"you don't have to be so nervous," noelle giggles as a golden retriever, about four years old by the looks of her, bounds into the grooming center for noelle to bathe and shave her. ethan isn't taking too kindly to her, although, the dog doesn't even know he's there.
"she's not going to hurt you. besides, she can't even see you."
"i know, i know. it's just that we never had a dog because grayson is allergic, and we weren't around them that often. that i can remember anyway." ethan replies dryly. the girl chuckles and pats the metal table for the dog to jump onto it, and then it can walk into the tub to get a bath. noelle turns on the water, making sure it's warm enough so she can run the sprayer over the dog's golden fur. she watched ethan sit on a stool in the corner of the room and he watched her work.
"so, let me get this straight," the girl said, focused on bathing the dog.
"you want me to meet your brother, fall in love with him, marry him, settle down, have kids, and then you're gone? just like that?"
"well, yes...and no. i mean, you don't to marry him. i just...i know you'll make him happy, and you'll be able to get him out of this depression. i've been watching you, and you're perfect for him." the phrase i've been watching you, put a bad taste in her mouth. she pushed it aside.
"for how long?" she asked.
"hm?"
"how long have you been watching me?"
"long enough."
noelle continued her work in silence, having bathed and groomed nearly a dozen dogs before she was done for the day at two o' clock in the afternoon. ethan had watched her intently the entire time. he watched how her hands worked, how her eyes darted around carefully, how she would bite on the tip of her tongue when she was thinking. he just knew that this girl was the one for his brother, and he couldn't wait.
a part of him was scared though. he knew that he'd have to see his brother again, possibly more than once, and maybe even have to go to his old house. he began to wonder what they did with his room, and if grayson kept anything. memories of his brother filled ethan's mind that day, and he stayed there until he went to sleep at night.
♡♡♡
