Page 67 of Return To You

We haven’t spoken about our past yet, just like she hasn’t kissed me again, but she’s talking to me, telling me all about her pregnancy, her labor, and our son—she’s opening up.

She’s mentioned her course work as well, but there’s no spark in her eyes. I have contacted Kingston University, and they said she could start the animal behavior course in the fall online and even use some of the credits she’s already earned toward it, but they said the scholarship couldn’t be transferred.

I just said okay, and after much arguing, Rafael and I agreed we’d pay half the full amount each.

I won’t have my girl continue a career path she doesn’t enjoy; I refuse to see her suffering in mediocrity, and Rafael agrees.

She’s done everything for our son, and now I’m doing everything for her.

I sigh again, about to check the time, ready to call Rose and most likely ruin the surprise, when a car engine gets my attention. I look up to see an old Ford driving my way, Rose’s figure catching my attention in the passenger seat as she laughs.

I smile wide.

About fucking time.

She doesn’t notice me as she climbs out of the car, waving bye to Natalie, who just grins, winking my way, causing Rose to frown and look my way, too.

Her eyes widen, and I chuckle before noticing she’s changed from her white waitress dress to jeans, boots, and a hoodie.

My hoodie that I bought last year, to be exact.

Now, how in the hell did she get that?

I raise a brow and ask her just that. “Now, how did you get hold of that?”

Natalie beeps her horn and drives off, grinning.

Rose’s cheeks redden as she admits, “You weren’t supposed to see I had it.” I smirk, and she shrugs. “Finders keepers.”

Honestly, the smile that overtakes my face at her repeated words from high school cannot be stopped.

I grin and ask, “From my bedroom?”

She shrugs again. “Barnett’s finders keepers, then, before he gifted it to me….”

I laugh, shaking my head, and state, “What’s mine is yours Rose, it always has been.” Her eyes tear up, and I hold my arms out to my sides and ask, “So what do you say, Petal? Fancy making my twenty-first birthday wish come true and come for a ride with me?”

Her eyes go behind me to what I’m leaning on, and her tears fall, realizing I want to take the bike that she bought me out together.

She nods and admits, “I would love nothing more, but Diego?—”

I cut her off, “Is with Uncle Barn and Cam, most likely learning his first curse word.”

She nods again with a small smile and walks over to me, but I don’t move. Instead, I spread my legs and, most likely on pure instinct, Rose walks into my awaiting arms, her nose going straight into the crook of my neck. I sigh with contentment as I wrap my arms around her tightly, keeping her to me.

“You want to talk, don’t you?” she inquires after a few minutes, and I hum against her head.

“I can’t lose you again, Rose, and right now, it doesn’t feel like I have you. I lost your trust, and I know I need to gain it back, but I can’t if you don’t let me in. All week you’ve kept it platonic, and Petal, we haveneverbeen friends.” She pulls back and raises a brow, and I grin a boyish grin and admit, “You’re the love of my life, Rose, you’re mybest friend, but we’ve never been platonic friends.”

She nods, happy with my words, and I chuckle and kiss her forehead. “Climb on, my Petal. I finally get to live out one of my dreams.”

She smiles and pulls back, but my hands grip her hips.

Things may be up in the air right now—they have been for two years—but in this position, nothing changes.

She rolls her eyes, goes to her tiptoes, and gently caresses her lips with mine before pulling back. I groan, making her laugh.

“I swear, after we have this talk, my lips are not moving from yours for at least an hour.”

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