13 - It can't happen again. I'm sorry

***POV NOAH***


Leaning against the cold wall of the corridor, I cross my arms in front of my chest. I look at the white door in front of me, sighing deeply.

The door opens, and I lift my gaze to the woman inside the bathroom. She looks at me, surprised.

"Noah," she said, surprised.

I push away from the wall and walk towards her, slowly pushing her body back into the bathroom. I quickly closed the door, locking us both inside.

"What are you doing?" she asked, raising her gaze to mine.

"I can't be near you without touching you. I needed to kiss you," I said, desperate. I raise my right hand to touch her face, caressing it, and causing her to close her eyes for a moment. "May I?" I whispered.

She opened her eyes and looked at me with the same intensity with which I looked at her.

"You may," she replied softly.

I didn't wait for anything else; I just stuck my lips to his and began a desperate kiss.
Our tongues dueled for space; we were panting and breathless, but we didn't want to let go of each other. 

“Why did you leave the table and not wait for my answer?” I asked breathlessly as she gently pushed my chest away.

“I needed to go to the bathroom,” she said, looking away from the door behind me. 

“Let's see each other tonight,” I asked, pulling his body close to mine again. 

“I've already told you that I intend to stay with my daughter.”

She tried to get out of my arms, to no avail, because I held her waist even tighter.

“What's wrong?”

“I think we're going too fast; it was supposed to be just once, an adventure I've had in my whole life. Then we did it again yesterday, and now you want to see me again?” She sighed and pulled away from me, turning her back to me and running her hand through her blonde hair. “I've already told you that I don't want to and can't get into a relationship right now. Besides, you're the brother of my daughter's best friend. I don't want to spoil things.”

I sighed.

Damn.

"I thought we talked in the middle of the night and that we'd let it happen... You're driving me crazy, honestly, saying something different every time... You don't want to?" I asked, my heart in my hand, afraid I wouldn't like the answer, and I knew I wouldn't.

"I liked being with you; I liked our moments." she turned to face me, looking me in the eyes.

"I feel like there's a 'but' there," I grumbled.

"But it can't happen again. I'm sorry."

I stood there for long minutes, honestly just looking at that woman.

I didn't react; I was paralyzed, only taking action when she walked past me and out of the bathroom, leaving me alone.

I laughed in disbelief, punching the wall. I was angry.

Not because of the rejection I had just received, but because I didn't understand why I felt so bad about it. It was like a feeling of tightness and pain in my heart, you know?

I took a deep breath, turned my back and left the bathroom too.

I walked to the garden, where everyone should have been. But they weren't there. Only my father was there, sitting in the same chair as before, now drinking a glass of whisky.

I looked around and there was no sign of them.

"They've gone." My father's voice reached me. "The girl's mother came back a bit strange from the bathroom and wanted to leave. Do you know her?" he asked.

I turned to face him and approached the table with long strides. I sat down in front of him and picked up the bottle of whisky, taking a long swig straight from the bottle.

"I didn't know her," was all I said.

"I saw the way you looked at her... Don't tell me she's the woman you were with yesterday.

"How did I look at her?" I wanted to know. "I looked at her normally, the way I look at everyone."

My father laughed - an ironic laugh.

"Your eyes lit up, and it looked like you were going to devour her just by looking at her."

"You're seeing things," I said, taking another sip of my drink.

"All right," he joked, "but as your father, I have to warn you and advise you."

"I'm not asking for your advice," I replied.

"But I'll tell you anyway... Women like her will only screw you over. She'll never want to go through with anything with a guy like you."

"Women like her?" I asked, now looking into his eyes. I was very angry. "How do you know about these women if you've been married to my mother all your life?"

My father held my gaze, and we stayed like that for long minutes until I heard my sister's voice.

"Noah!" She ran to the table and stopped by my side. "Let's go to the pool," she asked excitedly.

I got up from my chair, grabbed the whiskey bottle, and looked at my younger sister.

I hated to see her sad...

"I'm leaving."

I walked through the garden, hearing my sister calling me, and soon my mother appeared in front of me, wanting to know what had happened. I ignored everyone and left my parents' house.

I got into my car and sat there for long minutes drinking my whiskey while thinking about that woman.

Why couldn't I stop thinking about her?

Damn it!!!

"SHIT!" I punched the steering wheel, trying to calm my anger.

My father's words were swirling in my mind, making me even angrier.

My father knew I had been with Isabela; of course, he knew. I don't know how he found out; if it was really because of the way I looked at her, I don't know, but he knows...

And I also noticed the way he stared at her as soon as appeared in the garden. It wasn't a normal look, but I also didn't want to believe that my father had improper thoughts about other women besides my mother.

I put my hand in my pocket and took out my cell phone, unlocking it. The first thing I did was go to the messaging app and enter Isabela's contact information that I had saved last night. I didn't think much; when I saw it, I had already typed a message to her and sent it.

‘I need to see you... Can we talk? Please.’