Page 66 of Return To You

Tears sting my eyes, and I walk over to my door before gently putting my key in the lock. Slowly I turn the key and open the door, the sight before me taking my breath away.

Noah sits on my second-hand couch, Diego lying on his bare chest, his head on his dad’s shoulder, asleep.

“Come on now, baby, try to understand,

I’m here by your side, refusing to let go.

Come on now, baby, try to understand,

That we’ll get through this because you're mine….”

Tears fall as Noah looks up, locking eyes with me, and he smiles slightly.

“Did you really think I’d walk away from you again, Petal?” I look down, not wanting to admit it's where my thoughts went, but he speaks up again, and I look at him, “I gave you a week's space to get your mind ready because this isitnow. We’re going to get all the shit out on the table, and I’m going to fight like fucking mad to ensure I don’t lose you again.”

My breath stutters, his words sounding perfect but scaring the crap out of me all the same, and all I can think of saying is, “Peter made a move on me.” I wince, hating that I just said that, but I take pleasure in the pure anger that takes over his features.

Diego stirs, most likely picking up on the tension, and Noah stands, patting Diego’s bottom as he walks past me and down the hallway into Diego’s room.

I don’t move from my spot in the doorway, and when he returns, he storms over to me and pulls me inside, gently shutting the front door and pressing me against it, making me gasp.

His hand lightly comes up to my jaw, and I can’t help it as my eyes look over his body because, God, what a view….

He forces me to look into his eyes, and the urge to look away from the intensity hits me hard, but I don’t, I keep eye contact even as he growls, “Rose!” in warning, the vibrations through his chest going into mine.

I swallow hard and whisper, “I pushed him away before he could kiss me.”

Noah physically relaxes as he places his forehead against mine.

My tears fall as I whisper, “You left me, Noah. I had to give birth on my own, how can we get past that? How can I possibly trust you again?”

His eyes pin mine as he whispers back, “By giving me a chance to not only prove myself, Rose, but also to give you the answers you need.” He leans forward and kisses the corner of my mouth, and rasps, “Piper is out of the band; Joel got her transferred, and filed harassment charges against her, and we have a case because of the cameras in the rooms where we stayed. The label had no choice but to agree when all of us threatened to walk away. I never signed the rights to my music over to them, baby.” I sniffle. He squeezes my hip, and his thumb gently tracing over my jaw. “Gina is banned from any tours and concerts, and Mom has ensured she’ll never be able to contact you again. I’ve told Gina the same thing.” He grips my jaw. “Our next tour is postponed for six months, Petal, so we can sort this out. I won’t go unless you and our son are with me. I rented a condo in Fremont. The boys and I will stay here until we’ve sorted this out, until I can convince you to come home with me.”

My tears fall faster, and he groans. “Fuck, I hate your tears, Petal.”

Gently, he kisses my lips, then utters, “We’re going to make it through this, because I love you, Rose, and you love me, and our love is worth fighting for.” He kissed me again, harder this time, and like the hussy I am, I open for him as he licks my lips.

I hope he’s right.

I want us to be okay, but more importantly, I hope that I can learn to trust him, because he’s right, I do love him, and being without him and seeing all those photos of him online is killing me.

twenty-three

Noah – One Week Later

I checkmy watch with a sigh, then look up toward the road again.

She’s late.

Rose is working in the diner today with that fucker who tried kissing her, and she’s late getting home. I took her in this morning with the rented SUV, and Natalie promised to bring her home, agreeing with my plan, but they are fucking late….

Did he make another pass at her? Is that why she’s not home yet?

Fuck, would she accept it if he did?

I swallow, my throat suddenly dries with the thought.

Since last week, since hearing my admission, I have ensured that I’m around her as much as possible. If she’s at the diner, Diego and I will have lunch with her, which pisses the fucker off, making my day, and yes, I’m basically marking my territory, but I don’t give a shit. If I’m in the studio I rented with the boys, she’s there with our son for dinner. My evenings are spent with them as much as possible, my nights on her fucking couch.

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