Page 56 of North (The Moral Compass 2)

“What?”

“Make him do things he doesn’t want to do?”

“Magic pussy.” I smile and wink.

Chapter 39

North

Thelasttimemyeldest brother and I had a conversation, it ended up splitting the family in half. I don’t really want a repeat of that, but he did look really sad and sullen. And if it keeps me in Kara’s good books, I’ll lend him one of my broad shoulders.

Looking around the pool, I can’t see South, so I lie down on one of the loungers. I must have dozed off when South sits beside me. He’s all wet, so he must have been for a swim already.

“Have you had enough of the girl talk?” he asks. There is a little lightness in his voice.

“Yeah, there’s only so much chatting shit one guy can take. Anyway, what’s up with you?”

“Nothing!”

“Okay, if you say so, but answer me this honestly. Why do you keep checking your phone constantly?” I ask and wait. He doesn’t answer, he just picks up his phone, looks at it, and then puts it face down.

“You know something, South. The only time I have been like that was when Kara left me. I was waiting and waiting for her to just show me a sign that we could at least try to sort it out. It’s a woman, isn’t it?”

Again, he doesn’t speak, but he nods and looks away.

“South, you can talk to me, you know. I know I’m the younger brother, but I’ve been around the block a fair few times.” I throw him my signature smile and wink, trying to warm him up a bit.

Well… it works with the ladies.

“Ha, that’s right. North, you’re lucky, and you always get the girl. Even the ones you don’t want end up fucking stalking you.” He rumbles.

“That’s not strictly true though, is it? God, you’re such a dick. I nearly lost Kara, and I still could. She only needs enough spooking, and she will be off like a rocket. Every morning, I wake up in a panic, thinking that she will be gone. How does that make me lucky? I’m living in fear. Fear that one day she will look at me, and my smile and good looks won’t be enough to keep her with me. But that fear is a reminder of how much I love her and what I’m willing to do to keep her. So, I will ask you again, South, what is up?”

A good few minutes pass of him hanging his head, picking up his phone, and then doing the same on repeat.

“For fuck’s sake, South, just spit it out.”

“All right, for God’s sake. When I was eighteen, I met a girl. We had fun like you do at university, dated for a couple of years and then I started working for Dad, and we drifted apart. I ran into her a few years back, and we picked up where we left off. The last year has been strained, though. She wanted marriage, kids, the whole nine yards, and I don’t. I don’t want that piece of paper and the fuss and pomp of a wedding just to tell people we are together, and I certainly don’t want rug rats. I don’t even like kids. It’s going to be torture when Sutton comes back with three screaming babies that will keep everyone in the house awake every night. Everyone keeps cooing over them. I just didn’t want any of… that.”

“So, what? You’ve split up?” I ask.

“Yeah, we did. I told her it was over the week before I had my fit in the office about Sutton and Kara. I was so pissed off that you two were getting everything you wanted. What do I get, North? Fuck all again.”

“Do you think you made a mistake?”

“No, no mistake. She’s moved on already. Got herself a boyfriend who already has one kid, so he will probably be open for more.”

“So, why do you keep checking your phone? If you ended it and she has moved on, what’s the deal?”

“She always sent me a text every morning. I just keep hoping that if things don’t go right with the new guy, she might text me.”

“And then what?”

“I don’t know. I can’t give her what she wants, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting her.”

“Do you love her?” I have to ask him.

“I think I do, but if I did, then I would want the same as her. I would want the house and white picket fence and a Labrador, but… I don’t. I want to travel. I want to go on expeditions and dig for artefacts in undiscovered places. I might be thirty-seven, but I’m not old, and I’m in decent shape. I want to do these things while I can and still enjoy them. Does any of that make sense?”

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