My Brother’s Best Friend

Phone Call

SKIP

A WEEK after my heart-to-heart with Clyve, we were on the same page. We finalized our decisions, and Mum was beyond terrified to hear the news. Clyve was right after all. What was I doing here when my life and my heart were left in States.

Arella made me think of my life in the future. It was not a question if I ever gave up my career for her. Call me a fool, but I believed in love and money couldn’t buy happiness. Whether I would continue my father’s legacy or not, it was all up to me. And Clyve was willing to trade his freedom over my happiness, but he didn’t have to be impulsive for that when we had a lot of options to choose from.

She also changed my view on sex. I even deactivated my HeartRated account because I didn’t need it anymore.

People could have had sex without love and a relationship, but one thing Arella had taught me- it didn’t feel the same when you were having sex with any woman compared with the one you loved. The touches, the orgasms, the moans, the every exerting effort, those kisses, the fuel she gave me that energized my body, the way she made me feel when I was buried deep inside her, and the utmost feeling I had inside my heart only Arella could fill it again.

An attracted lass flirted in the pub, but there were no tingles, no excitement, and I couldn’t feel the closeness and the connection the way I had with Arella.

So, what am I still sulking here?

I grabbed my phone on the nightstand. It was just past ten In the evening, but I had to get up early for a flight to catch tomorrow. A faint buzzing interrupted my musing.

“Linton.”

“Good evening. I hope I’m not interrupting you, Mr. Linton,” a very American-ish answered from the other line. When it was from an unknown number I thought it was Eli. Sometimes he used any phone he could grab to call me when his phone ran out of battery.

“You’re actually interrupting me, mate. Who is this?” I sat up, rubbing my tired eyes. “Haven’t you noticed what time you’re calling me?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Linton. I notice that, but I was busy-”

“Cut the bull, what do you want?” I groaned. Could some annoying solicitors, and I could have just hung up the call, but this man knew my name, and he wouldn’t waste his time and money calling me from miles away if this was not supposed to be crucial.

“It’s about Arella Rogue,” he seemed to have a hard time saying those words to me, and that made me freeze.

Dread slithered into my chest. “Who the hell are you? What the fuck did you do to her? If you ever touch a single hair on her body, I will use all my power to hunt you down and I’ll make sure you will rot in jail!”

“That won’t be necessary. Just calm down.” By the way, he said it, he made me grit my teeth even more. “She’s in no harm, and I don’t have a plan on touching her or worse hurting someone dear to my wife and my family.” His words made sense of relief in me, and I felt a stab of guilt for accusing him of harming Arella.

“Then what do you want? Where is she and why are you calling me at this time?”

I was already walking outside my room, down the stairs to grab something to drink when he introduced himself. “I’m Lt. Ferry Frias Byrne. I worked in a gov’t agency, and my wife is a close friend of your girlfriend, Are for a long time. You probably heard about Alys and Anna. Anna is my wife and Are’s therapist. Do you have some time or if you have a plan to come to States I’d really like to talk to you in person.”

“I apologize for my rude behavior earlier. It’s just that you probably know what she’d been through. And if something happens to her, I felt helpless that I can’t even protect her while I’m a thousand miles away.”

“I know. And I heard about your dad. I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Linton.”

“Thank you, Lt. Byrne. I have a flight back to New York tomorrow evening. I’ll arrange my schedule and let you know as soon as I arrived.”

“Just Ferry, and I hope you don’t mind if I call you Skip.”

“No, please, I don’t mind at all.”

“You might wanna change your flight to Seattle and Are will be here tomorrow in the morning to watch my daughter’s play.”

I froze at the mention of the word daughter. How old was she? Could have been the same age as my baby if she could have been alive? I swallowed the thickness forming in my throat of jealousy.

Arella mentioned to me about visiting her friends and occasionally had a video call with them.

I cleared my throat. “I’d like to take a flight right now if there is any.” My voice cracked at the end. I gazed blindly into the darkened window in my flat, wondering if my daughter would look like me or her mother?

Tears stung my eyes when the call ended. Why did I feel there was something more? I called Eli to change my flight from LHR to SEA instead of JFK.

*****

IF IT wasn’t due to my exhaustion, I wasn’t able to sleep the entire flight. The undercurrent frustration swept through me, and I couldn’t just drunk in that call. I still had this strange feeling that there was more than that than just meeting Arella today.

Ferry arranged a ride for me from the SEA to the hotel Eli had booked for me. I dialed his number quickly as soon as I entered the hotel room. I haven’t told Arella that I was coming back to States, but her brother was already aware.

Ferry immediately answered, “How’s the flight?”

“Exhausting, but thanks for the ride, Ferry. Let me just take a quick shower, then I’ll be heading to the address you sent.”

“Good. We’ll see you there then. The ride still waiting for you. Bye!”

After a short shower and wearing something presentable, I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t have much time to clean up. I just combed my hair with my fingers after blowing it dry. I should probably cut it short since I should look like a CEO.

I chuckled. Since when I cared how did I look like in front of my employees? It still sounded odd in my ears to be a chief executive officer of the company Dad had built.

The ride to the school was awfully silent. I stared out of the highway trying to calm myself. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been nervous like this that my heartfelt as if it would burst. For what reason, I certainly didn’t have a clue.

I thanked the driver and sent a message to Ferry. He militarily typed the direction. I rolled my eyes and slipped my phone into my pockets. I approached and asked the security. He explained but told me I couldn’t get inside because I didn’t have a ticket. Funny!

When I reached the auditorium, an old woman stopped me and smiled brightly, pushing her glasses up her nose. “You must be related to Rynna Byrne?” Byrne?

I smiled back. “Yeah, I am. I just came from a long flight, and it would be lovely if you could help me get inside. I wanted to watch my niece, please?” My lie just came out natural.

“Of course, dear.”

“Thank you, ma’am!”

After she talked to the man on the door, she gestured me to come in. I thanked her again. The auditorium was filled with parents and families, and kids wearing bugs costumes were currently on the stage, singing. I remembered myself back when I was young like them. I always wanted to be a soldier and Clyve a journalist, but none of us followed those dreams. The performance ended, and the crowds erupted with cheers. I found myself applauding for them.

Kids walked out of the stage, and the parents stood from their sits. Ferry caught my eye and probably his wife. He sent me his picture earlier just in case I needed it. Then there she was. I couldn’t have been wrong. It was Arella-my Arella. The way my heart slammed against my ribs when I saw her.

Joy flooded through me. Even she was just a few steps away, I found myself in distress. I wanted to stride towards her and pull her in my arms, but I was afraid she’d be out of my sight.

Then as if she felt me staring at her, she stiffened, then rubbed her arms warily. A few seconds later she turned slowly.

My world suddenly stilled. Our gazes locked. I swore I saw her eyes glowed and grew wider. Feared of being lost in my sight, I never blinked, and the anticipation of her being in my arms again was a million times stronger than before. A few people passed by blocking us made my head tilt. Then in just a moment, Arella was gone.

Jesus!

Where the hell is she?

At my height and I was at the elevated area, how did I lose her? I felt suddenly drained that I could barely stand, but I knew I would see her again eventually. I let out a sigh in frustration and closed my eyes to calm my heartbeat. Taking a deep breath, the faint sweet smell of cheery and vanilla hit my nostrils that made me stiff.