Cruel World (The Tribe Book 1)

13. Full of Surprises

I wake up, still very exhausted from last nights....escapades, but can't wipe the smile off my face. Martin woke up before me, and is currently reading while running his hands through my hair, keeping it out of my face as I sleep, every so often caressing my face lightly. I resist opening my eyes for as long as I can, snuggling deeper into Martin's chest, earning a chuckle that rumbles through me.

"Good morning my love," he whispers lovingly, tucking hair behind my ear as he puts his book down.

"Good morning, handsome," I finally open my eyes and lean up, giving him a gentle kiss. "How early is it?" I ask.

"Probably like 8. Some of the others have only just started getting up," he says, his words confirmed by the echoes of clinking dishes.

"How did you sleep?" I ask with a cheeky smile. He returns it.

"Hmm very well, didn't wake up once. How about you? Did I tire you out babe?" he responds, the cheeky grin growing wider on his face.

"You know very well you did, cheeky. But I slept like a log," I tell him, tapping him on the chest as if to playfully tell him off.

We both decide to cuddle for a couple minutes, before rising to get dressed and go have breakfast with everyone. We make our way into the café, me grabbing some fruit and cutting it up for us, making a little fruit bowl to share. The smiles never leave our faces as we sit down.

"Morning everyone," I call, receiving half asleep grumbles in response. I eat until I'm full, with Martin happily inhaling the rest like a vacuum.

I can see Amber and Trudy looking at me as if to question why I'm so happy, as I'm notorious for not being a morning person, until I see a spark in Trudy's eye as she whispers to Amber, making her eyes go wide as well. They both look back to me with a question in their eyes, before wiggling their eyebrows at me.

"Martin, I think we've been figured out," I whisper, he turns around confused as I point at the girls, then turning back and giving me a grin.

I look back to the girls and they repeat the gesture. This time I give in and smile back, giving a quick nod. Their eyes go even wider, looking as if they'll pop out of their heads, and I have to hold back a laugh. Amber mouths to me 'later', implying that after breakfast we'll be having some girl chat. I nod and look back at Martin, only to see him talking to Jack and Dal. This makes me smile, seeing the love of my life getting along so well with my brother, as if he were his own.

Speaking of brothers, Bray walks into the café, greeted by Trudy and Salene. He walks past Martin and I, looking right through us. I think to myself how sad it is that someone who was supposed to be a brother to me, can't even acknowledge my existence anymore, and barely speaks to his brother. I look down at my hands, fidgeting. Martin turns to me and notices, grabbing my hands and asking what's wrong.

"Bray," is all I have to mutter for him to understand. His jaw hardens, resisting the urge to chew him out, knowing it'll be no use.

To distract myself, I pick up our dishes and bring them into the kitchen, everyone else bringing theirs. It's my turn for washing up, so I begin the tedious chore.

Midway through, Bray comes in, leaving his on the stack. I barely glance at him, and he walks out, but stops in the doorway.

"What happened to us?" he asks.

"Are you serious?" I scoff, refusing to believe he doesn't know. He whips around, raising an eyebrow.

"You abandoned me! Couldn't even acknowledge me, or your own brother. You were supposed to be my best friend, and I can't even stand to be near you anymore because every time I feel like I get punched in the stomach because you can't seem to remember me anymore! You completely forget all the shit I do, how much I look after YOUR niece, ME! Not Salene, she barely helps at all, Martin and I help Trudy all the time. Do you understand how terrible you make your brother feel? You completely ignore him, make him feel worthless and you act as though he is beneath you, even though he is a much better man than you!" I exclaim, getting riled up.