Thirty-Eight Days (43 page)

“Nice dress, little sis,” Alex said, taking Clara’s arm and slipping it in his.

“I can’t believe the extravagance of this thing. Max sure knows how to throw a party.”

“It’s his cousin’s birthday,” she explained.

“It’s just a birthday,” Alex pointed out once they left the apartment and reached the elevator. He pressed on the down arrow button and looked over at Clara.

“That’s a joke, right? You were the one who surprised me with that dinner where the performer sung me happy birthday. Oh, and you sent me that large parcel, too. You and Max are similar, so don’t go teasing him when you do the same!” Clara scolded.

“Speaking of presents. You haven’t even opened mine. I saw it sitting in the study.”

“I’ve spent every waking second with you, Alex. You haven’t given me the chance to open it!”

Alex rolled his eyes before saying, “Yeah yeah.”

The elevator doors opened and they both walked in, Clara pressing the button for the lobby. The elevator travelled smoothly down towards the lobby when the sound of Alex’s phone whistled in the confined space. Clara watched as Alex pulled his phone out of the inside pocket of his tux and answered it.

“I was worried… no… I’m glad. Yeah… uh-ha… okay, see you soon,” Alex murmured into his phone before hanging up. She turned and raised an eyebrow at him.

“Everything all right?” Clara asked as she glanced at her brother’s concerned face. Alex looked up at her for a second and shook his head.

“Just Noel. He’ll be there tonight.” Clara gave Alex a tight smile before turning her head and staring at the elevator doors.

He called Alex. He couldn’t even send me a text message to tell me he was okay. Asshole!

The anger and hurt boiled inside of her. She spent the day worrying, spent the day concerned, but he remembered to call Alex. Clara’s nails dug into the palms of her hands as she balled them tight. When the elevator doors opened all anger fled her; instead it was replaced with sadness.

“Hey, Clara!” The smile on his face did something to her. It hit her deep. Clara stepped out of the elevator with Alex by her side.

“Hi, Liam.” She smiled back. Liam’s tormented eyes no longer stared at her; instead they shone brightly like he was truly happy to see her. Clara heard a cough from her left, and she rolled her eyes.

“Liam, this is my brother, Alex. Alex, this is my neighbour, Liam,” Clara introduced, and she watched them shake hands and nod their heads.

Alex and Liam small talked while Clara stood there silently observing them. If she had chosen Liam, this was how easy it could have been for them. She wouldn’t have to worry about betraying Alex, and by the looks of things, Alex liked Liam. They both shared a couple of chuckles before Alex stepped aside and Liam turned to her.

“You look beautiful, Clara. Thought I’d let you know,” Liam beamed, that smile of his making Clara blush. Liam walked around her and towards the elevator. Clara turned to thank him, but was stopped by another one of Liam’s smiles and then the wink he directed to her. She let out a laugh and shook her head.

I could have easily fallen in love with him.

Clara bit the inside of her cheek. It would have been easier if she had fallen for Liam. She was close. But her love for Noel was deeper. She loved him in every complicated way, enough to risk her own brother’s love. Maybe what they had would be deep enough to last forever, maybe she was always meant to fall in love with him.

It was always Noel.

“I like him,” Alex commented when she caught up to him. Clara turned and looked back at the closed elevator.

“I do, too,” she replied softly, and walked out of the lobby’s front door.

Clara was in awe the moment she stepped foot on the mosaic-tiled floors. She looked to see pillars in circular formation around the room. Every detail of the intricate pillars had Clara wanting to go over and inspect the beauty of the architecture. She looked up to see the famous dome. The beautiful late Victorian ceiling panels and plastered designs stole her breath away.

Extra lighting and candles were placed around the main ballroom, and the tables and chairs were placed in a circular arrangement around the dance floor. Alex nudged her, and she tore her eyes off the dome. Alex took her by the arm and led her to the bar. As they waited for their drinks, Clara couldn’t help but scan the dance floor for Noel. After a few scans, she came up empty. Her palms moistened and her foot tapped; she was anxious to see him.

“I’m going to go see some of the old boys from footy. You’ll be right?” Alex asked as he handed Clara her vodka cranberry. She sipped her drink and nodded to Alex. She watched her brother walk across the dance floor and mingle with a few of the men she recognised.

They all shook hands and gave each other one of those manly hugs that only required one arm, then they all chuckled. The music from the live band slowed and couples walked onto the dance floor hand in hand.

Walking over to the edge of the dance floor, she watched as people swayed to the slow song that the band played. She looked down and swirled the ice in her drink with her straw; the cranberries bobbed and floated to the surface with each swirl.

“Evenin’, Clara, you look as lovely as ever.” Clara glanced to her left to see a woman just taller than her with long straight black hair, wearing a white-and-blue patterned halter dress. Clara’s eyes squinted as she took a good look at the woman beside her.

I’ve seen her before, but where?

"How's your brother?" she asked mysteriously.

Sarah… Alex’s ex-girlfriend!

Clara held her breath for a second before heavily breathing out. Her grip on her glass became tighter, and her heartbeat frantic against her ribcage. Those blue eyes made Clara cautious. She couldn’t remember a time where Sarah actually liked her.

"Fine. He's Alex. He's happy with whatever he's doing in life. You do know he's here, right?" Clara stated as she returned to watching the couples dance. She was hopeful that someone would come to her rescue. Sarah was trouble, and her relationship with Clara’s brother had been poisonous.

"Listen, Clara…” She could see from the corner of her eye that Sarah had turned to face her. “I want you to back off!" she demanded; the forcefulness of her request was clear.

"From what, exactly?" she asked, not even glancing at Sarah. Clara’s gaze focused on Alex’s back. Clara closed her eyes for a second to compose herself. Sarah wanted a showdown, and Clara knew this wasn’t good.

"You know, Clara. I'm talking about Noel." His name caught her attention and she faced Sarah.

“Noel?”

Sarah nodded. The icy look in her eyes had Clara shivering.

"What does whatever Noel and I have concern you?"

"Because Valerie’s my best friend."

Clara’s her heart dropped at the sound of Valerie’s name.

"Does she know you're confronting me about him?"

"No,” Sarah said, and placed a hand on her hip. She breathed out heavily and said, “Now stay away, Clara. Give them a chance. You're stopping them. They were each other’s first. They've always loved each other. I'm asking you to let them be together and…" Sarah stopped before a smirk appeared on her face. "Alex wouldn't be happy. You know that.”

Clara winced. Alex’s name pierced her chest and dug itself deep within her heart.

She’s right.

“H-how do you even know?” Clara stammered out. Sarah took two steps towards Clara and her smirk was gone. The menacing look Clara had always known consumed Sarah’s face.

“Last night at the club. I saw him kiss you, and I heard it all. You think he likes you, Clara? Noel? You're just a pretty face. He's always loved Val and last night…"

"Last night?"

Please don’t tell me they happened.

"Oh, he didn't tell you? He didn't come home last night, did he?"

Clara didn’t reply; the instant nausea
she felt rendered her speechless. Clara’s silence brought with it a smug look on Sarah’s face. She could see why Alex dated Sarah. She was pretty, and Alex loved a girl with high cheekbones. But Clara could see the venom running through Sarah's veins.

"He and Val slept together.”

The rapid burning that laced Clara’s heart ran through the rest of her body. She felt violently ill and found it impossible to breathe, the large ballroom becoming a small and tight box around her.

"Slept… together?" Her voice was almost whisper.

Oh, God. Not again.

"Yeah, she told me. She said they spoke about being back together. She told him that she was willing to move to Boston to be with him. Val has a promotion lined up for the U.S. office. It makes sense for her to take it now. And well, you're still a child. Noel agreed for Val to move in with him so they can work it out this time.” There was no hesitation in Sarah’s voice.

"Valerie is moving to America?" Clara was in disbelief. Her eyes started to water, and she desperately tried to keep her tears at bay.

"Why do you think he's not here right now, Clara? He's speaking to her about it. Go see for yourself." Sarah flashed Clara a satisfied smile, flipped her long black hair behind her shoulders, and turned towards the bar.

You’re just his secret.

The little voice in her head started to shout. Clara felt a nudge then the sound of glass being smashed. She looked to her left and saw a waiter picking up the pieces of glass and apologising to her. She wasn’t sure why he was apologising, but Clara gave him a forced smile and walked towards the exit.

She needed air. She needed a room where she could just think and process what Sarah said to her. Clara removed her clutch from under her arm and took out her phone. She saw that she had a few text messages from Annie about her trip to Darwin, a few from Josie, and one from Stevie, but none from Noel.

Maybe it’s true.

Clara pulled up Stevie’s number. She needed to get as far away from Katie’s party as possible. The burning and violent ache in her chest was leaving her breathless. It was hard to stop the pain from being felt. It was hard to stop the flashes of Noel that she kept remembering. She stopped in the walkway, trying to force herself to breathe.

Composing herself, Clara turned off the main walkway and walked towards the entrance. Her floor-length dress made it difficult for her hasty exit. Clara stopped and lifted her dress up from the floor and walked towards the double doors. She walked past a room to her right, but the sound of a familiar voice stopped her. She took two steps backwards and looked into the room. 

Clara brought her hands over mouth and covered the gasp and cry that threatened to escape her lips. She stood there horrified at the sight that completely broke her heart. This time she didn’t hold back the silent tears that fell. She told herself to remember this feeling, to remember the sight of Valerie cupping Noel’s face as they kissed. To hear it was one thing, but to witness them kissing was another. Clara let the sight of them sear itself into her memory and accepted the pain that increased with every slow beat of her heart.

She took two steps backwards, making sure she never forgot the sight of them and walked back towards the ballroom. She took out her phone and sent a quick message through her blurred vision. Clara wiped away the wet and sticky tears and returned to the crowd that gathered to watch people dance. It was over. They were over.

“
V
alerie, what are you doing?” he asked against her lips. It was wrong. Everything about kissing her was wrong. He used to be in love with this woman; he saw a life with her once. But as she stood in front of him he knew, it only cemented it. He would only ever love Clara.

“I thought you… you don’t.” Valerie removed her hands from Noel’s face and looked up at him.

“But last night…” she said quietly.

“You needed advice about moving to Chicago for your career. I wanted to be there for you. I stayed for as long as you needed me, and then I went to Max’s. I was being a friend,” Noel explained, and put space between them. He wasn’t expecting that text message from Valerie, but he owed her an apology for not calling after their one-night stand. He spent a few hours by Valerie’s side as she told him about her plans about moving to Chicago.