I massage the back of my neck with my fingers. My brain is a jumbled mess and I can’t think straight.
“If it is any consolation, Nor was just as nervous when I dropped by earlier to babysit the twins while she went grocery shopping.”
I exhale in relief. At least I’m not the only one feeling this way.
“She worships the ground you walk on,” he continues. I cock a brow at him. “She looks at you like she wants to absorb you inside her. It is the same way she used to look at you when we were kids.”
I purse my lips. “You were just a kid.”
“I wasn’t blind,” he counters. “You probably do not want to hear this shit, especially after the past. But I am your brother. Brothers give each other advice, whether it is needed or not. She is a keeper. Do not let her slip away.”
I shake my head and smile. “Wow, bro. You are like Yoda.”
He laughs. “It is all about The Force, man.” Playfully, he punches me on my shoulder with his fist. “Absorb what you can from me right now. I might not be feeling so wise in a couple of hours.”
I chuckle and turn to look out the window again. Suddenly, I’m not sure if I’m ready to learn the truth. I want to walk inside that house and start fresh. But my conscious won’t allow me to.
I need to know.
Taking a deep breath to still my nerves, I look at my brother and say, “I fucking missed them the last two weeks. I feel like I’ve known Cora and Joce my entire lifetime, even though I missed most of theirs.”
He leans over the console, over my lap, flips the lock of my door, then straightens on his seat. “Get your ass out of my car. Sappy conversations are not my super power.”
Laughing, I step out of the car.
“Would you like to hangout over the weekend?” I sign.
“I have a deadline to finish a project that’s due next week. How about the next one?” he asks, a hopeful look on his face.
“Sounds great.” I can’t wait to spend more time with my little brother. After requesting him to take my luggage to my parents’ house, I walk up the little path flanked with daffodils toward the front door. I stop and turn around, searching in the dark for the little apartment I will be moving into in just a couple of days. I inhale deeply and spin around slowly to face the door again and ring the bell.
s
My body tenses as the sound of the doorbell ringing ricochets inside the house. Taking a deep breath, I wipe my clammy hands down my dress and walk to the door.
Cole is here. It’s finally time to finish this. He might hate me after all is said and done.
When I open the door, Cole is standing in front of me, with one hand shoved inside the pocket of his pants, while the other rests on the nape of his neck. He raises his eyes from the ground to meet mine. His expression instantly softens, then darkens as his gaze roams down my body, staying a little longer around my boobs and mouth. In that tiny slip of time, my heart beats rapidly in my chest and warmth spreads all over my body, finally settling between my legs. He clears his throat and then tugs the beanie from his head.
God, I’ve missed that look.
“Hi.”
“Hey,” I manage to cough out the words and step aside to let him in. After locking the door, I push off it, brush past him and walk into the living room. His body is like a warm shield as he trails behind me. I stop in front of the sofa, clasp my hands together, and face him.
“Where are the girls?” he asks.
“At your parents’ house. I thought it would be easier for us to talk without distraction.”
He nods, his intense gray eyes never leaving mine.
God, I’m so nervous. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“No, thank you.”
Right. I motion for him to sit down and then I sit on the farthest corner of the couch. Being close to him puts me off kilter and I need all my thoughts in a neat little pile for this conversation.
He drags his fingers through his short hair, glances at the couch to the side and lowers his tall frame on it before he stares up at me expectantly.
I clear my throat and bite the inside of my cheek. “I need you to understand something first. Whatever I did nine years ago, I did it to protect you. I didn’t set out to hurt you.”