THE OTHER BROTHER

Chapter Eleven

‎Sayre wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer so that there was no space between them. Her emotions were through the roof, her senses had flown out the window and were probably frozen in the snow by now. Her chest heaved against his as her fingers threaded in his hair. She made a sound, gently falling against him he could lean against the chair. The kiss was soft, slow, heated and sensual. It was nothing like before. It almost felt like it had meaning.

‎"B-E-C-K"

‎The monotone sound of her iPhone filled the room. Sayre broke the kiss, angling her neck to give Luke access. Her eyes found her phone lying on the edge of the coffee table vibrating and displaying Beck's name as the caller. Luke pulled away just then, standing up to grab the coat he'd shrugged off earlier. Sayre grabbed her phone quickly, turning to look at Luke.

‎"Where... Are you leaving?"

‎"Yes" Luke answered gruffly, glancing at the non existent watch on his wrists. "I have a meeting by nine"

‎"Luke, it's .." She glanced at the wall clock "this is ten o clock."

‎"Good night" He headed for the door, pausing when he reached for the handle but he pulled the door open and disappeared into the cold.

‎Sayre blinked. She couldn't make sense of what had just happened? Did he suddenly just decide he couldn't stand her? The sound of her phone brought he back to reality, she headed for the door and locked it. Why was Beck calling her all of a sudden? He's never cared enough to check up on her.

‎"Hello?" One could hear the irritation in her voice from a mile away.

‎"Hey" Beck breathed into the phone "How are you?"

‎"I'm fine." She bit out, irritated beyond normal as she started to pace around the sitting room

‎"I just wanted to talk..."

‎"Talk?" She stopped pacing, staring into the kitchen to think of the word talk. Maybe it had another meaning she had no knowledge of because if he called to talk on a random Thursday when she was busy shoving her tongue his brother's throat, then it had to be something important. Right??? Her right eye twitched

‎"Come on Sayre. We don't talk anymore"

‎"You see me at work everyday" She forced out tight lipped. Her heart rate was speeding and it wasn't because of anything other than anger.

‎"Yeah but you don't -"

‎"Beck" She willed her self to breathe. "I was in the middle of something very important before you called me. And now, you have ruined my chances of me ever getting -"

‎She badly wanted to get in her car, drive to his home and cut off all his fingers.

‎"If you don't have anything important to say. I'll have to bid you goodnight now"

‎"Oh, okay. But you're celebrating Christmas with us?"

‎"I don't know" She breathed. "Goodnight"

‎

‎Its been two month since Anoha had called Sayre and it was getting on Sayre's nerves. She double tapped on her phone for any sign of a notification but nothing popped up. How could a mother abandon her child for months on end without any check ups? Sayre thought. Se heaved a sigh. She was grown and used to not having her mother around. But sometimes wanting to talk to her about serious matters nudged her deep in her intestines. She needed someone or something to talk to about developing feelings for Luke who happens to be somehow related to her ex lover.

‎She c****d her head. She and Beck were supposed to be married by now- if they were still in that timeline. They were supposed to be inseparable, in love and hooked together. She really loved Beck, back when they were young and sure they were destined together? She couldn't do anything without him, infact, she was always around him.

‎And he shattered her just when she was sure they were locked in for life. She could remember that day. Sayre spun in her office chair, leaning against the leather as she reminisced. She was nineteen and was home from college for Easter. Beck had been too, and he was out partying throughout the day before easter and She'd thought it'd be a great idea to sneak into his room before he got back to surprise him with his favorite snacks. Ugh. It plagued her like a bad dream.

‎Sayre was lying in his bed when he came back, a little surprised because he hadn't expected her back and that was it.

‎He was tipsy, smelled like alcohol and reeked of women's cologne. She, the perfect idea of a girlfriend offered to stay 'take care' of him while he showered her with compliments, sweet words and how she'd be the perfect girl for the perfect somebody and ended up having s*x with him.

‎Sayre recoiled from her chair, sitting on the edge to replay that last scene in her head. She got off her chair, taking slow deliberate steps towards the bar. She quickly poured herself a glass before any thought popped into her head. she downed the drink in one go. Beck never loved her- or maybe as much as she did him. She scoffed. She literally never had s*x in college because she wanted to be that person for him and they went to the f*****g same school.

‎A small knock on the door jerked her back to reality.

‎"Sayre?" Speak of the f*****g devil.

‎Sayre poured herself another shot and downed it before replying

‎"Come in"

‎"Hi" He smiled, holding up two paper bags. "I got you lunch, it's your favorite"

‎"Oh" She mouthed. "Thanks."

‎The smell of jollof rice and fried rice filled the room. Sayre's mouth salivated. She hid the shot glass in a cabinet, coming over to settle in the chair.

‎He opened a bag for her.

‎"Here you go"

‎"Thank you"

‎They started to eat in silence, the sound of spoons and takeaway quickly filled the whole room

‎"Oh, so do you have any idea when your mom is flying back?"

‎Sayre shook her head, she didn't want to think about it. "I don't know."

‎"Oh." He munched on his food. "When are you travelling?"

‎"I don't know either" She shrugged. "But I think I'm going to get there a day before so I can help Abuela out"

‎Abuela had been their nanny for as long as she could remember and as adults, still took care them. She was basically family at this point and always hosted Christmas.

‎"Oh," Beck sighed. "Abuela" he ran a hand through his hair, leaning back in the chair. "She's going to give me a tough time. I haven't spoken to her all year." He paused. "Do you mind if I tag along?"

‎Sayre shook her head. God, she was not emotionally stable to be in a car with him for a three hour drive. She still badly wanted to break a bottle on his head and chew him out about abandoning her.

‎"I'm going to have to check with Ophelia we already planned on going together.... Just the two of us?"

‎"Oh."

‎"I'm so-"

‎"I'm sure she wouldn't mind. She loves me."

‎Sayre let out a sound.

‎"Are you good?"

‎"Yeah, yes. I just burped." she fake giggled, standing up to dispose the the takeaway.

‎"Speaking of Ophelia... She said to meet at night owl right about...." he glanced at his watch, slipping his phone in his pockets. "Now"

‎Sayre blinked. Okay....

‎"I'm going to have to pass? Go on without me."

‎She said strutting back to her seat, hoping that he'd go without her. She was not in the mood at all to go clubbing with him. She had a very low tolerance for alcohol.

‎"This is what I'm talking about Sayre. We don't go hang out together anymore. We don't talk.... We used to be so close.... God, I miss us"

‎Sayre lifted her lashes slowly, eyeing him from the corner of her lids.

‎She was not ready to have THAT conversation.

‎"Ugh. Fine."

‎They arrived in the club in no time, meeting Ophelia who stood by the entrance of the club to receive them.

‎"Hey pookies. Lets go. If you guys don't mind, I brought a friend over from work...."

‎"Sure"

‎The vibration hit Sayre like a wave. The entire building vibrated from the loud music that played over the speakers. At least it was warm, Sayre shrugged off her coat as she walked behind Ophelia. Her skirt was a violation to HR code today and every single day. It was a mini skirt today and it didn't matter because no one saw it anyway. She always arrived in her long coat and only took it off whenever she got to her office, no one saw her in it except Maggie. But now.... Every one in this club did.

‎They eventually got to their table and her eyes caught the friend Ophelia brought with her, God she was hot, she was seating with a man.... A man no other than Luke Doukas.

‎