Nothing has changed in here. The same brown couch with pillows of various colors arranged neatly on it, heavy wood antique table, vintage lamp hanging from the ceiling. . .all mismatched furniture from over nine years ago. The house still smells like home, warm food and security. The mantle on top of the fireplace is filled with pictures. Some of them are new. A few are of Nor and Josh with two red-headed girls sitting on their laps and grinning at the camera. I don’t allow myself to stay there too long, though. I climb upstairs with my bag in hand and head to my room.
About twenty minutes later, I head back downstairs, hoping to catch up with Nick. He’s leaning on the marble kitchen counter, pouring milk into a bowl for Sirius, who’s greedily lapping at the sides. I glance around the kitchen with pride, taking in the elegant yet homey feel of it. When I was eighteen, my dad and I worked on upgrading this room as a gift from him to my mom for their twenty-third wedding anniversary.
I watch my little brother, his head bent toward the counter, his focus on the task of putting together a sandwich.
Shit. I’ve missed most of his teen years.
“How’s school? What’s your major?”
He lifts his gaze from the chicken sandwich he is preparing for me. “Hospital management. Florida State. It’s okay so far.” He pushes the plate toward me, then folds his hands on his chest and stares at me.
I take a bite of the sandwich, chew and swallow. “This is really good. You should start your own sandwich shop or something.”
He grins proudly. “Thanks. It’s in my five-year plan.”
“Very ambitious,” I say taking another huge bite.
My phone vibrates inside my pocket. I hold the sandwich with one hand and dig my phone out and swipe the screen to read the message.
Megs: My shift at the hospital starts soon. Nor wants to go back to Josh.
Me: No. Distract her. I’m on the way.
I know it’s probably not my place anymore, but I can’t help but feel protective of Nor.
After letting Nick know where I’m going, I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and head out to my truck, while chewing on the last piece of my meal.
I arrive at Spinner’s cafe ten minutes later and spend the next three searching for a spot to park my truck. The smell of coffee and pastries immediately welcomes me as I step through the glass door. The cafe has maintained its fifties retro look, which is one of the things I loved about this place. Although I don’t see any familiar faces, being inside here brings back so many memories.
I spot Megs and Nor, sitting in a booth in the furthest corner of the room. I walk past the green door with the words ‘Book Nook’ on it. The wooden floor vibrates beneath my feet in rhythmic beats from the song playing on the red vintage jukebox placed against the wall near the counter, with blue lights flickering on and off in intervals.
Megs waves when she sees me. Nor’s head snaps up and she stiffens when our eyes meet. She whips around to glare at her friend and says something to Megs.
When I get to the table, I ask, “Ready to leave?”
Megs nods and flashes me a smile, relieved and then quickly snatches her purse from the table and stands up. I raise a brow at Nor. Her lips move as she mutters something under her breath before dragging her feet wearily. I notice again how thin she is. If I wasn’t deaf, I’m sure I’d have heard a few bones rattle against each other, having nothing to support them.
I head for the cashier’s counter and pay for their tab, despite Megs’ protests, and then follow them out. Megs stands on the tip of her toes to kiss my cheek and says that she’s about to start her shift at the hospital. She gives Nor a quick hug and tells her she’ll call her later.
Nor spares me a nervous glance and signs, “She’ll drop me at the hospital,” before shuffling after her friend.
Hell, no.
My fingers wrap around her upper arm, pulling her back to my side. She jerks her head up, her eyes widening in surprise. I nod to my truck parked a few blocks down. She looks over her shoulder to Megs, but she’s already seated in her car.
She jerks her arm from my grip. “I need to go back to the hospital. I’ll go get some rest as soon as Ben and Maggie get there.”
“My parents are already there. You need to eat and get some rest. I’m taking you home.”
Her eyes flare with anger, her cheeks filling with color. Her indignation seems to boost some energy inside her. She straightens to her full height of five feet, hardly hitting my chin, and looking like a very pissed off fairy.
I scowl down at her and jerk my chin toward the truck. “Let’s go.”
Her shoulders slump in defeat. She turns to follow me, stumbling twice and then pulling her small frame back upright.
Christ, she can hardly carry her own weight she’s so exhausted. Without any warning, I scoop her up in my arms and cradle her to my chest.
Her lips part in surprise. “What the hell, Cole? Put me down.”
“If you don’t stop it, I’m going to toss you over my shoulder.” I glare at her.
She squirms, fighting for me to release her, but finally gives up and wraps her arms around my neck to minimize her body from being jostled. A few seconds later, she leans her head on my shoulder.
I bite back a groan as her scent slams into me.