***POV NOAH***
I opened the freezer and took out a can of beer. It was very cold and I mentally thanked myself for it. Today was Sunday and it was hot as hell.
My mother called me early, inviting me to a barbecue at her house. I thought about saying no and even tried, but she insisted so much that here I am. I didn't feel like it, I confessed, but I came because of her and my sister.
"Give me some," my younger sister appeared next to me, pouting.
"You're still underage, girl," I replied, leaning against the counter next to the barbecue.
"No one will know..." she said, taking a step forward, trying to convince me.
"No."
"You're so annoying," she stuck her tongue out at me.
"You look like a child throwing a tantrum," I pointed at her.
"In your eyes, am I?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"You always will be."
The stubborn girl rolled her eyes and walked away, annoyed. I ended up laughing.
I took another sip of my beer, left the can on the counter, and grabbed a large barbecue fork to check the meat. I turned the meat over and put the fork back on the counter.
“Noah!”
I took a deep breath, grabbed my beer can, and turned toward the person who called me.
My dad.
“Dad,” I greeted him as soon as our eyes met.
“You’ve been missing. How long has it been since I last saw you? Two weeks?” he asked as he got closer to me. “You weren’t avoiding me, were you?”
I wanted to avoid everyone. Disappearing for a while would be ideal.
It’s been two weeks since Isabela ended our little story. And I was, and still am, destroyed.
I never imagined I’d feel like this.
I didn’t train a single day and got a three-week medical leave, claiming a virus. I didn’t even leave my house, nor did I answer calls. I just wanted to stay in my world, maybe tormenting myself because she didn’t want to be with me.
“I was sick,” I lied.
“Emotional sickness, right? I told you, my son, that a woman would never look at a kid like you differently. The most you two would have is a fling here and there,” he mocked.
I gulped down the last of my drinks, slammed the empty can on the counter, and stared my father down.
“You don’t know anything,” I responded through gritted teeth, looking into his eyes. “Throw it in the trash,” I handed him the can, forcing it into his hands.
God forgive me, but I felt like punching him.
To avoid doing something crazy, I decided to walk away from him. I saw my sister sitting on one of the lounge chairs by the pool and approached her.
“May I?” I pointed to the lounge chair beside her.
“Sure,” she replied, still engrossed in her phone and laughing.
“What’s so important and funny over there?” I pointed to her phone, a little jealous.
“You’re so jealous,” she said, turning off her phone and placing it on her stomach. “I was talking to my friend. Isis, you remember her, right?” she asked.
How could I forget?
“I remember.”
“So, remember that her parents had gotten divorced?” she asked, now with my full attention. I just nodded, unable to speak. “They got back together!” she said excitedly. “My friend is so happy, and I’m happy for her.”
I opened my mouth several times, trying to respond, but upon hearing that, I was incapable of saying or thinking anything.
Damn.
What the hell!!!
Isabela always told me she’d never get back with that guy. She always said she didn’t love him anymore. She even said she liked me.
Was everything we lived a lie then? Did she still love him?
In all our conversations about this, she made me believe she hated her ex-husband and only put up with him for their daughter.
“Noah?” My sister grabbed my arm, calling me. I was in shock.
I stood up automatically, and she stood too, not understanding my reaction.
“Noah?” she called me again. “Are you okay?” she asked, worried.
“I need to leave,” I said quickly, still lost in thought.
“Why? What happened? Did I say something wrong?” She stood in front of me, trying to stop me, grabbing my arm. I lowered my gaze to hers and cursed myself mentally for worrying her like this.
“Don’t worry, Melissa. I’m fine, everything’s fine. I just remembered I have to pick something up from home. I’ll be back soon!” I forced a smile at her.
“Okay,” she returned my smile, taking two steps to the side, and moving out of my way.
I mentally thanked her and started walking out of my mom’s house. I felt suffocated.
“Son, where are you going?” my mom asked, appearing in the garden holding a bowl that probably had marinated meat in it.
I took a deep breath.
“I’ll be right back.”
That’s all I could say. There was a lump in my throat, and no matter how much I tried to swallow, nothing eased it.
Walking quickly, I managed to leave the house and get to my car, parked out front. I unlocked the alarm and got inside quickly.
I sighed, resting my head on the steering wheel.
“This can’t be true,” I said to myself. I still had hope that she could resolve things with her useless ex so we could be together. And now, I find out this???
I took my phone from my shorts, unlocked it, and dialed her number without thinking twice.
I needed to know…
The call rang three times and went to voicemail. She declined my call.
I tried calling again. This time, it went straight to voicemail, meaning she turned off her phone.
Damn it!!!
I punched the steering wheel hard, over and over, trying to release the tightness in my chest or the bad feeling that had settled inside me.
“I can’t go on like this, I need answers…”
I took a deep breath and settled into the car seat, ready to drive away. If she doesn't answer me, I’ll go to her house. I need an answer, I need to know…