Page 51 of Return To You

We head out the door but stop when I see Gina and Piper standing near the cars.

I scowl. “And what are you two doing here?”

Gina rolls her eyes. “I’m your sister, Noah. It’s time you stop being petty. I get it. I screwed a guy on your couch, I invited Piper to stay, but you can’t keep ignoring me….” Her words trail off, and she frowns when she sees our parents behind me, dressed up, along with my boys. She asks, “Where are all you lot going dressed up so nicely?”

I sneer at her and take a menacing step forward, but Cameron grabs my arm. Gina’s eyes widen, and Piper asks, “Noah, what has gotten into you, baby?”

I growl at her, “Don’t fucking call me baby. I have never and will never touch you, and it’s time you get that in your pathetic head.”

She gasps in shock, and I look at my sister, my baby sister, and scoff, “You’re a piece of fucking work. What was it, huh,Gina? Didn’t want all of my money to be spent on Rose? Is that why you did it, because we both know it wasn’t for popularity, because that bitch was the school outcast!”

Gina swallows. “I…uh, don’t know what you’re talking about?”

I smirk “No? So you didn’t see my girl heavily fucking pregnant, and then tell me she looked to be four months along?” Her eyes widen, and her face pales. “So you didn’t ensure that I’d miss a year of my son’s fucking life, and all for what, huh? Why, Gina, why in the fuck would you do this to me? What the fuck did I ever do to you other than give you what you wanted, huh? What did my girl ever do to deserve to be a single fucking mother!”

Her tears fall, and she stammers, “N-Noah I-I, please I….”

I cut her off, “Get the fuck off my property. We have a first birthday party to get to formyson!”

She cries, but I ignore her and go to the SUV, climbing in, the others following. Not even Mom or Nick spares her glance, even as security escorts both women off my property after Barnett waved them over.

She’s supposed to be my sister, instead, she tried to ruin my happiness, and may have succeeded, if Rose doesn’t give me a chance. I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t.

I may not have touched another woman, but I still fucking left.

A few hours later, I’m smiling, watching Diego laugh and giggle in the ball pit Rose bought him for his birthday, clutching the bear I bought his momma years ago, while Rose stands near him, taking pictures, wearing a long strapless maxi dress.

Fuck, she looks beautiful.

Fuck, I’ve missed her. Every time I’ve come to spend time with Diego, she hasn’t been here, and it's not lost on me that it’s on purpose. Rafael stated she did see the guy in the photo, but he wouldn’t tell me who he is, which fucking hurts.

Why is he so special?

Swallowing past the pain, I push off the railing where I’m leaning, and follow Rose as she goes into the kitchen, not able to stay away any longer.

She doesn’t look up as I enter behind her, closing the door, instead, she sighs.

“What can I do for you, Noah?” she says flatly, and I half smile, liking that she can still feel me like I can her.

I shrug and admit, “I just wanted to see how you were doing; I’ve not seen you since we got back into town.”

She shakes her head, grips the counter, and whispers, “How am I doing? It’s been two years, and yet I still feel like I can’t breathe.” I flinch at her words, and she shakes her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I need to get back to our son….”

She grabs the plate of party food and walks past me, but I quickly grab her wrist, gently rubbing my thumb over my name as I turn her hand, my eyes finally catching the date.

Fuck me, it’s the date we met, her first day at Kings Prep….

Trying to breathe past my pain, I rasp, “I know I screwed up. I know I should have spoken to you, but I’m not giving up, Rose. I love you, just like you love me.”

With that said, I kiss her forehead, then let go of her, and walk outside to the yard, needing a little break from our family. I’m also giving her space, knowing I won’t be able to keep my distance from her now that I’ve touched her soft skin.

I sit on the swing seat, my fingers itching to grab a smoke, but I resist, and sigh. I notice Al leaning against the tree, and I sigh again, but for a different reason.

He gives me a nod but doesn’t come over, knowing he’s not welcome. Whatever happened between them must have been real fucking bad, and my curiosity is getting the best of me.

The seat moves as a lump sits down next to me. I don’t look his way, though, already knowing who it is.

“You need to convince her to come to our show.” I scoff, but he ignores me. “Seriously. As soon as she hears the music, the pain you feel when you sing the words…. Get her to come to the show and to your party. I know you want to cancel, but I think she needs to see how much your life revolves around her even now, two years later.”

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