Connection - Part Seven
This episode is part of a larger story, Soft Touch. If you haven’t yet, you can go back and read it from the beginning right here.
Noelle and I slip outside, into the little walled-in garden area behind the workshop.
The potted plants I placed around are doing well, shyly beautiful in their more modest autumn forms. Ripley and Raj have put a table with an ashtray and a few chairs out here, so it’s a relaxing place to hang out now. Tycho, who we find stretched out asleep in the grass, makes a cute addition.
Noelle and I sit down with our coffee and muffins. The air is crisp and cold, making the golden afternoon sunshine spilling down onto us feel extremely good. I’m glad I kept my flannel on, though, and Noelle seems to feel the same way about her scarf. It’s a silky sweep of pearly white, with an abstract print of silver fishes. A very beautiful design. One that suits her eyes nicely.
She meets my admiring comment on it with a smile, but the worried knit between her eyebrows returns immediately. I take a sip of my coffee, savoring the taste of hazelnut, the heat of the sunshine on my neck. Waiting, until Noelle suddenly says -
“So, how do you like having the Hollins brothers in town?”
“Oh, it’s been great! Gage is awesome. And,” I add hastily, realizing my mistake, “I’m sure Logan is, too! I just haven’t gotten as much time with him yet. I was hoping to fix that today. How did the dinner go, him getting to meet your mom?”
Noelle brightens up.
“She thought he was very handsome and charming. But…” She hesitates, then lets out a sigh, lacing her fingers around her coffee. “Look, Jamie, I’m sorry to come to you about this. I know we’re just barely getting to know each other. But from little things Noah has said to me, I can tell that he really values your advice.”
I touch a hand to my chest, so very touched by this piece of information that I don’t even know how to answer.
“And… I would just talk to Noah about this, but…” Noelle trails off, nervously tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear. “It’s new, you know? Us being back in each other’s lives. So I’m not sure about the best way to talk to him about this… but maybe you would know.”
I tip my head to the side in surprise, blinking at her through the breezy sunlight. A sad expression just appeared in her eyes, darkening their grey color. Making them strikingly reminiscent of Noah’s eyes, when he was telling me he didn’t know how to talk to her about extending her trip.
The two of them still haven’t had any kind of conversation about their relationship falling apart. I was starting to hope that they didn’t need to. It would certainly be painful, and sometimes it’s better to just move past things. I thought maybe that was possible for Noelle and Noah. They’ve just been so obviously happy to be around each other again, so why bring all that back up?
Now, though… I don’t know. Everything left unsaid sits like a wall between them whenever the topic turns to more serious things, as soon as they need to speak on a deeper level.
I can tell it’s making both of them sad. Not knowing how to talk to each other that way anymore.
“The problem is,” Noelle goes on slowly, circling a fingertip around the lid of her coffee, “I can’t help noticing that Logan isn’t, um – clicking, with everyone here? I have two theories about why that is. You can give me feedback on them.”
My eyes widen anxiously. “I, um-”
“Theory one has to do with Noah not liking Logan. I know what he thought of him in high school. Logan and I used to fight a lot, and Noah would see me upset, and he’d look at Logan like they were officially enemies for life. So I’m thinking, Noah still feels that way, and since you’re all his friends you do, too.”
“Oh, I-”
“But Noah’s been really nice to Logan,” Noelle goes on distractedly, nibbling her thumbnail. “I’ve actually been really surprised about it. He’s been so good. I can tell he’s trying.”
I jump on that with considerable relief.
“He really is! Before you even got into town Noah told me that he planned to give Logan a fair chance. I could tell that he meant it.”
“Okay…” Noelle bites her lip, tapping a finger on her coffee. “Then my other theory is… maybe everyone here is wondering why Logan is so well off, and Gage – isn’t.”
I had noticed that. I thought it was odd when I first met Gage and Logan, but I haven’t given it too much thought since. Whenever Gage is around there are usually things happening that require more urgent attention.
“I’ll admit I wondered,” I answer, “But I didn’t assume anything based off of it. I don’t think anyone else has, either.”
“Okay, good.” Noelle lets out a breath, relieved. “I was afraid it looked like Logan took the whole inheritance when Mr. Hollins died and left no money for Gage, and that’s not what happened.”
I can’t help my curiosity, so – “Can I ask what did happen? Totally fine if it’s private.”
“No, it’s okay.” She waves a hand at me, making her slender silver rings glitter in the sunlight. “It’s not a secret, it’s just not something anyone likes to talk about. Basically… Gage wasn’t living on any money from his family well before Mr. Hollins died.”
“Okay…?”
“I don’t know any of the details. It happened when we were all out of touch. All I know is that at some point, Mr. Hollins…” Noelle winces, lowering her gaze to the table. “He disowned Gage. They had some kind of big fight, and – yeah. The whole family cut him off completely.”
I freeze with my coffee halfway to my mouth, considerably taken aback. Noelle also looks deeply upset by the thought, her inky lashes fluttering as if the sunlight suddenly got bright enough to hurt.
She quickly pulls herself back together.
“The point is, Logan inherited everything when Mr. Hollins passed away. He offered some of the money to Gage when that happened, obviously, but Gage turned it down. He said he doesn’t want any money from the family.”
I keep quiet for a moment, absorbing all of that.
“I just don’t want everyone thinking that Logan took everything and left his little brother to fend for himself,” Noelle pins on, lifting her coffee to her mouth. “Because it’s not true. If he was that kind of guy I wouldn’t go out with him.”
Definitely not. Loyalty between siblings is held in the highest importance within the Raunier family, I’m learning. It’s certainly not just Noah. The fire behind Noelle’s words tells me she feels it just as strongly.
No wonder their relationship falling apart was so hard on both of them.
“If anything, I think it’s great that Logan never wrote Gage off just because the rest of the family did,” Noelle adds approvingly. “He’s the only one who even still speaks to Gage. But maybe everyone here is wondering why their financial situations are so different? I definitely wondered, when we all reconnected. I actually asked Logan about it, that’s how I found out that Gage had been disowned. Gage had never said a word about it to me. So I know it looks bad, when you don’t know the facts.”
“Hm… well, I don’t think that’s the problem,” I answer, after a moment. “I personally hadn’t given that too much thought. I don’t think the others have, either.”
“Oh. Alright.” Noelle twists her lips to the side, a puzzled frown coming over her face. “Then… I don’t know why Logan doesn’t seem to be clicking with people here. I guess – he’s just – not.”
It’s extremely obvious that she finds that both confusing and worrying. Possibly because she herself clicks so well with all of us.
“Maybe we just need to get to know him better,” I offer uncertainly. “Does he get along well with your friends back in France?”
“He…” Noelle twines her fingers into her scarf as she thinks about it. “I guess he hasn’t spent too much time with my friends there. I actually used to see Gage way more often than Logan, before we got back together. Gage and I would get together all the time, but I’d really only see Logan now and then. I thought he was only hanging out with us when he had nothing better to do, truth be told. That’s part of why I was so unprepared when he asked me out the way he did! Such a sweet surprise.”
Her fingertip is still tapping on the coffee cup. She takes another sip, her distracted eyes resting on her unfinished muffin.
“Logan and I see each other all the time now that we’re together, obviously. When work allows it. Usually on the weekend. This is our first trip together, and our first time living together. Even if it’s just temporary, at the hotel. It’s been – really fun.”
She says this with enthusiasm that sounds a tiny bit forced. I wonder if the creaky hotel is putting a damper on the experience, or if maybe staying with Logan nonstop hasn’t been as great as envisioned. I’m probably reading way too much into the one second of hesitation before she said really fun. I know that, and yet.
That one second, combined with the brittle hint of strain in her voice…
“Then – yeah, maybe we just need more time to get to know him,” I answer gently. “He’s been sort of busy with work stuff since he’s been here, so we haven’t really had a chance.”
“Oh, yeah.” Noelle brightens up, smiling proudly. “He’s got his hands full running all the businesses left to him. I don’t understand the specifics, I just don’t have the head for that stuff, but I know he’s making big changes. Modernizing things. It’s cool to think he’s in charge of so much. He’s been bringing me to all these fancy dinners and parties, to meet all these important people… it’s been exciting. Although I’m glad for this break, being back home. I was starting to run out of energy.” She tilts her head back, putting her face to the glorious autumn sunshine coming down. “It’s nice to do nothing but rest.”
I can’t help finding it funny that the fancy dinners were tiring, but a full morning of surfing, a mad dash to the truck and then the liquor store, shots in the parking lot, chasing a beer bottle around the workshop, painting a skeleton on a skateboard deck – all of that was rest, in Noelle’s book.
The door of the workshop opens, and Ralph leans out into the shadow cast by it. Tycho gets up, stretches luxuriously, and trots over to greet him.
“Hey, Keane,” he calls, reaching down to scratch her ears. “See you found something else to do besides being outsmarted by a beer bottle.”
“Outsmarted? For trying to chase it down? What else were we supposed to do, there was no other way to stop it!”
Ralph puts his head on one side. “We couldn’t have just closed the windows? Stopped the wind from coming in?”
“We-” I cut myself off, then blush indignantly. “Goddamn you, Ralph. Stop making me feel stupid by comparison!”
Ralph gives me an indulgent nod, then turns to Noelle. “Ripples said to warn you that your brushes are going dry.”
“Oops! Okay, I’ll be right there.” She gets to her feet, giving me a nervous smile. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe it just needs more time.”
“We’ll get some today,” I promise quietly.
She flashes me an appreciative look, turning towards the workshop. Ralph has already disappeared back inside, but the door immediately opens again to let Gage out. He’s pulling his boots back on, and he bends over in the doorway to knot his laces.
“No, Gage, don’t leave the door open!” I hear Raj shout.
Too late. The twice-rescued kite comes soaring out over Gage’s head and merrily flies off into the sky. Noelle lets out a gasp, flinging her hands over her mouth as she watches it soar away.
Gage straightens up in confusion, having missed the whole thing.
“What happened?” he asks, baffled by the laughter coming from behind him in the workshop. He turns back to Noelle, puzzled and smiling. “Everything okay?”
“The-” Noelle points in the direction the kite flew off in, only to realize it’s gone. She lets out a burst of helpless giggles, shaking her head. “Nothing. Nevermind.”
She goes past and slips into the workshop, giving his arm an affectionate squeeze on the way. Gage smiles brightly as he drops down into the empty chair, tossing his damp hair out of his eyes. He pats down his pockets, then lets out a sigh.
“Shit. Everywhere I go I’m losing lighters. So many since I’ve been traveling. Beginning with the one at Gare du Nord, continuing ever since.” He nods appreciatively when I slide mine across the table to him. “Thanks, man-”
He breaks off, doing a sharp double-take at me. He lowers the lighter and the cig, staring at me with concerned, questioning eyes.
“Sorry.” I drag the sleeve of my flannel over my face, struggling to drop the expression of pained sympathy. “It’s just, um – Noelle mentioned what happened with you and your dad.”
Gage understands what I mean at once. The confusion instantly clears from his eyes. As does the concern, I notice with surprise. He sits back comfortably in the chair, his usual good-natured smile making an easy return.
“Oh. Yeah, turns out I wasn’t Hollins family material.” He sparks up the cigarette, cupping a huge hand around it in the wind, then sits back and gestures to himself. “Despite literally being made of the stuff. Go figure.”
“I’m just – really sorry that happened,” I add, my heart aching for him. “That can’t have been easy…”
“No, it wasn’t.” He tilts his head back to enjoy the sunshine, letting it illuminate the puffs of smoke escaping his lips. Then he drops his gaze back to me, calm and clear-eyed. There’s only a faint hint of old sadness to his voice, won out by his genuine, easy smile. “But that’s life, right? Highs and lows.” He reaches one long arm across the table to slap my shoulder. “We roll on, buddy. We roll on.”
I smile fondly back at him. He actually does have his own brand of Gage philosophy, when you can pick it out from the nonsense.
“And I appreciate it, but no need to be sorry.” He picks up Noelle’s forgotten coffee, pulls what’s left of her blueberry muffin towards himself. “Lord knows I’m guilty of all those things my family doesn’t like about me, and I have no interest in changing that. The minute it sank in that I was never getting so much as a dime or a smile from him or any of the rest of them ever again, I was free like I never had been before. Turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. One of the best things.”
His eyes dart towards the workshop, then quickly come back to me.
“I wouldn’t trade in that freedom for anything.” He relaxes back in the sunlight, the cigarette tucked into the corner of his mouth, his long legs stretched out. “So don’t go making yourself sad over me. No need.”
I gaze thoughtfully at him across the table, surprised to feel so much better. His serene way of talking, paired with his easygoing presence, those steady eyes with the warm twinkle of his smile held in them – it’s a remarkably reassuring combination.
I don’t feel the need to ask about the fight that led to him being disowned. I doubt it was about one fight, anyways. I’ve seen Logan and Gage be around each other only twice, but that was enough. I have a full picture of what the Hollins family thinks of Gage, everything he is and does. I have yet to see Gage say anything in front of Logan that wasn’t met with an angry, reproachful scowl. So long as Noelle isn’t at risk of noticing, that is. If she is paying attention, then Logan smiles.
I don’t need to ask Gage why he won’t accept any money from Logan, either. He would never willingly put himself under Logan’s thumb like that, and I don’t blame him one bit.
Still, that means Gage has had to make it completely on his own. All this time, for who knows how long now. A sharp flare of irritation sparks within me, directed at whoever it was who called him lazy based on his choice of work.
I have a suspicion about who that was. I meant to spend more time around him today, something I’m increasingly reluctant to do.
I still don’t get it. Why won’t Gage just tell Noelle or Noah what Logan is up to? What’s stopping him?
“You know,” I begin tentatively, “It’s been super nice, meeting an old friend of Noah’s. I’m so glad you two reconnected. I can tell he’s happy about it.”
“Yeah, me too. I had a feeling we’d still get along.” Gage lowers his cigarette, his green and brown eyes full of fond old memories. “He’s a good guy. I couldn’t believe it when Noelle told me she and him weren’t talking anymore. When he was a kid he would’ve jumped on a grenade for her, and I’d say the feeling went both ways. Even if she was prone to giving him a scold now and then.”
“I believe it. Sibling loyalty is held very high in the Raunier family.”
Gage lets out a soft, affectionate laugh, widening his eyes like it’s something incomprehensible to him. “So it is. That’s why I told her I thought she should go to Noah’s wedding.”
I stare at Gage in surprise. “Did you?”
He spreads his hands at me, crossing his long legs at the ankle. “Believe me, I’m the last person to encourage family reunions if they’re not a good idea. But I felt like this wasn’t one of those times. Especially if Noah was reaching out, trying.”
“Aw, Gage.” I let out a warm laugh, more than a little touched. “Still in Noah’s corner after all this time? You hadn’t seen him for how long, again?”
“I had faith in him,” Gage answers simply.
I answer that with a smile, fidgeting with the malachite necklace, then sit forward.
“That faith wasn’t misplaced,” I assure him, in a softer, lower voice. “I can personally tell you he’s a good one to put your trust in. Whatever Noelle told you about what he was like… it was true, but it isn’t anymore.”
A puzzled crease appears between Gage’s dark eyebrows. He breathes out a laugh, looking at me curiously.
“Yeah, I know. I can tell. I’ve been staying at his house. What a good dad he turned out to be, huh? So is Raj. Makes a person feel good, to see that.” Gage pauses, then lets out a dazed laugh, twisting the stud in his ear. “I’d never have predicted that Noah would be married to two people by the time I saw him next. I mean, we kicked around the idea of a pair as teenagers, but as I said we were teenagers, so we just envisioned, like, a pair of beautiful blondes for the night.”
I break into a grin, shaking my head at him. “Neither of Noah’s turned out to be blonde.”
“And one’s a man. So, a few surprises there.” Gage flashes me a sidelong grin when I laugh again, then pops the rest of the muffin into his mouth. “Noah and I had more in common than I realized. No wonder we always got along so well.”
“Even though you used to be so shy?”
“Even so,” Gage confirms, leaning comfortably back again, drinking in the sunlight. Letting it redden his dark brown hair, and the dark brown in his irises. “Like I said, there’s the rare exception.”
I smile at Gage, then drop my gaze to my own half-eaten muffin, thinking. Okay, so it’s not that Gage thinks he can’t trust Noah, or talk to him…
I let out a startled laugh, noticing something. “There’s, um – there’s still some lipstick on your neck.”
Gage starts to lift a hand towards it, then flicks his fingers at me instead. “Mm, whatever. I’m tired from working, so it’s staying there.”
I seriously can’t believe it, so I just ask. “You actually found someone hiring for that kind of work? Here? In Ketterbridge?”
“No. I found a pretty girl in Greenrock willing to film with me, and I shot my own video with her. Which will work just fine for the time being. I can take a little break on the paid jobs, so long as I keep uploading new stuff on my own.”
My eyes light up with hope, because that makes it sound like Gage isn’t planning on packing up and leaving town anytime soon.
“Oh, good! I was hoping you might stay longer. It’s been really nice having you around. And Logan,” I add hurriedly, trying to remember one of the good qualities that Noelle says he has. “He’s very – very professional.”
To my surprise, that makes Gage break into a dark frown.
“Yeah, so he’s always telling me,” he grumbles, picking at his necklace. “I don’t see why that’s some big deal. I can be professional wearing nothing but a pair of striped gym socks, which some would say is more impressive.”
I choke instantly on the sip of coffee I was taking, then dissolve into laughter, staring incredulously at Gage. It seems to strike him a little belatedly, the realization of what he just said. He waves a hand at me, crinkling his nose up.
“Sorry. Don’t take me and my gibberish all too seriously, Jamie Keane. Like I said, I’m real tired.”
I don’t blame him. He’s actually working pretty hard just to stay here in town. Sounds like he took the bus all the way to and from Greenrock today, worked the whole time he was there, then came straight here afterwards.
The late afternoon sunlight is falling over a pair of very drowsy green and brown eyes. But he looks like he’s enjoying himself, being here. All worth it, that face says.
He’s gazing past me into the open windows of the workshop, a tiny smile playing over his lips.
I glance over my shoulder to see Noelle standing on one of the work tables. She appears to be using an unpainted deck to try and nudge a can of spray paint down from the top of the storage cabinet. Leaning precariously far out. Ripley is standing on the floor beside her, trembling with laughter and trying to explain what a bad idea this is, and Noah is nervously waiting nearby, poised to catch her if she topples.
I turn back to Gage, and find him hastily looking away.
I know he’s tired, so I search for something to say that won’t be hard to talk about, or inspire any further chaos.
“I like your necklace,” I tell him, pointing to the thin black cord around his neck.
“Oh, thanks.” He touches his fingertips the chip of dark blue stone making up the pendant. “Noelle gave it to me forever ago. She bought it in one of those cheap tourist shops during that day trip I told you about, but somehow it’s lasted forever. I always wear it on days when I’m filming. Having a necklace on looks good in porn.” He cracks a grin, giving me a playful wink. “I think it’s the little bounce it does.”
“What – Gage!” I burst into blushing laughter, widening my eyes at him. “Jesus Christ!”
He drops his gaze to my malachite necklace. “Does yours bounce? You ever notice Aiden watching it?”
“I-” I press my fingertips to my cheeks, blushing deeper, my voice wavering. “Oh, my god.”
“You have.”
“A few times, actually.”
“Told you,” Gage snickers.
I close my eyes in disbelief. “God, you and the things you say.”
“The bounce, and sometimes it swings a little.”
“Gage!” I laugh desperately, then turn to look at the workshop as someone steps outside.
Aiden pauses, blinking at the bright smile on my face.
“Hey, you,” I call out adoringly, reaching for him.
“Man,” he murmurs, smiling dreamily back at me. He gives himself a little shake, then comes over to the table, his blue eyes full of warmth. “You wear this kind of sunshine real nice, Jamie.”
“Look who’s talking!”
Aiden – who really is breathtaking with the deep golden sunshine burnishing his coppery hair and bronze skin – stops in front of me and gives my necklace a playful tug. Instantly making me blush crimson all over again. Gage breaks into a broad grin on the other side of the table.
Aiden glances between us, puzzled. “What were you two talking about?”
“Whole lot of nothing in particular,” Gage answers cheerfully. “As us chatty girls like to do.”
Aiden lets out a huff of laughter. “Am I interrupting?”
“Not at all.” Gage gets to his feet, stubbing out the remains of his cig. “I was actually gonna go chat with Bug. We’ve got a lot to catch up on. I’ve been away from France for so long.”
Aiden gives him a nod, then turns back to me once we’re alone. He’s practically glowing in the last bright moment of the afternoon, before the sunset begins to deepen and darken. It gives him a tangerine outline, puts a molten glow into his soft, glossy hair.
“So, Linden.” He pops what’s left of my muffin into his mouth, then finishes off my coffee. “Any preliminary thoughts you want to share with me?”
I blink at him in confusion. “Sorry? What do you mean?”
He shakes his head, smiling intimately at me. “Alright, suit yourself. I’ll wait and find out later.”
I really don’t know what he’s talking about, but there’s no time to waste.
“Come on, let’s go in and talk to Logan.” I take Aiden’s hand, savoring the warmth of his palm as we walk through the chilly air to the workshop door. “We said we would get to know him.”
“Alright,” Aiden answers, with obvious reluctance.
I give him an encouraging, optimistic smile over my shoulder. “Just don’t forget, we’re keeping an open mind.”
~~~~
In the end, I have to give myself the same reminder several times throughout the course of the evening. I also have to silently remind myself of wise things my mom has said about the value of patience. I’m working hard to keep it all in mind.
It would be a lot easier if the circumstances weren’t so trying.
I’m getting the impression that we all showed up determined to make an effort with Logan tonight, with the sole exception of Gage. Everyone is seriously on their best behavior.
The problem is that it just doesn’t make any difference. No matter what we start doing or talking about, the weight of Logan’s gaze makes it uncomfortable and quickly breaks it up.
Gage has a unique way of being able to hold a warm, genuine smile in only his eyes, revealing it nowhere else in his solemn expression. Logan has the opposite of that: a smile on his face that doesn’t go to his eyes at all. We can all feel the frowning disapproval behind it. Sometimes his comments really send that disapproval home.
As a result, nothing quite feels safe to talk about.
I know Ripley was excited to show us all the progress he’s made on the artwork behind the counter. It sprawls from edge to edge of the wall, filling the entire thing up. The spray-painted backgrounds are the only paint that’s been applied yet, but the sketch is completely finished.
The thing with Ripley’s sketches is that sometimes they’re vague, bearing only the slightest resemblance to the finished artwork. That’s fun, because it’s like learning the secret message when he eagerly explains what it’s going to be. Which normally he’s happy to do.
I notice he hasn’t brought it up at all. Whatever it is, he doesn’t want to explain it in front of Logan. Nor has Raj shown us the boards he’s already made, like he said he wanted to. Ralph hasn’t told us the story he said he had from work, or in fact said a word about his work at all. Noah hasn’t said anything about his baby, or his married life, or any of the other things I’m sure he was looking forward to discussing with Noelle. Gage has barely said anything at all. I haven’t said anything about the flower shop or my classes, and Aiden hasn’t said a word about the Archives.
No one wants to subject these beloved things to Logan’s opinion.
So we fall into an accidental pattern. It begins with an uncomfortable, forced conversation about nothing specific, eventually broken up by Logan having to go take or return a work phone call. As soon as he leaves, the conversation brightens and expands like it took a deep, badly-needed breath. Ripley, knowing now he won’t have to hear any more of Logan’s thoughts on skaters, begins explaining his mural, or Raj takes out a few finished boards that make both Noelle and Gage gasp with delight, or Eddie sets off some shenanigans, or Gage and Noah reduce us all to helpless laughter that stretches on for minutes -
And then Logan comes back in, and the whole atmosphere changes again.
If Noelle truly doesn’t like her innate ability to cause chaos, if she really wishes she didn’t have it – then Logan is the perfect choice of boyfriend. His presence alone ensures that the energy of the room maintains a constant, straight flatline.
I’m also sure he’s not trying to be rude, but he has a thoughtless way of managing it regardless. He’s constantly giving us advice that no one asked for, for one thing. A habit that fills me with affection when Kent does it, but it does not have at all the same effect when it’s coming from Logan. I’m not sure I’d judge even half of his advice as solid, either. Tristan enjoys it so little that he just leaves after a while.
We’re all trying our hardest to stay polite, and I think we’re managing it, but knowing each other the way we do, none of us can miss the mounting frustration growing more and more profound with each passing moment. We’re all feeling it.
No one is as badly affected as Noah. He does a truly admirable job of holding it together, but I can tell what an effort it’s costing him. Especially at the end of the night, when Logan pulls him aside to confidentially express his fear that Ripley is a very hotheaded young man letting his emotions lead him, based on the way he talks, and Noah should have a word with him about it before he does something reckless.
This was so incredibly misguided that I think only Noah’s desperately tight grasp on his self-control prevented the situation from exploding into outright violence.
By the time Gage, Noelle, and Logan head out for the night, Noah can barely contain himself. He closes the door after them and turns to face us, his grey eyes blazing.
“Goddamnit!” he snaps angrily, stalking back over to the work table we’ve been sitting at, snatching up his beer before he flings himself back onto the bench. “Where’s that fucking guy get off giving us so much goddamn advice? Why should we take advice from a man whose friend gave six hundred people a rash? I ask you!”
“It was sixty, but I’m inclined to agree,” Ralph answers grimly, his elbows folded on the table. He looks up at me, catching my eye. “Well, Keane? You got a report for us?”
Aiden playfully ruffles my hair. “I tried to get it from him earlier, but he wouldn’t tell me.”
“Report-?” I was leaning back against Aiden, but now I sit up so I can twist around to stare at him in confusion. “Okay, what are you guys talking about, sincerely?”
“You’ve had a few days around Logan, so now we want your report,” Noah explains, as everyone else gathers up around me at the table.
“We need your special vision,” Raj adds, snuggling up close to Noah, resting a hand on the knee he was bouncing in agitation.
“What-? My Vision is for seeing ghosts. Sometimes other things when it’s charged up enough, but-”
“That’s not the kind of vision we mean, Sharpshooter,” Ralph cuts in.
I look around at all the faces turned expectantly to me, spreading my hands in disbelief. “Are you guys joking? You’re all waiting for me to tell you what’s going on here? I don’t know! All I have are my opinions-”
“That’s what we’re waiting to hear,” Noah insists. “So tell us.”
I hesitate, rubbing my elbow, taken aback to realize he’s serious.
“Okay, well… I don’t trust Logan,” I answer slowly, nervous to be put on the spot. “I think he’s up to something.”
Noah slams his fist on the table, making all the beers jump and rattle. “I fucking knew it!”
“I also think Gage knows what Logan is up to, and he really wants to stop whatever it is from happening, but for some reason he won’t say anything about it to anyone.”
“Loyalty to his brother?” Aiden suggests.
“Brothers,” Ralph points out, at the same time.
Noah sweeps his tattooed hand at Ralph and Aiden. “I was just gonna say.”
“I’m not surprised that’s what you three assumed,” I answer affectionately. “But… I don’t think it’s that.” I hesitate, then repeat more firmly, “I really don’t think it’s that.”
Noah arches a pierced eyebrow. “Then I should just ask Gage what’s going on! Convince him he can tell me, so I can-”
“No, Noah,” I jump in urgently, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea! There must be a reason he’s not talking to anyone about it, and we have no clue what it is. He pretty much told me that he trusts you, so I know that’s not the problem.”
Noah pauses, then brightens in flattered surprise, for the first time losing the dark expression that’s been hanging over his face. But his grey eyes are glittering with frustrated anger again only seconds later.
“You know what? I don’t even care what Logan is doing. I don’t care. I’ve wanted to kick his ass more badly than you can imagine, for the entire time I’ve known him. Further research has revealed that I should just do it. And did you hear what he said to me about Ripley? Acting like my boy’s personality is a problem?”
This last part rises to a shout, Noah is so furious.
Ripley wasn’t the slightest bit upset over what Logan said. As always when people try to tear him down, he thought the attempt was funny. He laughed when he heard, and cheerfully said that Logan’s assessment of him was absolutely accurate.
So he was already fine, but at this display of wild outrage from Noah he breaks into a wide grin.
“Aw, man.” He smiles at Noah, his green eyes full of deep affection. “I love you, dude. And your sister is awesome, too. How can I help with this whole Logan situation? We need a solution.”
“Flamethrower,” Noah suggests, passionately and immediately.
Ralph gives him a warning look. “No, Noosh. Not a flamethrower.”
“Yes, a flamethrower!”
“I’m actually not sure that we do need a solution,” I chime in, drawing everyone’s eyes back to me.
“What do you mean, Jamie?”
“I just… I wonder if it might sort itself out, man. Noelle and Logan have only been dating for three months. This is the first time they’ve ever taken a trip together.” I give my shoulders a nervous shrug. “Noelle mentioned that she and Logan didn’t even hang out that often in France before they got back together. She said she hung out with Gage much more. So… this is the first time she’s ever spent this much time with Logan. Since high school, at least.”
Noah still isn’t following.
“And?” he prompts.
“Maybe… she’s starting to get a little tired of him? Again, I’m not sure. That’s just the feeling I’m getting.”
Noah stares at me with his eyes narrowed, thinking hard.
I hesitate, then add – “Unfortunately it sounds like your mom approved of Logan. She told Noelle she thinks he’s handsome and charming.”
“Thank god,” Noah says frankly. And then, realizing he’s startled all of us with that response, “Nothing makes Noelle more committed to doing something than my mom telling her not to. If she’d told Noelle not to date Logan, we’d be facing a bona fide disaster.”
“Then we may just want to sit back and see what happens. Besides, it’s her relationship, I don’t know if it’s cool for us to interfere…”
“Not interfere,” Noah explains. “Just, you know, beat the shit out of the guy, send him packing, and tell her she can do better.”
“Well, that’s – certainly another plan,” I answer worriedly, looking at Aiden for help. “I like the enthusiasm, but, um-”
“Think Jamie is right, Noosh,” Aiden murmurs, catching his eye. “Noelle seems kinda disenchanted to me, now that she’s not alone with him in France, being distracted with fancy presents and fancy dinners every night. This Logan thing may run its course on its own.”
Noah lets out an agonized sigh, tilting his head all the way back, then slumps grouchily back against Raj. “Fine. Fucking fine. But I want the flamethrower kept in the lineup of possible future plans.”
“No,” Aiden says firmly.
Noah lifts a pouty face to Raj. “I never get anything I want. Except for you. And Mel. And Nik. And our house. And my brothers, and friends, and my car. And my sister visiting. Guess I’m pretty blessed, actually.”
Raj breathes out an adoring laugh, smiling down into his face. “Wow, I didn’t even have to say anything.”
We all look up as the front door is pulled open. Alix steps inside, pink-cheeked from the cold, and smiles when she catches Ripley’s eye. She must have just gotten back from her trip to visit her aunt. Based on the suitcase she brought, she came straight here from the airport to see Ripley.
“Oh, fuck yeah!” he shouts eagerly, leaping to his feet.
He rushes over to her and catches her hand, planting an enthusiastic kiss on her mouth before she can say anything.
“Wait, Rip, I’m sore,” she laughs, as he tugs her further into the workshop. “I’ve been riding horses all week-”
“Too bad,” he cuts in firmly, then rushes for the stairs, pulling a giggling Alix along with him. “You guys can show yourselves out, right?”
“Guess so,” Ralph snickers. He throws back the rest of his beer, then clips Tycho onto her leash. “You dropping us off, Keane?”
“Sure.”
We walk slowly down the sidewalk towards my car, all of us lost in thought.
Noah lifts his hopeful eyes to Ralph. “Got anything for us in that big brain of yours, man?”
“I’m wondering about the state of Logan’s businesses.” Ralph pulls his hood up over his blonde hair as the night breeze rushes over us, frowning to himself. “Even I’m not stepping out that often to take a phone call, and you know how big my business is. I’ve got lieutenants to handle shit for me. Logan should have some equivalent. The only time I’m personally fielding that many calls is when there’s some kind of serious problem.”
Noah scowls down at the sidewalk, his jaw tensed up. “Guess I figured Logan must be doing fine, since he’s buying Noelle designer sheets, or whatever the fuck it was he was bragging about.”
“Yeah, it was that.”
“I hate how he’s always real polite and accommodating and charming to Noey.” Noah puts a scathing, dismissive growl on that last descriptor. “He’s only like that when she’s paying attention. As soon as she turns her back you can see it’s all bullshit. I feel like he’s only barely bothering to hide it from us. He’s tricking her on purpose, right in front of me.”
“That could be what takes him down, Noosh,” Aiden’s deep, reassuring voice rumbles from behind him. “She may not mind when he kills her fun, since she wants to be more serious. But she’s definitely noticing him killing ours.”
“I’m not sure she wants things to move as fast as she originally thought,” I add.
“Man, what if they do get really serious, though?” Noah sighs tiredly, running a hand over his eyes. “Not to make it about me, but here I was thinking it would always be the best whenever Noelle comes home for a visit. The thought of him coming with her, every time…”
“I doubt it, Nohea.” Raj folds a comforting arm around Noah’s shoulders, smoothing a hand over his hair. “Logan’s putting on a good show for her, but she’ll see through it. Besides, look at the positive side. There’s-”
Raj breaks off in bewilderment. We all stop abruptly, staring at my car, then simultaneously dissolve into laughter.
“Oh, my god,” I groan in disbelief.
The kite landed exactly on my car, where it managed to wedge itself into one of the windshield wipers. Trembling with silent laughter, Aiden steps forward to rescue it.
“Guess we’re taking it with us,” I laugh, unlocking the car.
It’s nice to see Noah smile, after a day of looking so thoroughly frustrated. I send out a silent message of thanks to Gage, thinking to myself that Raj is right. There are definite positives to the situation.
The kite did mean something, after all. A quiet little reminder of that.
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