Page 38 of Return To You

Normally, I’ll ride the bike from home to work, but because Diego is going to daycare, I have to walk it two miles with him strapped in the seat I purchased last month.

I’ve been told it's safe, but I haven’t had the guts to ride with him yet.

I look through my bag for my keys, and then walk over to the bike, putting my bag in the saddle, ready to see my baby, but I look up in shock and hurt when Noah snaps, “Let me guess, your boyfriend’s bike?”

Our eyes connect, and anger and hurt shine through his.

Huh, right, what an absolute joke. He’s hurt and angry over a fake man he’s just made up, over a bike that I bought him, when he’s been with multiple women since he left.

My eyes tear up, and instantly, I hate myselfandhim.

Damn my heart, and damn him!

twelve

Noah

I tapthe heel of my foot on the ground as I lean against the rented SUV, my eyes on Rose through the wall of windows of Katie’s Diner.

According to Rafael, the private investigator he hired found out she’s been working here since leaving Kingstonville, the same dayIleft. He also mentioned she’s been working at a family law place, but the investigator didn’t find out why. Rafael didn’t care; he was just happy he found her after he cut her off, but I, on the other hand, care.

She was supposed to be working with mammals right about now, or heck, even animals within the veterinary industry for some experience with animal behavior, but she’s not.

I guess that’s what happens when you have a child before you hit twenty, though it doesn’t explain why she wouldn’t get a job within her interests. The diner, I can understand; she has experience, but the law firm….

My eyes take her in as she smiles and talks to some brunette before I side-eye the KTM 250 Duke, the dark blue shining in the sun.

Oh, what I’d give to grab that thing and take it for a spin, preferably with Rose clinging to my back.

My eyes go back to my girl, I mean, fuck….

I shake my head, looking down for a moment.

In my heart, she’s still my girl, has been since I was fourteen years old, but I fuck, in my head, I’m confused, so very fucking confused, it’s why I haven’t confronted her yet, but that ends now. I’ve been in town for two days, and I’ve sat in this same spot each time she’s in work, with my head fucked up over our situation.

I called in a few favors, and yes, I used my status to get the information I needed, but apparently, she was supposed to be on vacation for two weeks, and her boss asked her to work.

I also sat outside the law office yesterday morning. I got there after her and waited until Al needed me to give him a lift back to the airstrip, taking his plane back to Kingstonville.

He said she wouldn’t speak to him.

When he heard I was coming to find her, he asked to come along. I told him she may not want anything to do with him, and I guess I was right.

I still don’t know what he and Van said to break their relationship, but I know that they haven’t had one in nearly two years.

I side-eye the bike again, regretting not buying one yet. My past and all the conversations with Rose about wanting one clouded me.

Sighing, I push off the SUV, and head into the diner.

The bell dings above my head as I look around the light blue and white place. It feels homey, but there’s only one person Iwant to focus on, and I look her way as she stands, turning to greet her new customer but freezes, her face paling.

I take in her light-yellow apron and instantly hate it. I hate that this is what she’s doing, something that wasn’t her dream, while I live mine.

But she had a kid, a kid Barnett and Cameron believe could be mine, not putting it past my sister to lie to me, though something this big, this serious…. If Rose were nearly ready to give birth when Gina saw her, she would have been quite big, and Gina would know the difference between a four-month bump and an eight. Right?

I haven’t allowed myself to think about it just yet because once I do, I know I’ll hit the bottle, and I know I’ll kill my sister.

Our eyes connect, and the itch for a smoke I originally wanted before I walked in here. I haven’t had one in two days, and it isn’t lost on me that this woman is the reason why.

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