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Iris
Impatient, I ring the doorbell thrice, really fast, and then, twice slowly. The door opens and I see the most confused expression in human existence on Colt's face.
"Whaâ?" Interrupting him, I take his hand and run towards his room.
"Is anyone else home?" I ask him, looking around before entering his room with him.
"No," Colt answers, slowly as he looks at me. I ignore him and fall on his bed with my face buried in the pillow.
"Iris? What's wrong? Did something happen? Did you kill someone and are on run? If it is that, I will go and pack myâ"
I screamâno, oh no, I squeal.
And, then, there is silence.
"I really did not expect that to happen." I hear Colt say, shock in his voice. "I am gonna take a totally wild guessâreally a guess, it is about Noah."
I squeal, again.
What is that guy doing to me?
"And do I get money for guessing the right answer?"
I flip, looking up at the ceiling. "You have no idea what happened today."
Again, there is a pauseânot silence, and I know what my best friend is thinking.
"You dirty-minded asshole!" I sit up, throwing a pillow on his face.
Colt laughs, catching the pillow in mid-air. "You gave me no details and I am not an expert in girl language for 'oh, love, sweet innocent love'â"
"Nothing of that sort happened and if it did, I probably would be in a church, purifying myself and vowing to be a nun."
"Pretty sure, you won't." He wiggles his eyebrows.
"Oh, shush." I scowl and he laughs, sitting next to me. Sighing, I put my head on his shoulder and he glances at me, concerned.
He says, "You look tired. What happened after you left with Nick?"
"Oh my god. Nick." I take out my phone and stand up as I call Nick.
"What is wrong, Iris?" Colt asks me, concerned. "Is Nick okay?"
"I think so. It is actually Tannerâgod, let them be okay," I reply to Colt as the call starts connecting.
"Tanner?" Colt looks confused. "Who isâ?"
"Hey, Nick," I start asking as he picks up the call. "Are you okay? Is Tanner okay?"
"Idiot forced me not to go to the hospital. We are at his place," Nick answers, frustrated. "Don't move! I know what I am doing!"
There is some muffled voice near him. I hear Nick sigh. "I am putting the call on speaker. Tanner wants to talk to you, Iris."
"Oh, okay."
There is some noise before I hear Tanner's voice, "Irisâdon't even think about scolding Noah or even fight with himâ" He grunts and Nick curses. "âHe is a great guy. He is just...ugh, too scary when angry but you know he is an amazing person. I am not going to charge if you wanted to ask thatâughâI might not be his friend but he is mine."
"Nick?" I ask, sighing.
"Yeah?" Nick answers.
"Can you give Tanner a hug from me?"
For almost too long, I do not get any answer.
"Well? I am waiting," Tanner says, surely grinning. "Don't pat me! She didn't mean that!"
Nick replies, "I am going to kill you after you get well."
"I would be looking forward to it."
I can hear Nick groan and I let out a laugh, before saying, "Tanner?"
"Hmm?"
"You are a great guy."
His reply is instant. "I know."
I laugh, a little, before telling him, "I am sorry for what happened, today."
"Don't worry about it. Wasn't your fault, anyway," He says. "It's..."
"Complicated?" I add.
Tanner laughs. "Yeah."
We talk for more than fifteen seconds before I end the call and face Colt who is looking at me, expectedly.
"Do you know any producer who can air my senior year?" I ask him. "Because it would do a whole lotta good to some and also, everyone likes drama."
"What happened?" Colt asks me, seriously.
After sitting next to him, I tell him everything that I haven't told himâthe talk with Noah on my birthday, the confessions, the fight today, and the car incidentâeverything. Unlike my habit of interrupting in between, Colt listens, first, very carefully, and then, thinks of an answer which is either totally hormonal or really intelligent.
"You both confessed," Colt says to me, blinking.
"That is what you got from the whole thing?" I ask, really questioning my friendship with this guy but he just waves off my question.
"And here Adi and I were planningâ" He stops and I narrow my eyes.
"Planning what?"
"Nothing."
"What, Colten?"
"Nothing, Iris."
We just stare at each other, hoping to psych either one out. But since we know each other well and thus know neither of us will back down, we just fist bump and pretend to forget that. Also, I make a mental note to myself to ask Adiâhe is easier to psych out, anyway.
Colt says, "Alright, alright. Let's move on to the serious topics, yeah?"
I sit up, alert, as he continues, "It is obvious to me that Noah was pushing you away, even though he wanted to hold you really close and never let you go. At first, you actually listened to him and thought 'yeah this is betterâlet's stop' but of course, it didn't stopâyou both dragged a poor ladder in too. I got it, right till now?"
"The ladder detail was unnecessary but okay."
He says, "So, you met Tanner... and he has a history with Noah which also means he has a history with Aditya." He nods. "Hmm... just my personal opinion, Iris, Tanner seems shady."
"What?" I look at him, shocked. "He is a dork, okay? He's literally a kitten-loving dork."
"Also, a guy you ditched me with."
I look at him and grin. "You don't think Tanner is shadyâyou are just jealous that he has my potential best friend quality."
He scoffs. "No, I don't. I grew up with you, Iris. That is almost fourteen years of our friendshipâno one can top that."
"Aw," I coo. "Don't worryâI will still be your Best Woman at your wedding."
He chuckles, "And I will be your Man of Honor. I remember the deal. Also, Tanner isn't a bad guyâjust shady."
I open my mouth to protest but he interrupts me. "No, listen to me. I don't think he is 'bad news' or anything but if this guy has done something to make Noah that kind of angry, trust me, Iris, stay away from him... at least for now because I don't think Noah will forget about this any time soon."
"Okay."
"And the last thing, you asked him out?" Colt looks at me, surprised. "You asked him out?"
I blink, confused.
"Um, what? When did I ask him out?" I ask.
"Would you like to go to London with me?" He says in the worst impression of me. "What is that, if not asking out?"
"It is... Would you like to go to London with me?" I say, dryly. "As simple as that."
"You asked him out."
"I did not," I say back but I pause. "...right?"
"Cristo." Colt groans. "What am I going to do with you?"
"I didn't mean to ask him out! I was just implying that he can come with me to London!" I hold Colt by the shoulders and start shaking him. "Did he think I was asking him out? Did he?" I groan. "No wonder, he didn't answer andâ"
I stop as I remember his shocked expression when I asked him. I just thought he was shocked because it was an out-of-the-blue question and a very last-minute request but...did he think what Colt thought?
Can someone dig me a grave? I am ready to die of embarrassment.
"Shall I dig the grave where you can die of embarrassment?" Colt says, amused.
I glare. "Have I ever told you it is really annoying that you think the same thing I think?"
"No, you think the same thing that I think."
"Are you an idiot?"
"No, because you are."
...and, we start arguing about who is more of an idiot.
***
"Have you packed all your necessities?" Mom asks me, just as I get out of the car.
"Yes, Mom." Yeti takes his head out of the window and I start petting him. "Hey, Yeti. Just a week, alright, boy? Just a week to tolerate Mom and Dad. If they don't agree with you, pee on the couch, 'kay?"
Yeti barks in agreement.
"No," Mom says from my behind. "No such thing will take place."
"I have packed a box of medicines, just in case. Okay?" Dad tells me, getting my bagâyes, singular bagâout of the car.
"Yes, Dad."
"I also have packed some more stuff." Mom and I look up at him in confusion. Dad just looks away from us, concentrating on the suitcases. "You would know...soon."
Mom looks at him, accusingly. "You haven't."
Dad looks back with a nonchalant expression. "Precaution."
"I am still confused," I say, looking between them.
Dad hugs me as if trying to soothe me. "Oh, my sweet innocent daughter."
"I am not innocent," I grumble, before hugging him back.
"And I am not going to hell," Dad replies, drily. I sigh, realizing it has been really long time since I have hugged Dad like this. "You okay?"
"He is not coming, is he?"
Dad pulls back and looks down at me. "His loss that he gave up an amazing trip to London with one of my amazon warriors, alright?"
"You are dancing internally, aren't you?" That gets a laugh out of Mom and a grin from Dad.
After I told them that there is a slight hope in me that Noah might go with me, Dad went... batshit crazy which was a shock to me but normal to Mom. The first thing he told me after was if I still have my karate instincts and later, told me to punch himâI just ignored him and went to my room.
Just now, the last call for bag checking for my flight gets announced and I frown.
He didn't come.
Heck, he didn't even come to the airport.
Slinging up my bag across my left shoulder, I shrug. "Well, his loss."
Hugging Mom, Dad and Yeti once moreâactually, more than once, I walk into the airport, trying not to be sad.
I have been asking what is wrong with me but, seriously, what is wrong with this guy? Can't he see that the more he pulls away, the more he lures me in like a damn magnet?
It isn't like I wanted him to come for meâokay, I kind of did but it is not the primary reason.
I am not the type of a woman who thought that she can be the reason a man changes but, meeting Noah, I want to be that woman. I want to be that woman for him who heals him without breaking him, any further. I want to be that woman who wouldn't force him out of his miserable ocean but slowly, help him to get out by himself.
I want to be the woman that tells him that his flaws and scars are the most breath-taking and exquisite form of a beautiful man for me.
I have looked at Noah a lot of times but this time I actually look looked at him. What I saw, what I felt... my heart aches to see him in pain and this trip would have been a step to bring him to lights... but that is until he gives himself a chance.
No.
He has to give himself a chance.
So, when I hear unusually heavy steps in the aisle, near my seat, I look up and I can't help a grin breaking out on my face.
"He is giving himself a chance," I murmur.
I know Noah is tall which he never gives me a chance to forget but, looking at him, now, as he towers over the majority of the population in the flight, I get reminded of BFG, just more brooding and intimidating.
His golden honey eyes find mine and I see flickers of longing and relief but then, his eyes trail my bodyâhungrily.
Mumbling something about how ACs aren't working, I turn towards the window, looking at the clouds and trying to hide my flushed cheeks.
"Um, excuse me, did ya say something?" I turn and see a man in a royal blue suit and yellow tie next to my seat. He is grinning, very creepily, at me.
I narrow my eyes and reply, curtly, "No."
"Now, now, sweet cheeks." He starts leaning towards me and I lean away, thinking of all the spots where I can hurt him. "It is a long flight andâ"
Just the moment my hand is going up to slap him, a strong hand recoils him back and pushes on his seat. I look up, and Noah is glaring and seething with anger towards the guy.
"And you are going to leave her the fuck alone," Noah states. "Also, you are getting the heck out of this seat."
"Man, what's your problem? She was the oneâ"
"Oh, really?" I say to the guy, annoyed. "Last time I checked you were the one who called me sweetcheeks and were talking something about the long flight."
"He called you what?" Noah glares down at the guy. "You littleâ"
The guy makes a sound that is between a scream and a choke as he withers under our gaze.
"Uh, is there any problem here?" A lady asks us in a thick English accent and I realize some of the passengers are looking at us, some annoyed and some curious.
After eyeing the situation, she looks at me, asking me a silent question and I nod. She changes her stance and looks at the guy, saying, "Mister, I think I have a better seat for you."
"Who areâ"
"I am the captain of this flight."
"Oh."
"Well?" Grumbling, the guy gets up and Captain turns to Noah, raising an eyebrow. "Do you have any relation with the young lady, Sir?"
I was about to answer something about a friend when Noah beats me to it.
"She is my wife."
"Wa-wife?" The guy turns to me, gaping.
Trust me, yellow tie creepy guy, even I didn't know.
The captain turns to me with a grin as if knowing what's going on between us. "Well, then, Mrs...?"
"Cooper Radcliffe," Noah answers, ignoring the subtle glare I am sending his way. "We merged both of our last names."
"Aww, that's so cute," An older lady in front of us coos. She turns to me and winks. "If any of my husbands were this handsome, I wouldn't have divorced him at all."
Oh my god.
I bury my head in my hands, hiding my flushed face, when I feel a warm and lemony presence near me, ignoring all the other commotions going on.
"Hey, wife."
I groan, not looking at him, but he doesn't give up as he pulls me into his hard yet soft chest, wrapping his arms around me. Despite my internal protest, I melt into his arms. He keeps his head in the crook of my neck, his minty breath fanning over the sensitive skin.
"Bella?"
"Hi," I reply, sighing.
"You didn't think I wouldn't come?" He asks me but since I don't reply anything, he sighs. He whispers to me, "Sorry, I am late, darling. It was the fucking traffic."
"It is okay. The main thing you came." Now, I pause, before asking, "You couldn't send me a message that you were coming and how did you even get on this flight? I didn't evenâ"
"Bella, you ask too many questions." Noah chuckles. "I called Mia, asking her about the details, and told her not to tell you because I wanted to surprise you. I am sorry, I didn't tell you earlier."
When we pull back, I give him a questioning stare but his eyes are on the necklace.
He looks at me in surprise. "You are wearing it?"
"I have been wearing it ever since you gifted it, Noah," I answer, smiling. Through my eyelashes, I glance at him; his eyes are so concentrated on the pendant around my neck that little crinkles form under his eyes.
Before I know it, I feel his fingers trail on the nape of my neck, making me shiver. Now, he looks at me; his eyes clouded with something I can't put my finger on.
"Are you cold?" He asks me, coming visibly closer to my face, and I feel his sweet mint breath fanning a bit on my face.
"No..." I merely whisper, aware of one of his hands tracing the necklace on my collarbone.
"It looks good on you."
Stupid heartâwhy do you have to flutter at everything he says?
We, both, don't break eye contact as I realize that he is breathing faster than he was three seconds ago. My eyes dropping to his lips, before looking back to his eyes as he does the same.
And then someone's luggage falls off on the aisle.
When I suddenly pull away, Noah closes his eyes and laughs, lightly. "Of-fucking-course."
I roll my eyes but lifting myself a bit, I kiss him on his cheek and he opens his eyes. "Anyway, thank you for this gift."
"Just cheek?" He says, raising his eyebrows, and I groan, mumbling a shut up towards him. Before I can put some distance between us, he cups the back of my neck and leans forward, unmistakable heat in his eyes.
"You know what you are wearing, right?" He asks, tilting his face to check me out.
"Yeah, obviously."
I have worn a white tank top under a black bomber jacket and denim with blue converse shoes. I take a look at Noah and notice he is wearing a maroon-colored sweatshirt, sleeves rolled up till his elbows, with black jeans and black boots.
Leaning more, he whispers, "You know, Bella, the moment I saw you hereâI wanted to kiss you so badly and that tight white tank top is doing nothing but aiding to all of my fantasies that includes you, me, andâ"
"Noah."
I push him away, shocked by how blunt he is and how much more I want to kiss him. Deliberately, I scoot away from him, hiding my flushed face away from him as I hear him let out a laugh.
This is going to be a long flight, literally.
***
Noah
Slowly, I open my eyes but as I try to stretch myself a bit, a small tug on my left arm stops me. Looking down, I can't help when my lips lift upwards in a smile at the scene.
Bella has wrapped one of her small hands around my big one, making it fit like a damn puzzle, while another hand is holding the forearm. Her head is resting on my upper arm with her face half-hidden by her raven-black hair.
I know her face, her mindâher everything; she is the only poem that my mind can read and understand. Wanting to see her, I start tucking the strands behind her ears, slowly, not trying to wake her up.
"Fuck," I whisper, as her face comes into focus and I am amazed by how peaceful she looks.
Like a fucking whiplash, yesterday's events rush into my mind. Seeing Tanner Hood, again, many unwanted flashbacks had started playing, and all I saw was fucking red. The next thing I remember clearly was Bella.
I curse again, running my fingers through my hair, as I can't look at her, now.
Bella was scared and I did see it. She was so scared and shaken up that even her eyes couldn't hide the fact. If it had been someone else's anger, I would have wrapped my arms around her but it was me, the part I was trying to hide for so long.
It was so bad that I wanted her to run away from me but she didn't. She stayed right there, never looking directly at me until she announced she would go with me.
I didn't want her to come with me, honestly. I fucking knew once she is in my carâonce she starts talking, I would be rude to her and I was. I know it was a prick-arse move but I was angry, then. Heck, I wanted her to slam the door and never talk to me in our livesâan easier option.
Then, again, she is a gorgeous chrysoberyl.
Her calmness cooled me down and when she told me she had feelings for meâher heart beats faster for me, a fucked-up asshole, I felt something tugging in my chest. I felt my heart fucking fluttering kilometers per second for her. Deep down, I knew I am in trouble as her eyes conveyed the message loud and clearâ 'I am not letting you go, Noah Arthur.'
I do not know if it is selfish or not but I don't want her to let me go.
Right now, I look back at her just when she, sleepily, mumbles something illogical. I hold back a smile, thinking when she supposedly asked me outâshe didn't ask me out, I know, but I want to think she meant to.
"Noah." Suddenly, Bella hums, pressing her face more onto my arm and her nails dig into my skin.
"Hey?" I say to her, my voice comes out a bit raspier which she doesn't notice as she smiles back, still not opening her eyes.
When she squints her eyes while opening them, I reach out to lower the intensity of the light. Slowly, the earthy brown eyes meet my amber ones and just for some seconds, I can't get myself to say anything to her.
Her hair is a mess like always, tangled and curvy near the ends. Her cheeks with subtle acne which she hates a lot and pretends to ignore, most of the time. The black beauty spots, the cute button nose, the smooth eyelids with average-sized eyelashes, andâlike a man I amâmy favorite are her cherry-scented lips.
Mind me but they are not my favorite just because I want to kiss them day and night and evermore. They are because every time Bella does anything, she always bites her lipsâwhen she concentrates, when she thinks, and most importantly, when she lies, and, cazzo, do they turn me on.
I know she doesn't realize it but I also know I am not going to tell her anytime soon. The moment she knows, she will do it deliberately even more only to torture me and I think I already have had the torture of a lifetime.
Fuck, I want to kiss and take her, rightâ
"You are warm," Bella comments, getting me back to realityâto her.
You bet I am.
I clear my throat, not knowing what to reply and definitely, not wanting to tell her what I am thinking.
Bella takes this as a sign of concern as she sits up, straight.
"Are you okay?" She asks me, putting a hand on my cheek. "Do I have to do something?"
"Kiss me"
...is what I would have said if I wanted to get slapped by her.
"Um, no." I clear my throat, shaking my head.
She bites her lower lip, slowly, as she looks at me, confused. Like always, my gaze falls on the action and I can't help as my mind and heart lead me into an abyss that wants her so fucking bad.
I groan, pulling away from her, as I run my hand through my hair, wanting to pull them off at how badly horny I am feeling, right now.
"Noah?"
"You are turning me on," I admit, finally.
"Oh."
"Yes."
I glance at her when she moves away towards the window as blood rushes to her cheeks, rising from her neck. She glances at me for a second, before she looks away, smiling.
Cazzo.
"Woman, you are killing me, here, and you are amused about it?" I say to her but can't help smiling.
She shrugs, still smiling. "Finally, you are feeling what I feel so many times."
I raise my eyebrows. I smirk, saying, "So, you are turned on by me so many times?"
"I...I didn't mean that!" She splutters. Blood rushes towards her cheek, through her neck and I laugh.
"It is fine, you turn me on just by existing. I wouldn't do anything until you say so," I tell her, honestly. "And I think we can take it slow."
You don't even know what is slow. You still want to kiss her hard, make her moaâ
Dammit, fucking brain.
"It is just... I don't want to rush in but..." Bella replies, smiling at me, "I have no idea what slow is."
"Thank fuck, I am not the only one."
"Noah." She laughs. "Stop cussing out so much."
Swiftly, I wink at her.
"Uhm, Sir?" An air-hostess says, looking at me. She smiles and I know what this is about. "Your seat is in business class."
I shift a bit, avoiding Bella's gaze. I didn't want her to know that because it feels embarrassing and I wanted to sit beside her, not near some boring people. Also, for more reasons, I do not want to sit there.
"I am okay, here," I reply to the hostess.
"But the seat and the paymâ"
"There is an eight-month pregnant woman. Her name's Mellissa, she is traveling alone. You can give the seat to her and all other amenities that have been paid for by me."
I look around for three seconds, before pointing towards a young lady, three seats diagonal to us. I remember her trying to strike up a conversation with me as both of usâmainly, meârushed towards our flight gate.
When Mellissa told me that she wants to surprise her husband and she missed her earlier flight, I couldn't help but feel a similarity between us. It wasn't only me; she looked at me and said, 'A special someone, hmm?'
Pregnant woman instincts, probably?
The air-hostess looks at me, awe-struck. "Are you sure?"
"I am."
"Okay... and thank you, Sir, for your kindness."
"Kindness? I am not being kind," I say after the hostess goes away.
"I don't know, Noah. Sometimes your rare bone of kindness works. The rest of the time, it is just inactive," Bella tells me, amused.
"I am precious to you, either way?" I ask, jokingly, but with a serious gaze, she looks at me.
"You are precious to me, there's no other way."
This woman.
As the hostess tells Mellissa, she looks around and spots me. She grins towards me, before her gaze shifts to Bella. She looks back at me and gestures towards Bella.
Bella looks at me, confused, as I glance towards her and then, nod towards Mellissa. As she starts to walk, she looks at Bella and mouths something I don't understand.
Bella smiles at her as her hand wrap around mine and I do the same, squeezing it, slightly.
I lean down and whisper to her, "You are fucking precious to me, Bella."
***
I know Gabriella Harrington is quite famous for her works in the sports industry and her activism for women's rights and LGBTQ+ rights but looking at her place, you will never realize that.
The house is in a peaceful neighborhood. At the end of the street, it is a white terrace house is of four floors with gold-colored rimmed windows. The garden is full of different flowers and plants while on the other hand, there is a small pool with water lilies. Near the garden, there is a bicycle which I assume is of Bella's cousin, Alexa.
I have to admit, I am in a bit of awe.
"This is too clean," I comment, looking back at Bella, as she looks at everything with nostalgia in her eyes.
"It is still the sameâjust more plants and Alexa's bicycle." She tells me, before letting out a laugh. "See that park?" She points to a green park where some kids are playing. "Colt always hated that see-saw. He just hated it but that was the first thing we always went to when we used to come here for summer. The house in front of the park used to be Alya's family house."
"Used to be?"
"Her family shifted to the town, near ours, a few years ago." She shrugs and I feel her tearing up with memories.
Without any words, I balance our bags on one side of my body and pull her into my chest. She wraps her hands around me while I keep my head on hers.
"I miss him, Noah."
"I know," I reply, pressing my lips on her head. "He would be so happy to see you, here, again."
She lifts her head from my chest and I look down into her eyes. Oh, fuck.
In my conscious mind, I know I am leaning down towards her while she stands on her toes, almost near to closing her eyes. Just some inches away fromâ
"Iry!"
The universe fucking hates me.
A small girl rushes out of the door and jumps on Bella, making her push back from me. She is wearing a red and white football jersey. Making her short curly black hair dance around her shoulder, her dark skin glistening with sweat as if she has come back from her football practice.
Running a frustrated hand on my face, I drop our bags, near the porch, as Bella's face shines with happiness.
"Alex!" She says back, hugging her back. "How are you?"
Excited, Alex replies to her, in her own thick English accent, "I am so happy. I literally beat that lad's arse in football."
"Alex."
"Oops, I mean buttocks." They, both, laugh as Bella bends down to her height.
"Tell me, missy, are you high on sugar?"
"No. NO! No." She shakes her head, frantically, but with the movement, her gaze falls on me and I notice for a second, she takes a defensive stance.
"Sis, why did you get Hades here?" She asks Bella, tilting her head to look at my face.
"Why did I never think of that?" Bella laughs, loudly. I send a playful glare in her direction just when Alex jumps, trying to touch me.
What the fuck?
"Jesus, how tall are you?" Alex gapes at me.
"I don't know... how tall is Jesus," I reply to her, squatting down to her height and smiling at her.
Alex's jaw slackens as she looks at me. "You have amber eyesâthey are more like yellow honey orbs."
I shrug. "Yeah, I have."
"Do you wear contacts?"
Just for a second, I glance at Bella as I remember her asking me the same.
"No, I don't." I look back at Alex. "Do you play football?" I ask, gesturing towards the jersey.
"Captain of the team." She flicks her hair to the side.
"Noah's the captain of his team," Bella says to her and Alex looks back at me with admiration.
"Noah? Noah. Noah. Nooooooahhhh. I like your name and you, too." She pats my head and I chuckle. "I hope you do not bite."
My eyes flit towards Bella as if telling her, 'there is an exception.' and I know the message has been received as she blushes, looking away.
Alex snaps her fingers in front of me and asks, "Why are you looking at her like you might eat her up?"
"I might," I answer.
"He wouldn't," Bella says.
Bella glares at me but I just laugh, standing up and sliding my arm around her hips, before kissing her on the cheek. My lips linger for a really long time, before I whisper to her, "I think you would like when I eat youâ"
She pulls away and gapes at me before I can complete. I try hard not to laugh and tease her more, just to see that face blushing red.
"That is cannibalism!" Alex exclaims, breaking the little bubble, again. "The practice of eating the flesh of your own kind!"
I raise his eyebrows and give Bella a look that means, she is a dictionary, isn't she?
"No. No. No." Bella ignores me, going towards Alex. "It is not like that."
I narrow my eyes, feeling jealous of the attention she is giving to the little kid. I know it is immature of me but I can't control my feelings and I am not sorry about it.
Alex, then, blinks. "Oh. Are you, both, partners?"
Before either of us can have an awkward conversation about it, two ladiesâprobably in their thirtiesâcome out of the door with two toddlers in their arms.
"Iris, honey." One of them hugs her, tightly. "You didn't forget me, did you?"
"Aunt Tam!"
Ah, Tamara Harrington.
She has pale skin, chubby cheeks, light hazel eyes with dark blonde pixie cut hair. She has worn a nightgown under a brown coat with slippers.
Bella hugs her back but stops when the toddler in Tamara's hands tugs her hair and lets out a cry.
"That's James," Alex tells me while Bella takes the toddler in her arms. "Uh, that's William, actually. They are really confusing...and annoying. Well, that's what brothers are supposed to be, I guess."
The toddlers are really identical twins. They have light brown hair with green big eyes, same facial structure and as they smile, you can see their small incisor teeth. Till now, I can't see any difference between them. I, as hell, don't know how Bella knows who's who.
Alex looks up at me and whispers, "They are really dumb."
"They are babies," I reply to her.
"They are still dumb."
Just then, William says, "Boo?"
Alex gives me a look. "Told you."
"Boo?" Another erupts from James who is in Gabriella's arms.
Gabriella looks and is so much like Miaâsame grey eyes under black spectacles, blonde hair, oval face with cheekbones. She is wearing a pink suit over a white shirt and really high heels.
Gabriella comes forward and kisses Bella's cheeks, before putting a hand on her cheek. "Missed you a lot, Iry," She tells her and I know she meant it.
"Don't make me cry, Aunt Gaby," Bella says back, kissing her on the cheek, and James pulls her hair.
What is wrong with these kids and pulling her hair?
Now, I see Gabriella staring at me and I look back at her because that is the kind of person I amânot turning down a challenge, only sometimes if it includes Bella killing me.
"So..." Tamara smiles at me, coming forward. "I am Tamara. You can call me Tam or Tammy or Tamara is just fine."
"Noah," I say back, nodding.
"Nice to meet you, Noah," Tamara says, patting my shoulder. "So, let's go in, shall we?"
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
- a u t h o r ' s n o t e -
okay, okay, i know it is tuesday but someone just updated a chapter that kinda made me cry and also be happy at the same time.
so this chapter's for you, rikaaraji468 !!
also, aren't noah and iris so cute? do we have a ship name for them? ð¥º
until next chapter,
inerys