Page 35 of The Rhythm of their Souls

I brace myself and turn back towards her on the couch. “I need to know if you’re okay, Nora. Please, I’m an adult, and I can handle whatever it is. I’m worried about you!” I anxiously watch Nora’s expression fall into a deeper frown.

She was not prepared to have this discussion with me. The last thing I want to do is put her on the spot and upset her, but I love and care about her; I need to know if she is battling something alone.

We sit silently for a few seconds before she turns towards me. Her gorgeous brown eyes are hazy, and I can see the pain behind them. I feel tears building in my eyes, but I hold myself together; I can’t fuck this up. I have to show her I can take whatever she tells me as an adult.

Her lip quivers slightly as she speaks. “Since you must know, Olive, no, I’m not okay. Every day, I have no choice but to wake up and be reminded that Jake is never coming back. I sleep in a bed where he once slept beside me. A bed where we laughed, cried, and had intimate moments together for so many years.”

Tears are streaming down her face, and I can’t stop the ones now streaming down mine.

I hear a sob leave her throat before she speaks again. “He saved me, Olive, don’t you know that? He loved me despite my brokenness. I had to leave that house; I stayed for you until I couldn’t stay any longer. And it was Jake who brought me into his family and was patient with me. He let me cry many nights in his arms while he reminded me he’d always be there. And now he’s gone.”

This hurts me so fucking bad. She’s bottled this all up and has dealt with it all alone. I feel like the shittiest sister ever. My voice is shaky. “Nora, I’m so—”

She quickly cuts me off before I can finish. “No, let me say this, please. I need you to know that I tried; I tried so goddamn hard to cope with the grief. It has haunted me since the day he died. Sleeping was my friend at first until his death crept into my dreams every single night to the point I’d wake up crying or gasping for air that wasn’t there.”

She sucks in a shaky breath.

“Olive, I had to numb the pain because nothing else was working. That’s when an acquaintance at my old job had heard about Jake’s death and offered me some of her pain medication from when she broke her arm months prior.

“At first, I was skeptical about it, but she reassured me it was okay and would help calm my nerves. It took me a week to muster up the courage to try them. The first time made me sick; I puked my guts up, but by the second time, I felt relaxed in a way, my anxiety subsided, and I felt like I could breathe again.”

She takes a deep breath and waits for me to respond. That was a lot to take in, and I’m trying to hold it together. I need her to trust me and confide in me, but I also want her to know that I’m concerned.

I finally muster out, “Are you still taking them?”

She looks away and begins rubbing her forearm. “Yes, but I promise you it’s just temporary. You know Jake’s twenty-sixth birthday is coming up soon, and I need to get past that. It’s his first birthday gone, and I won’t get to spend it with him.”

I slowly nod my head in understanding. “I’m so sorry that you have felt alone in this. I wish I could have been more for you, Nora.” I can’t help the rattle behind my words.

She turns and wraps her arms around me. “Olive, you are everything to me and more. This isn’t your fault or your problem to fix. I love you dearly, and nothing will ever change that.”

I lay my head on her shoulder, closing my eyes while she gently rubs my back. For a split second, I feel like we’re kids again. I picture Nora as only a child, too, trying her best to calm me, letting me know she’s right here. She had no one to comfort her like that. She has had to be strong for me, herself, and our mom all these years. And the thought of it strikes my heart. I put my arms around her and lightly squeeze. I don’t want to let her go.

Tears flood my face again. “I can’t lose you, Nora; you’re my sister.”

I hear a deep breath leave her wobbling mouth. “I’m not going anywhere, I promise. I’m going to get out of this. I love you so damn much, Olive Oil,” she chokes out.

And I know with every fiber in me she does. “I love you too, big sister.”

Chapter 21

Fucking breathtaking. Those two words run through my mind as I lean against the hood of my car, watching Olive emerge from the apartment stairs.

She outdid herself this evening. Her hair is halfway up; two wavy strands lay in the front, framing her gorgeous face. She wears a red cocktail dress that hugs her figure impeccably, its length reaching right above the knee. The front cuts down into a V, showing a tasteful amount of her immaculate cleavage.

Her lips are adorned with a rose stain that complements her blush-dusted cheeks. However, what draws me in the most are her eyes. They make my knees weak, which probably makes me sound like a little bitch, but it’s the truth. She has applied a smoky color on her eyelids that makes her eyes stand out even more. They almost seem to glow, highlighting the hint of green beautifully present in her honey-brown irises.

It’s easy to imagine slipping that dress right off her and even easier to feel her absence when we are away from each other. This is my first time seeing her since we left the beach. Our work schedules have prevented us from being able to see each other sooner, but I’ve enjoyed our little text banters back and forth since. It’s what has kept me going every day.

She strolls over to me, her damning eyes never leaving mine, sliding her body in between my legs. I wrap my arms around her waist, running my hands along the curve of her ass.

She smells like sweet coconut with hints of peony; she always smells so delicious. It’s amazing how certain aromas stick with you. It could be of a place or a person. And there is something about her scent that drives me fucking mad.

She places her arms around my shoulders, resting her hands behind my neck, giving me the cutest lazy smile. I love that her little cheek dimple appears even when giving the slightest smile. I take my thumb and run it along her dimple, watching as her warm honey eyes shut from my touch, causing me to grin instantly.

“I sure have missed your beautiful face,” I purr.

She feeds me a wicked grin while twirling her fingers around my hair. “So, that’s all you’ve missed?” I slant my eyes at her and match her grin.