travelled slightly to the right, and all air fled her lungs. She was completely horrified at the sight in front of her. Her eyes started to burn, her jaw dropped, and her chest heaved at the impossibility of breathing. Clara’s eyes returned to Noel, and that’s when she couldn’t hold back the tears. It only took a day, and it was already over.

“Clara, you don’t have to cry. I’m home now, kiddo! Surprised you, didn't I?” Alex’s smile pierced every inch of her heart. Her warm tears slid down her face and she wanted to collapse on the floor. She nodded her head at Alex and he walked over to her.

I still had five days.

“Come here and give your big brother a hug. I’ve missed you!” Alex opened his arms out to her and Clara looked up at her brother’s happy face. She faked a smile; she couldn’t deny that she missed her brother, but having him stand before her broke her heart. She walked up and hugged Alex. For Clara, their reunion was far from happy.

T
he universe was a sneaky bastard. Noel knew this many times before, but this time the universe had completely twisted his life.
One day
. That’s all he and Clara were given before reality set in. Alex was home. Each tear that ran down Clara’s cheeks brought with it a sense of protectiveness. All he wanted to do was remove Clara from Alex’s arms and hold her until she stopped crying. The devastation so clear in her eyes and it was killing him inside.

Noel stood there as he watched Alex stroke the back of Clara’s head and whisper in her ear. That should have been him. He should have been the one to hold her and reassure her, but it wasn’t. Clara didn’t look at him; instead she held her brother tightly. He tried to call to warn her, but she didn’t answer and she surprised them both by returning home early.

The anger in him seethed through his veins and the hate inside him reached every inch of his body. Noel clenched his fists to control the raw emotions that burned inside him. He told himself plenty of times that he and Clara would sort out the problem of Alex when it arose, and here Alex was and here Noel was, away from Clara.

“You all right now, Clara?” Alex stepped out of their embrace and rested his hands on Clara’s shoulders.

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just so good to have you home, Alex.” Clara gave her brother a small smile before Alex kissed her forehead.

“I smell like cupcakes. I’m going to go shower. I’ll be back in a few,” Clara said, and turned for her bedroom. Her eyes never met Noel’s, and it hurt him that she couldn’t look his way. But he knew that they couldn’t exchange any significant looks, not if they wanted to keep
them
a secret from Alex.

It was hard. Harder than anything he had ever gone through. To watch Clara cry and to not be able to take away her pain was the worst kind of torture he had ever felt. Unclenching his fists, he walked to the fridge. He needed alcohol to numb the ache he was feeling.

Opening the stainless steel fridge, he took out two VBs and handed one to Alex. Noel uncapped the bottle and brought it to his mouth, chugging down most of the bitter beer. He needed something stronger, but he would have to settle for the beer. He walked over to the dining table and sat with Alex. To hold such a secret from his best friend was like slow, brutal torture. They never kept secrets from each other, not until Clara.

“How is she?” Alex asked as he stared at Clara’s bedroom door.

“What do you mean?”

“How is Clara? Be honest. Is she doing okay? You know since—” Noel didn’t need Alex to say more, but the thought of Darren sent Noel’s anger flying.

“Honestly, Clara seems good,” he replied as he, too, stared at Clara’s door. Last night she was happy. She had told him that she loved him, and now she couldn’t even look at him. Noel dug his left hand in his pocket and felt the note he woke up to.

I love you.

“Happy to hear it. I’m glad you came here for me. I really do appreciate what you’ve done, Noel,” Alex said. Noel looked Alex in the eye and smiled; he too was happy he came.

“Tell me about this girl,” Noel said in hopes of not talking about Clara. He needed to think about the best way to tell Alex, and he needed Clara by his side when they confessed their love.

“Her name’s Keira. She works at Fox Meadow Elementary in Scarsdale. She teaches music there a few days a week and tutors in Manhattan for some of the rich kids.” Alex smiled as he brought his beer to his lips and took a long sip.

“Here I thought you’d go back to your ex.”

“Trust me, Noel. Tori’s better off without me. She was always a nice girl, but I brought her down and we both knew that. Whereas Keira, there’s just something different about her. She makes me want things, like a future, and if that means moving to Scarsdale to be with her, then I’ll do it. Meeting her at that coffee shop and spilling my coffee on her was the best mistake I’ve ever made in my life.” The smile on Alex’s face was one Noel had never seen on his best friend. Alex was happy and that gave Noel a glimmer of hope.

“Scarsdale,” Noel breathed out. “Lucky you’re an accountant. That area isn’t cheap. Good thing she’s your forever girl.” Alex moved his beer aside and leaned in close.