The Promise

58) Ali

I stare at him. No, he can't mean HIM.

"Um, guys you look awkward from out here." I hear Elianna above the roller-coaster in my head.

We don't move, we just stare at each other, hands still around each other.

"Can I come join this hug? Please?" we look at her, her hair is up in a claw clip now. I slide my eyes down her body, the fuck what's wrong with me. Joe clears his throat sensing my distraction.

"Come here, Bonita. I missed you." He drawls and she beams rushing to give him a hug. I feel heat surge up the back of my neck, but push it aside.

I've been dating Elianna for 13 years now. We all grew up together and she was Joe's classmate and the only girl he didn't flirt with. It's because he knew I liked her. Omer too knew I liked her, but he didn't tease me about it like Joe did.

"Found who, Yusef?" I ask furrowing my brows. "Ah, you're serious now; using my name and all."

"Because you're saying something Hella serious?" I say and he purses his lips jerking his head towards mom's room. "let's talk outside" he says and we all follow him outside.

He stands in the middle of the living room then spins facing us, "Aurora." I raise a brow, "Is she your new girlfriend? Is she cute!" Elianna chirps. He snorts, "no, Bonita. I wish she's single, though. But ..." he trails off.

Elianna takes my hand and sits on the couch pulling me with her as we settle in front of him.

"Aurora is a girl who works in a company, now she's kind of a model too." I nod as he goes on, "I found her account a couple of months ago, I liked her style, but by time stuff got my attention especially the name of the company she works in, as an intern learner."

I frown and Elianna is the one to ask, "What's the name of the company?"

"NV Valley." He quips and something flashes in my memory, Omer mentioned this name before to us as kids as the name he wants to name his office after, after our mom's initials. I stop and stand rubbing as my face, "No, it could be anything but that."

"Well, I thought so too, but the name of the company, it's a marketing one too. The employees and the people tagged in her posts and stories."

"But it could be another one, Joey. He could've changed the name too." Elianna says slowly.

"No, Bonita. I think I'm certain."

"How?" I ask, voice chilly.

"I saw his arm, Ali. I doubted it before, but I saw it, the mole, the scar everything. It is him. Look I screenshotted it."

He shows me a picture of a girl with a hand wrapped around her neck.

I shake my head, "Yusef, don't give us false hopes. We had enough, for real and don't you dare tell mom." I warn him.

"I didn't, but what if it's him this time. Ali, you already started to believe it."

"I don't believe anything and she could be any girl at any company in London. Omer is not intimate with people." I speak

"Especially not with women." Elianna finishes for me, "What will we lose if we followed this thread anyways?" he asks.

"Energy and hope." I state then leave for my room.

I'm normally not this jumpy, but this is Omer we're talking about. Also, a lot of people came to our doorstep giving us hope that they know our brother, but all in fucking vain.

I sit on the bed leaning onto my elbows when the door knocks and Elianna peeks her head in then closes it softly behind her.

I didn't realize I was clenching my fists harshly till she places her delicate hands on mine. I let lose as I reach for my hair, but she stops my hands mid-air and places them in her lap.

I look into her deep brown eyes and beautiful face as she gives me a soft smile and leans in kissing my cheek.

I close my eyes, "breathe, Leo." She murmurs softly.

I let out a shaky breath, tears threatening to fall, "I don't even know if he's there."

"He's there, Ali. I can feel it. he's just far and it's still not the right time to meet. It's not decided yet."

"Let us not talk about it." I say and she nods, "Let's go eat then." She stands pulling my hand with her, but I tighten my grip stopping her. "Come on, Leo!" she giggles, but I give her hand a tug and she's in my lap.

She widens her eyes, "Leo, your mom and brother are outside." She whisper yells. "Good thing the number of fucks I give is zero."