My Bad Boy’s Ego — Chapter 38

"Are you okay?" Isaiah asks me.

We were both sitting in the seats of the very top level of the yacht. It was an open rooftop, we were able to see the beautiful water unbalancing against each other and the pitch-black sky that was only lit by the moon.

It was about eleven at night already, and I was tired of everything that had went down today.

After Charles had mentioned about my mom, I couldn't help but suddenly back out of the act. It sounded like the plan didn't go out as smoothly as we expected it to, and I was already too drenched in nervousness to continue on with the game.

"Yeah," I responded, eyes peering out into the ocean. Isaiah sat in the seat next to me quietly. It was only the two of us on the rooftop. There were a few people here earlier, but they respectably offered us a little privacy; it was Isaiah's party after all.

Isaiah sat there quietly, he was smart enough to give me a little silence for me to recollect my thoughts. I could feel Isaiah's eyes never leaving my face though. Although it did sound pretty weird, I got use to Isaiah's little stares.

I took a deep breath from the cold air; soon to realize that it was something I regretted doing. Instead of relieving my exhaustion, the cold air lingered into my body causing me to jerk, automatically wrapping my arms around myself. My body started shaking as I suddenly felt the goosebumps arising on my skin.

I was so distracted about the situation, I didn't even notice it was possibly before forty degrees outside.

It didn't take long for me to feel some sort of warmth around my arms. I looked back at Isaiah and noticed his jacket was suddenly draped around my shoulder. He smiles back at me and casually pulls out his phone. His other arm was resting on the back of my chair, legs propped up to where his ankle was resting on his other knee. He relaxing position soon made me lean back against my chair as we both sat in silence.

The silence didn't last so long until we heard footsteps coming up from the stairs. I turned my body around and captured Landon's odd expression. I couldn't read Landon's expression clearly however I just assume it was from the amount of stress we had to put in about the situation of Charles.

"I guess the plan didn't go as well as I expected it to," Landon mumbles, words suddenly slipping out from his lips in a cold manner.

"Tell me about it," I responded, patting the seat next to me motioning Landon to sit. He came over and sat down silently, I can smell his cologne lingering my way. I watched him as he leaned against his seat, releasing a slightly loud sigh.

"I really thought it was going to work," Landon mutters, bringing his hands up to his face as he rubs his eyes.

"It sounded like it was going to work," Isaiah says as his eyes were pierced onto the cell phone.

The three of us sulked in defeat. Isaiah had his right arm draped behind my chair, eyes focused on his device as if it was the only way out of this black hole. Landon had his elbow resting on the headrest of the chair, slightly facing me as he has his other hand rubs both of his temples with his index and thumb finger. I was leaning forward, with my elbows resting on my knees; chin on my palms. The iconic trio, at their lowest point.

Suddenly I felt a hand touching my shoulder, grabbing it softly in support. I sat up and looked towards whom I thought the hand belonged too. Landon finally removes his hand from his face, looking at me with a slightly confused expression. I blinked multiple times before realizing that Landon might not have been the person touching me.

I turned my head towards Isaiah.

All that was filled in Isaiah's eyes was softness. His dark brown eyes showed me nothing but protection. His phone was put away; one hand resting in the pocket of his pants, the other hand resting softly on the shoulder closest to Landon.

Isaiah smiles at me without showing his teeth, squeezing my shoulder lightly. I brought my hand up to his, and rests mine on top. I appreciated the support that Isaiah has been showing me since the beginning. Although he has annoyed me a couple of times, he didn't deserve the attitude he managed to put up with.

I smiled back at Isaiah, leaning towards him slightly as I innocently rested my head on his shoulder as a small thank you. I pulled away quickly and leaned back against my head. Isaiah removes his arm and pulls out his phone again, doing who knows what.

Landon has stayed quiet the entire time. However, he's been watching the entire time. I felt a little bit guilty, sensing that he probably felt left out from Isaiah and I's little moment. But I brushed it off. Something little like this won't hurt his feelings, he's Landon Carthy after all.

I closed my eyes as I let the breeze attack my neck, sending cold signals down my spine.

After what felt like hours on the roof top, my mouth started to feel dry and my bladder was on the edge of exploding. I pulled off the expensive grey blazer of Isaiah's and set it on the chair, before pulling on my dress and letting it softly flow with the wind.

"Where are you going?" Isaiah asks, looking up at me as he grabs his blazer.

"To the bathroom," I responded.

I noticed from the corner of my eyes, Landon getting ready to stand up as if he was going to escort me to the bathroom.

I smiled at his gesture but held a hand up, "I can go by myself."

Landon willingly sits back down and leans back against his chair, also pulling out his phone.

The two best friend had almost an identical position. Phone resting in their left hand, right hand in their pockets, both legs straight out in front of them and their eyes resting on the phone calmly. The only thing that was different between the two was that Isaiah's hair was gelled back, as for Landon's hair softly dancing along with the wind.

Feeling the awkwardness in the air as I was observing the boys, I snapped out of the trace and made my way towards the door that lead me downstairs towards the main entrance of the party.

Making my way to the bathroom, I couldn't help but notice how mature this party was. Sure, it was business party but there was hardly any dancing, or loud music bursting. It was more like a get together with hundreds of people at dining tables and classical music. I pressed my lips together as I grabbed the handle of the bathroom.

It was locked.

I released a sigh, feeling my bladder about to explode on this ship ride. I leaned back against the wall in front of the bathroom, staring at the door and waiting for it to open.

Without having the intention to, I closed my eyes feeling the cruise bouncing up and down lightly from the motion of the waves.

"Hello again," a voice spoke up.

I opened my eyes slowly seeing Landon's older brother smiling at me with a soft grin as he offers a hand towards me.

"Hi," I simply responded, grabbing his hand.

I expected a handshake from the guy, instead he brought my hand towards his lips, planting a soft kiss on it. He stands back up straight again and pulls out the wine glass that he's been hiding in his other hand during the mini greeting.

"My brother mentioned about you once," Aiden says, looking at me with the green eyes that he may have inherited from his mother. Unlike Landon's blue eyes, Aiden's vision showed a lot more kindness and happiness.

I smiled at his sentence, "What did he say?"

"Well first, he was complaining about a new girl from school. And how he hated her the moment he's laid eyes on her," Aiden chuckles, swirling the wine around in the circular glass, "Coming to the conclusion that the girl was you, he continued to talk about how much he's gone so far with his hatred."

I was slightly taken aback by Aiden's story telling, however I couldn't help but feel a little bit relieved that the hardship between Landon and I was over.

"You two seem very close," I responded.

"Of course. Even though he is a pain in the ass sometimes, he's still my younger brother," Aiden commented.

I pressed my lips together in a thin line, remembering about the story that Landon has told me long ago.

"I heard you guys are half-brothers," I said in a questioning tone.

Without a doubt, Aiden nodded.

"Yeah, we are. But we've been together since he was born. We consider each other as full, blood brothers."

I nodded to his response at there was a quick silence between us.

Then Aiden spoke up again.

"I heard you have a brother?"

"Yeah," I nodded again, "Austin."

"How's he?"

"He's good, he's going to college right now," I responded, crossing my legs as I started to feel the desperation of needing to release my bladder.

"How about your parents? Mom and Dad?"

I smiled softly and shook my head, "No mom."

Aiden stops swirling the wine in his glass and softens his posture, "Sorry," he apologizes as he takes a sip of his drink. I noticed him feeling uneasy after he's touched an uncomfortable subject about my life.

"It's okay, don't stress," I responded.

The door in front of us suddenly opens, revealing an old high-class lady dressed in red. The moment she steps foot outside, the smell of rich and strong perfume fills the air. Aiden turns around towards her and greets her with a smile.

"Hello, Ms. Winthrop," he greets.

Taking this chance, I swerved around her and shoved myself into the bathroom. I didn't care about sending so-called Ms. Winthrop and introduction; I just had to pee.

- - -

The two male sat there in silence as they fiddled around with their phones, mentally begging for this business party to quickly finish. Landon was the first to glance away from his phone, Isaiah was the second.

The two friends looked at each other before putting away their phones, as if they both knew that they had something to discuss.

After his brother, Isaiah was the person Landon admires the most on this planet. There was no better feeling in the world but to be accompanied by his own best friend. Although the two may have heated moments, they were always forgiven almost immediately.

Landon slightly turns his body towards Isaiah, pressing his lips in a thin line as he shoves both of his hands into the pockets of his pants.

"I.C," Landon calls. Isaiah sits up straight as he hears his initials.

"You and Aubrey," he mumbles, looking at his best friend's large brown eyes before continuing his sentence, "Did you guys have fun?"

"Of course," Isaiah sends a soft smile, "Did you?"

Landon nods. He allowed the silence to fill the air before feeling his nerves jolting against his skin.

Finally, he worked up the nerve to confess.

"Do you like her?" he asks.

Isaiah was quiet for a second. However it didn't take long for him to nod and respond with an easy "Yes."

Something about Isaiah's response suddenly made Landon angry. With both of his hands in his pockets, he squeezed his leg, feeling his knuckles almost becoming numb and white from the harshness. His heart started beating rapidly against his chest, and something inside him made him what to scream and punch his best friend across the face.

But he couldn't.

He couldn't do that to his best friend.

Not again.

"Something tells me that you do too," Isaiah speaks up again, turning his head towards Landon. They exchange looks of pain. There was no more hiding to the fact that the two best friends may have shared the same love interest.

Landon didn't respond after that.

It was quiet.

"Guys," a soft, high-pitched voice spoke up. The two males turn their head at the same time and landed on the girl that they both perhaps love.