The Willson brothers

Chapter 20

"April?" Tom asks in surprise, raking his hand through his hair which makes his once neat haircut fall around his face.

"And who's this?" he asks again, straightening up as if trying to recover his professionalism, looking at Bryan.

"I'm April's distant cousin, Bryan," he says, reaching his hand out to shake Tom's. He doesn't seem as confident as usual, his shoulders slightly slump as if putting on a casual teenager face. I feel a chill run down my spine at how natural he looks in his carefree teen act. 

These boys could make the whole town believe they are just innocent members of society. Which now that I think of it, they probably do. I remind myself I know the real them, before I manage to get consumed by thoughts of doubting their personalities.

"Oh, your mum never told me that... actually, never mind," Tom doesn't finish his sentence, opening the door wider to let me in without further questions, his eyes looking away. He probably just wants to go home and get his rest like all of us.

I look in Bryan's direction and he nods. That's all I need to be reassured, to know they will step in in case anything goes south. I give him a small smile before I enter the office.

The room isn't too big although Tom's office consists of two parts. One is the main room where sessions are held. It has a desk with a computer, a few shelves and a wardrobe, but the main focus of the room are two large cushion armchairs, both royal blue. There is a small coffee table between them. It's made out of dark brown, almost black tinted glass with a bowl of cookies on it. The walls are beige, complementing the carpet which has designs of white and light to dark brown rectangles.

The other room however is hidden behind a door. It's much smaller, almost like a storage room or a closet. It's private but I know what's in there, mostly files of his clients, documents and the most important, boxes of cookies.

An idea suddenly pops in my mind as I notice the bowl is almost empty. I take one of the cookies as I sit into the comfortable armchair which almost swallows me.

"I guess it's something important seeing how late you came? Or are you perhaps staying with your mum now?" Tom asks rather carefully, sitting in the other armchair in front of me.

I can see he didn't shave recently, his eyes tired despite the charm he always seems to radiate. His brownish hair laced with many gray streaks looks almost limp, as a flower left without sun for too long. It doesn't look as shiny as it used to.

These are all small details but I can't help and notice these differences, something has to be bothering him. I guess the brothers rubbed off on me, at least just a little.

"Actually, I'm not at home right now. I came because of something important," I start, looking at the cookie in my hand with a forming plan no one would probably approve of.

"And because of my cousin. He needs your help as well," I say and look into Tom's eyes. I immediately hear multiple 'what?!' in my earpiece. I'm guessing Bryan, Zach and Tyler. Ethan's voice is irritably recognizable and it's not like this would be his concern and Carter... well I think he is just waiting for Zach's orders. 

I take a bite out of the cookie I am holding and it makes an amazing crunch. A few crumbles fall down on my trousers and I brush them off.

"Wait, she has food in there?! Is she seriously eating right now? I'm starving as well!" I hear Ethan's voice and it's extremely, annoyingly distracting. Next thing someone tells him to shut up and I am more than grateful to that person.

"Okay, I'm listening," Tom nods, looking at me with the intense dark blue eyes of his. I find myself wondering if he was ever approached by modeling agencies but declined. I shake my head slightly to focus back on our mission.