Page 64 of The Fate of Us

I wake up to Mason sitting next to me holding the whiskey bottle in his hand. “Hey, Noah. I figured you wanted to wake up before people showed up.”

“Thanks.” I let Mason pour me more whiskey as I adjust on the couch.

“You want to talk about it?”

That’s when I notice we are the only people in the room. Jason disappeared somewhere. I sip on my whiskey as I watch Brutus snore on the floor. “Not really.”

“Too bad I didn’t mean it as a question.”

I sigh and lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

“Look, man. I know there is a lot of shit going on. And I probably can’t do anything about it. But maybe I can listen. Maybe that will help.”

“Have you heard from Anna?” I ask, peering over my shoulder at him.

I can tell by the look on his face he has. “Look Noah, she told me not to tell you.”

“I’m your brother,” I grit.

“And she is my friend.”

I turn back to the coffee table in front of me and sip my whiskey. “I don’t think she is coming back.”

“She will.”

I pinch the space between my eyes. “I don’t know, man. She is so mad at me. And she should be. I fucked up. I didn’t defend her. I let Claire be a bitch and walk all over her. But I need her, Mase. I need her so much.”

“I wish I could tell you she feels like you do but she doesn’t.”

The thought sends a shooting pain into my heart.

“But it’s not because of you. She is doing great. She has her distraction in the workshop. She is building her path, Noah.”

“I’m happy for her.”

“But I can tell she misses you.” He pauses. “I talked to her earlier. She asked about you.”

My ears perk at that.

“I told her you looked like shit and were a miserable fuck.”

“Not a lie,” I mutter.

“She’s worried about you. I mean, she didn’t say that but I could hear it in her voice.”

I tap my foot on the ground. I wish more than anything she would just call me.

“She told me what happened with Claire.”

“I apolo—”

Mason cuts me off. “If you were gonna say you apologized, leave it alone. I know you did. And I think she knows you truly are sorry.”

“Then why is she ignoring me?” I ask, looking back over my shoulder at my brother.

Mason takes a sip of whiskey and leans back on the couch. He rubs his face before answering so I know I am not going to like the answer. “She thinks you still have feelings for Claire.”

“I don—”

---