CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ERIS
Kiss And Make Up
†
“AGAIN, WELL DONE, ERIS. I am glad that you have proved me right today. I knew you had it in you. You should be proud of the work you have done here,” Professor Dalton smiled, placing a hand on the side of my shoulder, nodding his approval before turning and leaving through the side door.
I lingered, staring after him, as I wanted to bask in his words of praise just a little longer.
“Yes, well done, Eris.” I jumped as the words pulled me from my thoughts.
I spun around only to find Alex standing behind me, a sheepish grin on his face. He was not dressed in his usual dark suit and tie, but instead, he was wearing jeans, a thin black sweater and sneakers. The red Boston Terriers baseball cap he was sporting made him look like one of the college students. I was puzzled.
“Alex, why are you…” I started, but I was quickly interrupted. He stepped forward, pulling the cap off with one hand and raked the fingers of the other through his hair.
“Look, Eris. Before you say anything… I know you don’t want to see or talk to me right now, and that’s okay. I respect that. Really, I do. So you don’t have to talk to me or say anything. Just give me a few minutes to say what I came here to say. Would that be okay?” he pleaded.
Alex has never been one to be on the back-foot nor to apologize to me like this. It was truly a new experience for me and I was admittedly taken aback by it.
I nodded.
“I want you to know that I am truly sorry and I came here to apologize. Since I stepped out of that elevator, I acted like a damn asshole. Not only towards you but towards my best friend as well. I’d no right saying the things I had and acting the way I did. I didn’t have the facts and I just assumed the worst… of the both of you. If I hadn’t acted like a goddamn bully, you would never have been hurt and this whole mess wouldn’t have even happened.”
I didn’t say a word. Just kept looking at him trying to maintain a poker face. I had to admit that there was a small part of me enjoying this.
He lowered his gaze to look at the cap he was fiddling with. “You are not my little Squirt anymore. I know that now. God, just look at you.” He looked up, his eyes glistering with tears as he cleared his throat. “Eris, you’re a beautiful, intelligent and strong woman. And… you are brave.”
I became undone, all anger dissipated. I’ve never seen my brother so emotional before. My poker face disappeared as tears welled up in my eyes. I opened my mouth to say something, but he stepped forward and grabbed me by the shoulders before I could utter a word, pulling me into a bear hug, pinning me against his chest.
“I’m so sorry that I caused you any pain, Eris. Please don’t be mad at me anymore. I messed up and I need you to forgive me,” he whispered against my ear, his voice breaking with emotion.
“It’s fine, Alex. I’m not mad at you anymore. It’s okay. Really!” I cried, pushing my face into his sweater. “I love you so much.”
I pulled back a little to stare up at him.
“But you are wrong about one thing,” I said softly, seeing the questioning look in his eyes. “I’ll always be your Squirt. Just don’t call me that in public anymore. Deal?”
He laughed softly and pulled me back into his arms again.
“Deal. I love you, Squirt, and I am so proud of you. You were amazing here today.”
I stiffened and pulled back at the statement, wiping at the tears on my cheeks.
“What? You were here?” I swallowed.
“Are you going to be mad at me if I say I was?” he asked.
I laughed and I could see the relief on his face at my doing so.
“No, silly. I am just surprised. Now I can understand the whole college student look you were going for here,” pointing at his shirt and grabbing the cap out of his hand, slapping him against the shoulder with it.
“Hey, no need to get all rough now. One bully in the family is enough,” he jabbed, making me laugh again.
“You could’ve just told me you wanted to come. Wait… how did you even know about this or that I’d be here?” I asked, frowning. We never had time to talk since he arrived, so how would he have known about today? I hadn’t even thought to question that before as I’d been so surprised at seeing him there.
His expression became more serious.
“Kyle told me.”
I swallowed, pressing my lips together and pushed my fingers into the rim of the cap I was holding, my eyes scanning the auditorium.
“Is he here?”
“No. He isn’t, but he was here. We came together. He wouldn’t have missed this for the world, Sis. He left as soon as you were done. Said I needed the time with you alone.”
I felt numb.
“Eris, I need to talk to you about Kyle.”
†
I paused, starring at the door in front of me as I lowered my hand, playing with the idea of turning around and running away as fast as I could.
Was I crazy for coming here? Alex did admit that he messed up saying that he made a lot of unfounded assumptions about Kyle and that I was doing exactly the same. I pushed him for an explanation of why he would say this, but he wouldn’t budge.
“You need to face Kyle and sort this out with him yourself, Eris. I love you both, but as I see it, there are two people in a relationship and not three. I tried butting in before, and look what good that did us all. Besides, it’s not my place to play mediator. Just promise me you’ll talk to him.”
I now regret saying yes. I was not ready. As I turned, the door opened. I drew in a sharp breath.
Kyle was standing in front of me.
“Where are you going?” he asked; his eyes dark and intense as if he knew that I was standing there for some time.
“Well, I… I thought you might not be home… so I thought to come back another time,” I stammered, irritated with myself for lying like a schoolgirl.
Coward!
“Bull shit. You didn’t even knock,” he smirked, seemingly amused at my discomfort.
I steeled myself, squaring my shoulders as I lifted my chin and met his gaze, trying to regain some dignity.
“So you going to invite me in or are we going to stand here for the rest of the night?” I braved.
He smiled, opening the door and stepping to the side, motioning for me to come in.
Ugh! He was so damn smug.
“You want some wine? I just opened a bottle,” he offered as I walked past him.
God, he smelled so nice.
“Yes, sure,” I accepted, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. I needed some liquid courage.
He walked over to the kitchen cupboard, reaching for a glass before turning and pouring the red liquid into the rounded bowl.
Why did he need to look like that! I was mad at him and needed to stay focused, but my body was betraying me so badly. The soft pulse at the bottom of my stomach mocked me as I could feel my nipples harden against the material of my lacy bra.
I needed some distance and more time to gather my thoughts.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” I excused myself, not waiting for his reply. I moved through to the bathroom and shut the door behind me, letting out a soft groan as I walked over to the basin, staring at my reflection in the overhead mirror.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Get it together, Eris!” I hissed. “Don’t forget why you’re here. He lied to you. He never told you it was just a fucking short-term fling!”
Noticing that there were a few wayward strands of hair falling over my face, I started to pull it back, pushing my fingers into my hair to fluff it a bit. I reached for some lipstick in my purse as I noticed that I needed a touch-up.
“Oh, my God. What are you doing?” I stopped and threw the lipstick back in my bag. “Get a damn hold of yourself woman!” I scolded the image in the mirror. “Now you go out there and you say what you came here to say. This man is not in love with you. Remember that. This is ending tonight!”
I turned and tugged at the door only to find Kyle leaning against the door frame, arms crossed in front of his chest.
“Who were you talking to?”