Brothers 3

Chapter 21

The next few hours were hell for James. He hated that he was sitting on the sofa watching the phone like a love-sick teenager. He hated even more that the thought kept coming to him; why hadn't she called? All he needed was for it to be raining outside and some sad music to play and he was every sad romcom protagonist. His stomach turned at the idea.

The only mercy had been that when he had returned to the house he wasn't able to find Ella. Granted he didn't look but she hadn't been waiting in the living room for his return so that was something. He didn't think he could have looked at her without screaming again. Even the thought of her was making his jaw clench and his shoulders hike.

The front door opened but James didn't take his eyes of the phone.

"I hear a watched phone never rings," Mikey said.

James glanced towards his voice to find him standing in the doorway with his arms folded. He was leaning to the left and tilting his head at James.

James didn't reply. He and the wolf might have an understanding but that didn't mean he had to explain his actions in his own home.

"Skylar told me what happened."

"Are you here to check up on Ella?" James couldn't help asking.

"I was here to check up on you. And ask if you fixed things."

James shrugged. "That is what I am waiting to find out." It was starting to get dull outside. James wasn't sure how long he had been looking at the phone but the sun had stopped coming through the window.

"Do you want me to wait with you?" Mikey didn't wait for a reply. He came and sat on the sofa next to James. James glanced from him to the empty chair across the room. Mikey saw him and rolled his eyes. James would have said something but then he got up and moved to the chair so there was no need.

Mikey sighed and leaned back. "You know you can pretend all you like but I know you are warming to me."

James glared at him. "What makes you think that?"

"You didn't tell me to get out yet plus you didn't react when I came in."

James pressed his lips together. He was getting more used to having the wolf around. Even the scent of werewolf in the house was starting to become normal. He suddenly had the wild inclination to tell Mikey everything. He wanted to rant to someone and without Robert here there was a hole in his life where his confidant used to be. The other night had proven that he and Mikey could be civil, they almost seemed to have things in common. Besides, Mikey had come to see him, not Ella.

"Don't let it go to your head, but I need to rant."

Mikey raised an eyebrow. "I will do my best."

James took a heavy breath. Here we go. "I don't know what I am going to do if this doesn't work. If Isabel doesn't call then Ella and I are trapped together forever."

Mikey's brow furrowed. "Maybe the two of you will work it out."

James couldn't tell if he was hopeful that they would or wouldn't. He had seen how the two of them had looked at each other. He wasn't blind. Still, Mikey might wish for them to stay together if he thought that was what they wanted.

"We broke up today."

"I'm sorry."

James scoffed. "I'm sure you are."

"I am."

James shook his head and went on. It felt nice to talk some things through. "I told her not to talk to me anymore when I found out what she had done."