My Brother’s Best Friend

Reasoning Out

SKIP

How did I turn into a creepy stalker?

WHEN ARELLA didn’t reply to my text, I drove to her apartment and she was just leaving. I trailed her car not close enough for her to see me or suspect someone was following her. It might freak her out.

I watched Arella entered the café. I didn’t have any idea if she was meeting someone or probably her brother since their last encounter didn’t end well. A few minutes later, a woman in a blue dress entered. She looked familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on where did I saw her.

Then she sat across Arella’s table. Okay, she was meeting that woman. I checked the time on my dashboard once in a while until I got bored.

I hopped out of my car and crossed the street to the coffee shop. I snuck inside quietly, but the chime made a few customers turned their heads towards the door, but not the two. I walked closer to their table, then Arella’s friend said something about an asshole.

“Who’s a total asshole?”

Her friend made a turn, and Arella’s eyes widened. Just as surprised as she was to see me, I could see the excitement flashed all over her face. I smiled at her as if I didn’t follow her earlier. I could easily tell her I was just grabbing a coffee, then I saw her, but it was pointless to say shit like that.

“Skipper, what are you doing here?” Her eyes shone when she asked, and it was kind of cute.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Oh, my God.” Her friend giggled.

“I would lie if I say I came here for a coffee, love.” I closed the distance between us.

Leaning down, I grabbed the back of her head and kissed her already parted lips. I was not much of a PDA person, but I couldn’t just stop her from going back to her apartment, and now I wanted to show how much I missed her already.

When she left my flat, I felt alone and lonely. I called Mum and Dad, but it didn’t fill the emptiness inside my heart. And I felt even lost to the news I received from them.

A gasp slipped her mouth, and I delved my tongue inside. I tasted something creamy and sweet from whatever she was drinking. But I wanted her to taste more because she was way sweeter and addictive. Arella gripped my arms, kissing me back just as much as how I poured my feelings through that kiss, then murmured something into our mouth.

I pulled away before someone scolded us for displaying affection in public. Her eyes were still closed. The cheers behind me made me pull back. Arella murmured and her face was creamy red.

When I turned around, I saw a familiar face grinning at me. The Hughes’ heir.

“Bash Hughes?” I asked in a disbelieving voice.

I met him a few times back in London. He and Clyve went to the same uni together. He didn’t change much other than he looked matured and fancier.

“That was quite a show, man.” He extended his hand, and we hugged each other.

“And you watched me throughout the scene,” I chuckled, feeling my face heated.

“Hard not to, Skip. How are you? How’s Clyve?” Then a redhead snaked her hand around Hughes’ arm. “By the way, meet my wife, Kiara. Baby this is my old mate, Skip. I had the same classes as his brother.”

His wife smiled. “Nice to meet you, Skip.” We did a handshake, then she looked at my back.

Oh shit!

“Arella, my girlfriend that I kissed a while ago,” I said proudly. Arella was already standing beside me, smiling at Kiara.

“Please to meet you both. I apologize for the show we put earlier.” Her face flushed.

“Don’t mention it.” Giggling, Kiara rolled her eyes as if that was new to her. “You have no idea how Bash proposed to me. He kissed me in the middle of the street market in Paris.”

Arella looked down at Kiara’s whacking and sparkling diamond ring. I felt a warmth inside my chest. After hearing from Dad today, I knew I was running out of time. Mom said the same thing that Dad needed to undergo bypass surgery, but Dad unyieldingly declined the idea. Flashes of Dad’s words shot through my mind. The whirlwind of sadness sat in my chest.

Just promise me you will take care of each other, Skipper. I know I was hard on you the whole time, but I love you and Clyve equally, son. And please take care of your mum for me.

The girls had their conversation when Bash said something.

“Pardon?”

“I wasn’t aware Clyve is here in town.”

“Oh, yeah. He’s been here for a few weeks. I’ll give you his number so that you two can catch up.” I took the phone from Bash and saved Clyve’s contact.

“It’s nice really meeting you, Skip, and girls. Call me when you two are free.” Kiara kissed them both and waved at me.

I nodded and smiled at her despite the knots in my stomach.

Bash patted my arm. “We should meet sometimes, man. It’s fancy seeing Londoners around. I let you know through Clyve, yeah?”

“Sure thing, mate.”

I grasped Arella’s hand when the couple walked out of the coffee shop. “Reigh, let’s sit.” I glanced at her friend. “I didn’t catch your name, sweetheart.”

“Because I didn’t tell you, Skip. And my friend over here doesn’t talk much about her co-worker, am I right? I’m Majielyn.” She wrinkled her nose. “Just call me Maj.”

I smiled, then it hit me. “You work at the lab?”

“Correct,” Maj asserted.

I chuckled, mentally shaking my head. She probably knew why Arella lost her job. “Do you like working there?”

“Yes. Now I lost my partner in crime, and the lab is not the same anymore without Are, but I’ll live and I need this job. It’s hard to find one for chemists that specialized in perfumery, eh.” She shrugged.

“All right, Reigh?” I gripped Arella’s thigh when she kept quiet.

“You didn’t answer me on why are you here?” She was not interrogating. I felt like she needed me here. It tightened my chest, thinking she didn’t trust me enough to share whatever was going on in her life right now.

“I followed you from your apartment. Don’t freak out,” I warned her. And she gave me a disbelieving look. “You are so unobservant, love. I’ve been waiting for you over there.” I pointed to where I parked my car.

“And why are following me?” Her brow arched.

“I was alone and lonely in a boring apartment, and every time I looked around it felt like the wall was mocking at me.”

“And what was that kiss all about?”

Her question made me grin brightly. “Oh, that… it’s my way of saying hello and I missed you.” I leaned closer, letting our noses touch.

Before I could kiss her again, Maj cleared her throat. “Jeez! You two can go home and finish what you have started here.”

“So, tell me who is the asshole you were talking about earlier? I hope it’s not me.”

“It’s Duke,” Maj answered, giving Arella a side glance.

Suddenly, my blood rushed to my head upon hearing that asshole’s name. My lawyer let him sign an NDA, and made sure no one had a copy of the video. I burned after it was handed to me. I had no reason and planned on keeping trash like that. What I did to Arella was terrible. I hated myself for that, and leaving her alone was the most painful part.

“He won’t get a chance to get near Arella or he won’t see the sunrise again.” My jaw clenched, thinking of what he did to her. I hadn’t told a soul that I paid someone to dig on Dr. Mackenzie’s past. It wasn’t that nasty, but not impressive either.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Because I won’t allow him, Arella. You are mine whether he likes it or not.”

“My God! You two look like about to rip each others’ clothes and forget there’s everyone around.”

“Silly.” Arella laughed softly.

“I knew it, Are. The first time I saw the way he looked at you at the lab, I knew there was something magnificent and powerful between you two, and you couldn’t just easily shake off the attractions that were so strong, girl.”

“I got that a lot, sweetheart. Thank you for pointing out to Arella because she seems to have a hard time believing that we meant for each other,” I said truthfully, but I joked to lighten the situation when Arella suddenly tensed up beside me.

“She will get into it, Skip. Don’t worry. Just give her time.”

“That’s the problem, we don’t have that luxury.” Did I just say that out loud?

“What do you mean by that?” Arella’s brows knitted in confusion.

“I am getting older, Arella?” I smiled wickedly.

She rolled her eyes. “My brother is still single and doesn’t have any plan to settle down soon, said he’s not good with relationships. And you two are of the same age.”

“Well, haven’t you forget, love that I’ve waited for seven years before I get to have you in my arms?”

“My God! Did I just heard a bell－”

“No!” we said in unison.

“Then what are you two talking about?” Maj inquired.

“I’m testing the water,” Arella said to her friend.

“So, is it cold or warm?” Maj laughed out loud, making everyone look at us.

I couldn’t help it, and I laughed with her. “Yeah, Reigh. Was it cold or hot?”

“You two, stop making fun of me.” Her eyes lit up, then suddenly her face fell. Then she sighed, “You know I can’t come with you if you go back to London, right?”

The ache burned in my chest. So many raw emotions coursed through me-ache, confusion, dread, and loneliness.

Does she even care that she’s breaking my heart?

“Why not? Your contract didn’t dictate your workplace for as long as you will continue concocting your scents.”

“I’m sorry, Skip. I just can’t.”