My Brothers Best Friend

Chapter 9: ‘Mom and Pops’

BRENTS POV

I sat and watched Noah savor every bite of her danish. She’d lick her lips every now and again and I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about how nice it would be to have my mouth licking the sweetness off of her lips for her. How could anyone sit in the presence of Noah and not find her absolutely adorable. The look she had on her face as she had carefully searched through each pastry trying to find the perfect one had my grinning like an i***t. She was glistening with sweat from our jog but she was still stunning.

I’d been coming to ‘Mom and Pops’ coffee shop for a few years now. It’s owned by a really sweet older lady Rhonda and her husband Roy. Rhonda makes all the pastries herself every morning. During the afternoon she likes to come out and mingle with the customers. Roy doesn’t say much. He mainly refills the empty spaces of the display case and makes the coffee but they’ve come to know me over the past few years. I like to come here and study during the year. When Rhonda sees me here she usually sends me home with a basket full of pastries for the guys. Since my parents had moved and I didn’t have a home to go back to unless I wanted to travel to Florida, Rhonda and Roy have become like family to me. Like stand in parents. Not very many people know about ‘Mom and Pops’ which so why it’s so appealing and Noah is the first person I’d ever brought here.

“One day I’ll have to introduce you to Rhonda. I’m sure she’d love to hear your thoughts on that pastry” I tell her as she takes another sip of her coffee. Her eyes widen with excitement, “that would be amazing. I’d love to tell her what a magician she is” Noah says setting her coffee cup down. We spend another half hour sitting and talking while pastries digest before deciding to jog back. “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?” Noah says playfully narrowing her eyes at me. I give her a confused look. “Filling me with sugary dough so I can’t run as fast” I bust out laughing. “You’re getting wise to my plans” I joke back. She holds her sides and bends over like she’s going to be sick. “Okay, let’s get going before the sugar coma takes over” she says. We jog back at a slightly slower pace this time. I could get used to this every morning.

NOAHS POV

I step into the apartment and find Brie curled up on the couch watching a movie. The apartment is dark except for the light from her phone. “Where have you been?” Brie says looking up from her scrolling. “I went on a run with Brent” I say walking to the kitchen to get a water. “Oooooh Brent, huh?” She says in a suggestive tone. Brie is one of the few people who know about my crush on Brent. The only other people knowing would be my sisters. I roll my eyes at her, “it’s not like that. I wish it was but it’s not. Hayes got mad that I was jogging yesterday by myself and Brent found out and wanted to go with me for safety purposes” I tell her falling in to the chair. “Okay, that I understand but I heard the front door close at 7:30 this morning and it’s almost 10:45. You mean to tell me you’ve spent almost three and a half hours running? I call bullshit” Brie says sitting up. I look around at the darkness in the apartment, “why are all the shades drawn? Can’t stand the sunlight, Dracula?” I ask casually. “I like the coziness of the dark and don’t change the subject little kangaroo!” She points a finger at me. I groan, “we stopped for coffee. Okay?!” I say loudly. “Ahhhh a coffee date?” She says, her tone sounding suggestive again. “Not a date, Brie. Just coffee” I tell her standing up to walk away. “Did he pay?” She asks, her head whipping around the corner of the couch to look at me. I give her a look. She sits back up smirking, “yep, it was a date”. I shake my head and take a shower.

When I come back out I slip onto the other end of the couch. “Noah, jokes aside. Maybe you should talk to Brent about your feelings? I’m pretty sure you’ve spent more time with him than you have with me and it’s been less than 3 days.” Brie says nudging me with her foot. “I’m definitely not doing that for 2 major reasons. Reason number 1: Erica. That girl hates me and I’ve said two words to her. Reason number 2: Even without Erica, let’s say I do tell him and he doesn’t feel the same way. I wouldn’t be able to show my face around him anymore. Then what would I do, he’s best friends with Hayes. He lives with him. There’s no way I’d be able to avoid him.” I tell her rubbing my temples. Brie looks at me and sits up. “First of all, Erica is nothing. She’s been obsessed with Brent since last year. He’s not interested. I promise you. She’s all bark and no bite. Trust me..But I hear you, okay? Here’s the last thing I’m going to say about it. The longer you try to suppress those feelings, the harder it will be on you.” I look at her and nod. What else could I say? She’s right. On one hand I feel so happy to find out that Brent isn’t interested in Erica. But I feel like I only have two options at this point. Either I suck it up and put my feelings out there or I don’t..and move on. Either way it seems like I’m going to lose. I stand up and move into my bedroom.

I spend the next few hours finally unpacking my things. It feels nice to be surrounded by home. I didn’t realize how much I’d miss it. I put a family picture up and tears gather in the corner of my eyes. I wipe them away with the back of my hand. I finally feel ready to start classes. Maybe keeping myself busy will help me steer clear of my heart issues. Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.