Page 81 of Return To You

My phone goes off, and I check Noah’s reply only to roll my eyes again while Gina outright laughs, which is weird coming from a girl who’s hated my guts for years.

My Musician: It’s not stealing when I don’t plan on letting you go back to Fremont xxx

“You mother….” I stop what I was about to say and mumble, “Nope, not saying it, I like Tamara….”

I look back at Gina, refusing to message Noah back. It’s bad enough I’m giving my dad more of an opportunity by helping to pay for my college after he point blank refused if I didn’t get an abortion, and now I’m allowing Al to see Diego, who, according to Noah, happens to love him…. I’m not ready to digest Noah’s plan to keep me here, not when I don’t fully trust him.

Gina swallows, her throat bobbing before she says, “I need to ask you a question, and I need your serious answer….”

I raise a brow. “Gina, you’ve probably spent the last two years of my relationship with your brother creating trouble, and even before then, when you became friends with Piper. Actually, you and she were the reason why he ran from me to begin with, making me a single mom. Why would I answer anything you have to ask?”

She looks down before looking back at all the photos, and again, I will not digest his words just yet.

“Did you have an affair with Bailey Hails?” she asks, ignoring my words, and I furrow my brows in confusion.

“Bailey Hails….” My eyes widen. “You mean Professor Hails in study hall?”

She looks at me, her eyes sad, and I scrunch my nose in disgust.

She winces. “I’m going to take that as a no…dammit….”

I gag; I can’t help it. It didn’t matter how much the middle-aged man tried to cover the smell, he always stunk of sweaty balls. He’d comb his hair to the side to hide the bald patches, and his clothes were always one size too small.

I mean, seriously, she thought I was…. Oh God, really?

She chuckles darkly and admits, “I was a freshman and scared when I started Kings Prep. Piper, she ‘saved’ me from a few girls who tried to jump me in the bathroom.” I look at her sharply at the thought of sweet thirteen-year-old Gina being hurt, but she shakes her head. “She said you orchestrated it, and instantly I knew it was crap because you used to braid my hair. But then she showed me photos of you smiling at some of the girls…and I turned against you.” Gina rubs her forehead. “Piper has always been obsessed with my brother, but I was too focused on her being my so-called ‘savior and friend’ to realize it. I ignored Mom, Dad, and even Noah when they said she was using me.”

I sigh. “Let me guess, she told you I cheated on Noah, so the girl that welcomed me with open arms turned on me and hated me?” She nods, and I scrunch my nose up again and ask, “She couldn’t say I was at least cheating with someone who, I don’t know, doesn’t stink of sweaty balls?” Gina smirks and I continue, “I mean, I’m insulted. Why couldn’t she say someone cuter like, I don’t know, Coach Carter?”

“He’s gay,” Gina says, and my eyes widen in shock, my mouth parting, and she nods. “Yeah, I know, such a waste for us girls. I don’t think men understand just how hot he is. I’ve seen him in swim trunks, and I swear I got pregnant just looking at him….”

I snort, unable to keep it in.

I take a seat on the couch, and she comes to sit next to me.

“I’m sorry, Rose,” she whispers, and tears form behind my eyes. I will them away. “I broke you and Noah…. When you opened the door, I was so convinced you were using my brother that…I didn’t realizeIwas the one being used….”

I swallow hard and ask, “And what made you change your mind?”

She’s quiet for a moment, and I look at her to see her eyes on the photos. I nod in understanding.

A picture says a thousand words.

“I do want to know, though, who the guy I saw you hugging in the photo was.” She asks after a few minutes of silence, and I look at her with a frown.

“You didn’t take it?” I ask, and she shakes her head. “Piper did.”

Of course.

I swear that girl has a screw loose.

“He was a single father selling his motorcycle for half of what it was worth so he could pay for his disabled daughter’s surgery. I gave him an extra $200, and he hugged me, crying. I bought the bike for Noah as a graduation gift.”

Gina slumps back, and I follow suit, keeping my eyes on the photos.

“He loves you, you know,” she whispers, and I nod. She asks, “Then why not say screw the past and move forward? I mean, you're wearing the ring Piper told me he bought for her on your right hand….”

I shake my head. “I think Piper has made some kind of romance story in her head. I’m getting really concerned about her, and for the safety of my family….”

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