Page 53 of Return To You

Does that mean Noah is here as well? Crap, I knew I should have snuck out earlier this morning.

“Geeze, this kid is going to be good-looking when he’s older….”

I try to hold in my snort at Cameron’s words and put on my best resting bitch face, needing to remember what they did to me, and I walk down the stairs.

Everyone turns my way. Dad looks at the bag, and his smile vanishes, while Barnett and Cameron look at it like it’s a live bomb.

Cameron grins when Diego grabs his beard, getting his attention, and I mutter, “That should be a sign to shave it,” without thinking because it just doesn’t suit him. Then, silently, I curse when they all snort.

Jackasses.

Rolling my eyes, I walk over to Cameron to grab Diego from his arms, but he turns half his body, stopping me, and I raise a brow.

He grins. “Yeah, you're clearly about to leave, something Noah most likely doesn’t know about, but before you do go, Barn and I want to take you somewhere.”

I open my mouth to decline, but Barnett takes my bag while I’m distracted. I glare at him, but he’s not looking at me. Instead, his eyes are on my bag, staring daggers at it like it did something wrong.

I shake my head. “I’m not going anywhere with you two; I have to check in at the motel….”

“A motel, but Rose….” My dad protests.

I give him a sad smile. “I have an early train to catch tomorrow morning. I need to get home.”

He flinches at me, and I sigh while Cameron steps forward, bouncing Diego on his hip, and he says, “You never got closure.” I furrow my brows at him, and he smiles at me. “We left without making Noah speak to you, even though we all thought something wasn’t right. Your father kicked you out because you wouldn’t abort your baby, and something big happened with Al and Van that none of us know about.” I wince, and he raises a brow. “The love of your life acted like you cheated on him for two years because he felt too guilty about leaving without confronting you. You both need closure.”

Barnett steps forward. “All we’re asking is for you to come with us, just for a few hours, and if you still want to leave, then I’ll personally fly you back to Fremont.”

I scrunch my nose up and state, “Barn, you crashed like five cars and two bikes in high school; like hell would I allow you to fly an actual plane.”

Cameron snorts while my dad grins, and Barnett scowls. “Fine, I’ll have a driver drive you to the airstrip, and a pilot fly you to the place you think is your home when really your home is with Noah.”

Anger shoots through me, and I can’t help but fire back.

“And yet he ran like his butt was on fire after seeing an innocent photo of a stressed-out father worried for his disabled daughter who needed surgery,” I snap. Both boys frown, and I groan and admit, “The man hugging me was emotional because the bike I was buying off him for Noah as a graduation gift was below the price it was worth, but he was desperate, and at the time, my father had promised to help pay for half of my online college that the scholarship didn’t cover so I gave the man an extra $200. He hugged me as a thank you and, yes, I went and checked up on him. He and his new wife are very happy, expecting another baby, while his daughter survived the surgery and is healthy.”

Barnett curses while Cameron looks down with shame, but not for long, as Diego squirms to grab his beard again.

“Seriously, Cameron, what is with the beard? You look like the kind of guy who hides on street corners to mug people.” I finally give in and say something, because damn….

The thing…it takes uphalf his face.

He looks at me and grins. “I’ll shave it off if you come with us….”

“Fuck, take the offer, Rose; we all told him not to grow it. Women only go near him because he’s a rockstar,” Barnett remarks, and I groan while the men grin, knowing I’m giving in because I hate that beard.

“Fine, but then you have to take me home, preferably not you behind the wheel, though,” I say to Barnett, and he scowls. I ignore it, look at Cameron, and say, "That thing better be gone by the time I have to leave.”

My dad laughs, taking Diego from a sulking Cameron, then walks toward the kitchen stating, “I’ll be on Diego watch,” while Barnett wraps his arm over my shoulders, his body shaking with silent laughter at the look on Cameron’s face.

“You were going to give in anyway, weren’t you?” Barnett asks in a whisper as he guides me to the waiting SUV, and I shrug.

“Curiosity killed the cat and all that, but you have to admit, the thing is hideous. Some men can pull off a full beard, but he cannot.”

He laughs again and helps me into the car, and I shake my head, leaning back against the seat, wondering what I’ve gotten myself in for.

My eyes watch the scenery as we drive along my father’s street, only to turn down the next one, and instantly, I suck in a breath. I hold it, hoping they are not taking me to where I think they are, but the car slows and pulls in through the open massive, black iron gates, and rounding the drive before stopping in front of the Victorian mansion with a wraparound porch.

My heart bangs, my eyes stinging.

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