After two weeks, I got to the only conclusion I had left: he wasn’t busy, he was avoiding me. And I’d had it. We were on the couch, and Tonia had just taken the call in the middle of some old sci-fi movie I wasn’t really interested in anyway.
“Tonia, let me talk to him.”
But she quickly hangs up, ignoring me. She shakes her head, and when I see her open her mouth to answer me, I go first before she even gets to speak.
“Not the ‘he’s busy’ excuse again, Tonia! It’s been days! And at the hospital, it went on for a full month, too! Let me talk to him. Please.”
I see her hesitate, turning the phone in her hands, again and again, confused about what to do. But I’ve made up my mind. I’m done waiting for nothing. Bobo, who was at my feet, suddenly jumps between us on the couch and takes her phone to hand to me. His sister protests, but it’s too late. With Bobo keeping her from taking it back, I quickly search through her contacts, and though she has a lot, I finally find him, simply registered under “The Boss.” So mafia-like.
I breathe in and press the green phone button. The first ring isn’t even over yet when someone immediately picks up.
“Tonia?”
I’m surprised; I didn’t expect to hear someone else! It takes me a few seconds to recognize this voice.
“...Nathaniel?”
“Oh, is it our princess? Hello there. What is it? Everything all right?”
“Yeah, I just... I just wanted to speak to Damian. Is he there?”
“Sure. Damian, Nora is on the phone, she wants to speak with you.”
I finally hear Damian’s voice over the phone, but he’s not talking to me. I can listen to both brothers speaking in what must be French, and I suspect they’re arguing. Though Nathaniel sounds very calm as usual, Damian sounds angry. It goes on for a few seconds, and I’m biting my lip, anxious. I wish I could understand French...
In front of me, Tonia is also tense and scrutinizing me. I get up to avoid her gaze and go stand by the glass wall.
They stop arguing eventually, and after a short silence, I finally hear Damian’s voice on the phone.
“Nora.”
I skip a heartbeat. How can the simple sound of my name with his voice through a phone feel so good?
“What is it?” He asks, making me realize I didn’t say anything.
“I... I wanted to talk to you. When can I see you?”
“I’m busy.”
I roll my eyes. I’m really getting tired of this sentence.
“Why won’t you see me? Don’t say you’re busy again, please.”
He stays silent, and I don’t like it. I hate it. Why can’t he give me a proper reason? I’m sure he is avoiding me; I just wish I knew why. Even now, I’m suspecting the only reason I can talk to him is that Nathaniel talked him into it. I wait a bit more, but it’s still silent on his side, though I hear some sounds in the background. Otherwise, I would have checked to see if he didn’t hang up. I decide to give it a go again.
“I need to discuss some things with you, please.”
“Are you okay?”
His question surprised me. Did my tone get him worried now? I nod unconsciously and start nervously playing with my hair.
“Yes, everything’s fine. It’s just, I something I want to discuss with you.”
“You can’t discuss it with Tonia?”
No, I want to talk to you! Gosh, he really is unwilling to see me! What have I done that he will avoid me at any cost? This is so infuriating. Am I the only one with a whimpering wolf who longs to see her other half? He can’t be that cold-hearted that he would ignore his own instincts!
“No! Damian, please. I want to see you.”
