The consequences of falling

Chapter 12

A week later... Emre's office...

There were so many things Can WANTED to do!

Talk to Sanem – even if he had to kidnap her to the mountain hut.

Beat the shit out of that fancy author Omer – because all the affection he kept seeing between the two of them was driving Can up the wall.

Kiss Sanem senseless until she had that dazed expression and slight burns on her cheeks from his beard – so he could kiss the burns away too.

Beat the shit out of Yigit because that prick had the AUDACITY to be jealous of Sanem too! Can could see it by the way Yigit looked at that pair every time they would pass the halls deep into their book discussions... or stop in cafeteria for a quick bite... or laugh at some joke... they were inseparable and Can was dying inside at the sight of them.

... But he did none of it.

Emre spoke to him and they'd made a pact – to leave Aydin sister alone for this week. This week was in preparation for the big book opening event and both Sanem and Leyla deserved some peace of mind to get ready to shine.

No meetings, no conversations... no inhaling her sweet scent and feeling its intoxicating effect on his mind... no stealing kisses from her soft responsive lips... no swallowing her moans as her body heated up in his embrace... no nothing!

Can contemplated out loud:

- I wonder if it's physical possible to go crazy in one week?

Emre chuckled – he knew all too well what Can was talking about:

- Isn't it grand! Look at us – we used to be so above all of it, up in the skies with ambitions and adventures and a world to concur! And now... Two love-sick puppies waiting for a pet from their masters.

- Is that how you see it?

Can was surprised – both by Emre's description and how ok he was with it. Emre seem to be just as fine:

- I don't care if I have to wear dogtags that say 'If found return to Leyla' as long as I get to be hers.

- Well, I wouldn't go that far...

- Wouldn't you?

Emre raised an eyebrow mocking his brother's bravado. Can looked at him and broke his composure in split second:

- Yeah, I would. I wear enough accessories as it is, dogtags with Sanem's name on it would be a welcomed addition.

Emre smiled and asked:

- What if it's not dogtags... but a ring? Are you still planning on proposing?

- Yes and no. 'Yes', I still want her but 'no', I don't want to rush anything, she's obviously not done exploring yet.

- Ah, Omer-bey...

Can's anger flared at the mention of his rival's name. Images flew before his eyes... Omer feeding Sanem a spoon of his ice-cream... Omer bringing his dog – half-breed of some big variety – to the office and making Sanem giggle every time that mutt licked her... Omer helping Sanem to get rid of an eyelash pricking her eye (Can couldn't actually see it but was fairly confident as context allowed for this assumption... alternatively, Omer was dangerously close to Sanem's face for no good reason!)...

Emre, seeing how his brother was fuming with rage, decided to pour some water on that fire:

- I'm sure it seems way different from your angle... but from where I'm standing Sanem and Omer are just really good friends. He's never done anything – that I've seen – that can be seen as romantic or even suggestive of it. I mean, for what it's worth, I don't think Sanem has anything for him except for friendly admiration. She doesn't look at him the way she looks at you, that's for sure!

Something clicked for Can and he turned to face Emre in a quick motion:

- Looks at me how? I always feel like she looks disappointed... or angry...

Emre laughed:

- Yeah, that too! You do know how to push her buttons! But also... there's this longing in her gaze... like she's still waiting for you to... do something.

- Do WHAT?

- Hell if I know, man! It's not like I'm very successful in this myself! At least, your bellowed is not engaged to the Most-Perfect-Man-To-Walk-The-Earth! How does one compete with THAT!

Emre's frustration was very evident in his voice and the way he rubbed his face as if to wake up from his own personal nightmare. Can felt for his brother – he may have screwed up big time in the past, but Can was still hopeful Emre would recover and find his happiness. With Leyla, if that was it for him. Can still had his doubts about that last part.

- I don't know, man, I never pictured you falling for Leyla. You always preferred these chic society girls with long legs and even longer family lineages... and Leyla is so...

While Can got lost for words to describe Emre's former assistant, his brother could speak volumes about her:

- ... so real? Down to earth? Normal? Pure, beautiful, naïve, respectful, amazing, protective of her family, open, honest, supportive, with a touch that makes me want to live, and her eyes...

- Yes! All of that! Stop it! I got it – you're in love, she's you whole universe and all that jazz – but spare me the lovey-dovey details!

Emre took Can's escapade in light mode and returned it with a quote:

- 'She's my mountains, she's my forest' – look who's talking!

- Shit, yeah! We've both got it good, haven't we?

They both laughed at the same time and Can added:

- And they are SISTERS! And their parents probably hate our guts!

The laughter turned hysterical and stopped abruptly when Deren showed up at the door:

- Well, I'm glad you're in a good mood! Save it for the party this evening!

Can and Emre exchanged haunted looks – the verdict night! The week has passed!

Deren interpreted their silent exchange differently and retorted before they had a chance to refuse her:

- No, you're both going! Fikri Harika needs to be represented equally with Yigit's office and I'm going to have our best creative and business minds there with me! No excuses!

Oh, Divit brothers weren't looking for excuses to escape the party. They were just fearful of what comes next!