The Choice

12) Joe

Omer is here.

Literally here.

At home.

Sitting on the couch with us around him.

Ali and Eliana are sitting next to each other as she holds his shaking hands in her lap on the couch opposite from the one Omer and Aurora are sitting on and I'm sitting on a cushion next to Aurora.

Omer changed. A lot. Everything is in place; he's cleanly shaven, smells so good and expensive as well, not a hair out of place with the best attire and body ever. I'm not saying that Omer was something different than that; he was always the groomed one out of us. We always played, ran and got ourselves dirty and sweaty, but he never did that. He was always the calm and composed one. What I mean by change is that we all did change, but he evaluated or went through a renovation process.

Also, I can smell the masculinity in the air increase; it was mild with Ali before and his hormones protecting over Eliana. Now I feel Omer's too and it's very obvious I feel I want to shrink back.

Fuck. I question myself now.

I didn't fail to notice the protective glance he always throws Aurora's way and the furrow on his brows as he looked at her injured hand.

I clear my throat as I break the awkward family gathering moment of silence. I see Aurora press her lips together and Eliana is frowning so bad the smile is spilling out. Ali looks my way then Omer's. Omer straightens and looks my way then opens his mouth to speak; it's not the first time today, he muttered something to Aurora, but we didn't hear it although I heard the voice.

"You got a bike." He states and I smile that he remembers my dream from childhood.

"Cinderella." I state and something between a smirk and a smile touches his lips.

He looks at Ali and Eliana next, Ali opens his mouth then closes it; nervous as well, brother. I get it. Omer nods at him in a sort of encouragement and Ali asks, "How? How did you come here?"

He looks Aurora's way before saying, "I got through the airport with a different name."

Aurora looks up at him and he goes on, "looks like our beloved father is getting old and less influential."

"We know nothing about him. He left. Since that day." I say and anger crosses his features; the first reaction to appear today.

"I'm happy for both of you. You got together." Omer tells Ali and Eliana, Ali smiles as he looks towards Eliana.

Eliana beams too and tells Omer, "We're happy for you too!" Omer looks at Aurora, but she's out; zoning out and spinning the rings of hers. He places a hand atop them and she startles looking up at him then lowers her gaze.

"Excuse me, I'll have a word with Aurora." Omer says and we all nod, Aurora looks up then nods as well and he takes her hand. They both stand and he leads her inside.

I look back to my brother and his girl. We wait till we hear a door close inside when we three jump to our feet and hug each other jumping around.