(Noah’s POV)
Scrolling through my phone, a smile forms on my face as I hear the front door open and shut. Ah so the prodigal son returns. Furrowing my eyebrows, I look questioningly at him, “what the fuck are you covered in?”
His face remained stoic as he turned to face me from the doorway of the living area, “flour, Indigo thought it would be a great idea to try out making their own cake for the wedding, and I got dragged into it” he sighed, rolling his eyes.
“You fucking wimp” I sneered, turning back to my phone. “I think I might give her and Dakota a surprise visit tomorrow, it’s been too long since I’ve visited her” I commented, turning my head just in time to catch the slip in his composure.
Well what in the hell was that Sebastian. “Aren’t you worried she’ll start asking questions about Embry’s lack of presence, she did seem to take a liking to her when they first met” his jaw clenched as he glared down to where I was seated. I highly doubted that was the reason for his panic, guess it’s going to be a very exciting day tomorrow. “Nah, excuses are easy, I’m sure I’ll manage” I smirk at the huff from him.
“So, you haven’t heard anything else about her?” Peering over to him in suspicion, I sat straight in my seat, “why, miss her already?” If only the little shit knew what I had been doing earlier, oh then I bet he would be all but running out that door. “I just think you’re an even bigger prick when she’s gone that’s all.”
“Well don’t you worry brother, I plan on having her back very soon, and once I do she’ll be with me for good, it’s not like I plan on killing her off or anything” I smirk watching as his face dropped.
Oh how fun it is to play with him.
(Sebastian’s POV)
My face dropped at his words, that didn’t mean he… No, no, of course not. Rushing towards my room I pulled my phone out dialing Indigo’s number. If Noah was to visit tomorrow, we couldn’t risk having Embry there, especially not with Noah seeming so relaxed so often. He was up to something.
Groaning I watched as the call rang out, come on Indigo pick up. Trying several more times, I clutched my phone tightly as each one went to voicemail, guess I’d just be making a visit earlier than planned tomorrow.
Well whatever he was up to, I hoped it wouldn’t interfere with my plans.
____
(Embry’s POV)
“I don’t know, that movie makes me cry everytime” I admit, grimacing as Dakota stopped on the movie Ghost. “Okay but like Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, I mean come on, the best of both worlds” Dakota argued. Indigo sitting back down now carrying a pizza box, “you two are like children” she scolds.
“Okay well pizzas here now, so phone away, remember it’s a girl’s night no distractions” Dakota orders, pouring cola for all of us. “I’m putting it in the kitchen now, no need to cry about it” she sticks her tongue out, running to leave her phone beside in the kitchen. “And I’m the one who is like a child” I roll my eyes, laughing at their antics.
“You are a child, little baby can’t even legally drink” Dakota teases, stuffing the pizza into her mouth. “And yet, which one of us got married first Kody” I smirk triumphantly. “I like it, I like it, joking about the trauma, put her there” she holds out her fist as I bump mine against hers.
“Maybe, just maybe, if you both thought about which movie to watch as much as you bickered, we would be watching a movie by now” Indigo rolled her eyes, sitting on the pile of blankets covering the floor.
They were both sprawled out on the floor as I sat cross legged on the couch above them, munching away on the food that surrounded us. I snorted as Dakota threw her crust and it hit Indigo smack bam in the face, leading to us all spiralling into fits of laughter at the noise I just made.
I had spent the night genuinely laughing and enjoying myself. If I could have I never would have left that moment but I was just glad to have experienced it. We didn’t end up settling on a movie and just talked the whole night. Indigo was right, I did feel normal.
But if I was to change anything about last night, it would be that Indigo had picked up her phone when Sebastian called, cause lord knows I was in deep shit now.
(Noah’s POV, the following morning)
Grabbing my keys, I strolled towards the door, smiling as I watched Sebastian eyeing me panicked, as he made his way to the door as well. “And where are you going on this fine morning brother?” I questioned, slamming my hand against the wood so the door wouldn’t open for him. “Out, now if you don’t mind” he spat, annoyed.
“Well, your plans will just have to wait, dad wants you in his office, now” I beamed at the distraught look that covered his face. “Hurry now, wouldn’t want to keep father dearest waiting” I mocked, strutting over to my car.
What a good day to be me.
Walking into the tattoo parlour, I smiled at Indigo as she caught my eye. Curiosity peaking as her face drained of colour, now why was it that everybody seemed to be so uncomposed around me. “N-Noah” she stumbled out of her stool just abandoning the customer she was tattooing. “Hey Indy, I just thought I’d come and say hi to Dakota and you, see how all the wedding planning is going” I strolled over, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Oh yeah, it’s great, I’m actually you know in the middle of doing a tattoo so now isn’t really a great time to talk. Maybe you could come back another time or even better we could go out for lunch somewhere” she smiled forcefully. What the hell was going on?
“No Embry today?” she quickly added as I clenched my fists at the mention of my dear wife, I bit back a remark knowing Indigo knew nothing about my history with Embry. I was trying to think positively but it had been eight days now with her and I was starting to lose any stability I was previously holding onto. Despite knowing Sebastian’s plan now, I was no closer to actually finding her.
“No, she’s quite tired after the honeymoon, but I promise I’ll bring her to visit soon,” now it was my turn to force a smile. “So, is Dakota here? Just thought it would be nice to say hi to my soon to be sister in law” I stride over towards the back room, not missing how Indigo seemed to become more agitated.
“Oh, Dakota, I’m not really sure where she is” she shook her head, swaying back and forth on the balls of her feet. A habit she does when she is lying…. I could see her eyes dart towards the door that leads to her apartment. They really made this far too easy.
There’s no way Indigo would have anything to do with Embry’s sudden disappearance of the face of the Earth, right? Because if I ever found out she did, she’d finally understand just how much like our father I can be. “You aren’t hiding something from me, are you Indigo?” I glare, observing the way her mouth gaped open and closed, her mind searching for words.
“No, of course not, what would I even have to hide?” She rambled. “Great, well I hope you don’t mind if I check upstairs really quickly then” I flashed a smile, already bounding up the stairs by the time she was shouting my name. Unnecessarily loud I may add.
She was getting more like Sebastian, what a nuisance. Examining the room, a bitter taste of disappointment filled me as Dakota was the only one here. “Noah, hi, what a lovely surprise” she smiled welcomingly, a drastic change to what I had been greeted with from Indigo. Zeroing in on the two cups of tea that sat in front of Dakota, “you have company?”
Watching her eyes flit quickly in distress from each cup, I couldn’t help but smirk at how quickly a smile appeared on her face again. “Nope” she smirked, popping the p. “So why two cups?” I sat across from her, leaning intimidatingly across the table.
“I have issues Noah, a tea addiction is a real thing and it’s really not talked about enough” her face falls sorrowfully. Well, I definitely had not been expecting that answer. “Right, well, sorry for pointing it out” my tone coming off more like it was a question. She was definitely lying right now.
“Look Noah, it’s great you stopped by, but Indigo and I were actually talking about how it would be terrible if you came today, considering your and Embry’s wedding gift is to be delivered today and we really wanted it to be a surprise” she pursues her lips, standing suddenly from the table.
“I- what, Indigo’s acting sketchy because of a gift?” I wondered in disbelief, no I was certain something was going on, but I guess that kind of did make sense. “Of course you wouldn’t get it! You know Noah, just because we are gay doesn’t mean we can’t get excited about giving gifts, if you’re homophobic just say it” she turns her head away from me, crossing her arms.
Holy shit. “Woah Dakota, I mean no harm, I’ll just go and get Indigo to text me whenever you both aren’t on your lady days” I huffed, storming from the parlour.
What a waste of fucking time. I bet Sebastian just acted sketchy to fuck me over into thinking there was something up. Now I risked Indigo getting suspicious about Embry. What was happening to me?
I really was losing it without Embry. Wasn’t I.
_____
(Embry’s POV)
“Okay but like a definite smash, I mean have you seen those abs?” Dakota remarked as I tried not to choke on my mouthful of tea. “Noah, what the hell” Indigo’s alarmed voice reverberated around the apartment as my eyes widened in shock.
Noah.
A pit formed in my stomach as I heard the thundering footsteps coming from behind me just as I dove out of my seat and over to the bathroom, fighting the urge to pee myself with fear at this very moment.
I could hear his voice as he spoke to Dakota, not quite being able to make out what they were saying as I very slowly lowered myself into the bath, using the shower curtain as protection. Curling up, I hugged myself, repeating over and over in my mind that it would be okay, that I would be safe and he would leave.
My muscles were cramped up in distress as I scrunch my eyes shut. This can’t be happening, please God no, I haven’t been free for long enough. My body felt electric with the anxiety and dread swirling within every cell of mine, I couldn’t figure out quite how much time was passing.
I screamed wildly as two hands clenched down on my shoulders, my tears running rampant as I sobbed out pleas. “Please no, I’m sorry, please don’t” I screeched out. “Princess, princess, hey, you’re okay, he’s gone.”
Slowly opening my eyes, I began to cry harder as Sebastian’s face came into view. Jumping from my position I wrapped myself around him, my head planting itself where his shoulder met his neck. “You’re okay baby” he gently rocked me back and forward like a child as his hand became tangled within my hair.
“What-what happened?” I choked out, through my tears. “He decided to pay a surprise visit” he whispered, keeping his tight hold on me. I refused to look up as I heard Indigo’s concerned tone addressing me, too scared if I opened my eyes I’d find him standing there.
“Indigo, what the fuck” Sebastian sneered, “I called you so many fucking times last night trying to warn you he would be coming, you can’t afford to be fucking stupid right now, what if he had seen her, huh?” He snapped, “shit, I’m sorry, it was- we were having a girl’s night and no phones, I guess I just hadn’t checked it this morning” she replied in a voice full of guilt.
“Well you can’t pull that crap here, okay, he’s so much more dangerous than you think, don’t for one second convince yourself that he won’t kill Dakota in front of you if he finds out you have anything to do with this” his voice booming with annoyance.
Lifting myself away from Sebastian’s chest, I lowered myself back to the ground, “hey, it’s not her fault okay, she couldn’t have known, don’t blame her” I rapidly wiped my tears as the panic still lingered inside of me.
“Look, I’m sorry Indigo, Embry’s right, it’s not, if anything it’s mine, I should have been more prepared for a situation like this” he shook his head sighing sadly.
“I want you to give me the number for the house phone here, and Embry, I’m going to give you my phone number, you call me if anything happens okay? But only if it’s an emergency” he explained, scrambling to write it down on the notepad stuck to the fridge.
“I will” I nod, “Sebastian, why didn’t he come into the bathroom, it’s not like him to miss out on stuff like that” panic evident in my tone. “I’m choosing to believe it’s because he’s starting to second guess himself without you there, it’s doing him more harm than good and he is rushing into things, at least that is what I’m hoping.”
Taking my head in both of his hands gently, he tilted my it upwards to look at him. “Are you okay?” He whispered gently, “yeah, I’m fine now, I think I might have peed myself a little though” I admitted.
He pulled me in for another hug as he began laughing, “I think I’m starting to like you Embry” he muttered beside my ear.
I guess I was right, being normal just wasn’t something I could be.