Chapter 43
Alex
R yan was at the bar for their usual Sunday night lock-up and catch-up.
Although these had been less regular since they’d returned from their holiday, avoiding his friend altogether would’ve given away that something was wrong.
Alex couldn’t afford for Ryan to ask any questions, especially until Noa gave him the go-ahead to tell him.
And despite not wanting to lie to his friend’s face, for her he would.
‘She’s seemed so much brighter since she came back, you know. I hate to admit it—and if she asks, I will deny this—but, maybe, I was wrong. I think it was what she needed. The trip seemed to be good for her.’
Ryan continued talking about Noa and how different she’d been since her travels.
He supposed this was better than the prior conversation, which had also centred around Noa, but regarding the fact that she’d been so MIA since they got back.
‘Conversation’ was probably not the best way to put it.
It was mainly Ryan talking and failing to notice Alex’s lack of contribution as he necked his beer and silently nodded along.
He couldn’t be accused of lying if he didn’t open his mouth, right?
‘That reminds me. I know I’ve said it already, but honestly man, thanks for going away with her like I asked. Maybe it was a bit dramatic of me, but she’s my little sister, and she seemed so vulnerable when she came home. I just needed her safe from any creepers.’
Yep, no creepers pursuing your sister here. No, sir. Just your so-called best friend .
God, Hell should just swallow him up right now, because that seemed like where he was inevitably going anyway.
‘Was she with anyone whilst you were away?’ Ryan casually asked, causing beer to spew out of Alex’s nose as he coughed and spluttered in his shock.
‘No, you’re right. Don’t answer that. I mean, like you’d know anyway, right?’
‘Right,’ Alex muttered.
He tried to keep his face straight, but his skin burned under the pressure of lying to his best friend. His chest felt so tight it was almost concerning.
Was he having a medical event?
‘And she told me that you offered her this job so that she could really make a good go at the writing thing. That was real nice of you, man. You’re a good friend, and I don’t say it enough. ’
Alex sunk farther and farther into the leather wing-back chair he sat in at the back of the bar, hoping he would either become a part of it, or that the several beers he was chugging would numb the increasing sense of guilt right out of him.
‘You’re quiet tonight. Everything alright?’
The genuine concern in Ryan’s eyes made Alex feel even worse. He needed to get it together, or else it was game over.
‘Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just been a long few days. These beers are helping, though. Going down a treat and, at least, I have a day off tomorrow.’
Ryan perked up even more at that. ‘You know what that means, right?’
Alex just stared at him, waiting for him to fill in the blanks.
‘We haven’t gotten drunk together in so long. Let’s have a lock-in like old times.’
‘It’s hardly a lock-in with the two of us. We do that most weeks,’ Alex grunted.
‘Potayto, potahto,’ Ryan shrugged, his voice a sing-song.
‘Fine, but if we’re doing this, then we’re doing this properly. We need a bottle of whiskey and a bucket of ice.’
‘No other way to do it,’ Ryan agreed as he headed behind the bar.
Was he skipping? He was definitely skipping. Christ .
‘No, we need the good stuff I reserve just for me. It’s in my office. I’ll go.’
Alex went to move from his chair, deciding a breather in his office to gather himself was probably a good call.
‘I got it man,’ Ryan called, holding his hand up before Alex could even advance from his seat.
As the door banged behind Ryan, Alex let out a long breath.
Yes, whiskey sounded like a great idea indeed.
He sat, deep in his own thoughts, waiting for Ryan to return.
He tried to muster up a plan in his head.
What was the best plan for telling Ryan about him and Noa?
Every time he tried to picture it—the perfect way to tell your best friend that you’ve been secretly dating his sister—he came up short.
Should he take him out for food? Do it in public? No, that didn’t sound ideal. Too many prying eyes and ears in this nosy town.
Maybe, they could break it to him at one of the Friday night dinners at the Drakes’?
Bethan and Isaac were reasonable people.
If Ryan jumped to any conclusions, something that wouldn’t be entirely out of character for him, Alex was sure they’d make good buffers.
Or, at least, settle him enough so Alex and Noa could explain.
Yes. That’s what they would do. The second he could talk to Noa and update her on his plan, he would. And he was sure she’d be all for it.
A second later, doors slammed again but, this time, it wasn’t the office ones. Instead, they came from behind him. Turning around to see who the hell was coming into his bar at this time past midnight, he was shocked to see a breathless Noa in the doorway.
Her hair stuck to her face in a matted mess from either the drizzle of rain outside, or time spent running her hands through it. He could see the faint smattering of sweat above her furrowed brow.
She looked like a woman on a mission as she stalked toward him, and he couldn’t quite work out the emotion on her face. Anger mixed with fear, maybe?
Whatever it was had panic instantly flaring in his gut, and he wanted to capture her in his arms. But Ryan was here, so he remained still as she continued across the room. She bit her lip, in the way he knew she did when she was worried, and stopped in front of him.
Alex opened his mouth to tell Noa her brother was here, but was quickly cut off by words flying from her lips at a rapid pace.
Frantic, nonsensical words that he struggled to keep up with.
He tried to gesture in the direction Ryan had gone, hoping it would be enough for her to understand.
But she kept on going, looking only confused by his attempts at silent communication.
Eventually, he just sat there and listened as she untactfully blurted out the words that he never thought he would hear. Words that had his ears ringing and his knees almost buckling.
If he wasn’t sitting, he was sure he’d have lost a few teeth in his nosedive toward the floor. He stared right at her, focussing on trying to keep upright whilst, in the space of seconds, she flipped his entire world upside-down.
And, in those seconds, too many contrasting emotions ping-ponged around his brain, and he was unable to settle on just one.
Relief and fear, confusion and understanding, excitement and trepidation.
He flicked from one to the other faster than he could even process.
None of it made sense, and his head throbbed as a result.
This woman had changed his life forever, in more ways than one. And, knowing who remained in the bar with them, he might not be the only one who knew it.