Page 56 of Exposed

“It’s a surprise.”

“Por qué?”

“Because surprises are fun, kiddo.”

“Noooo. I don’t like surprises.”

“Hey,” I said and grabbed his knee. I was the one that didn’t like surprises, not him. After everything that happened with my dad, surprises always freaked me out. But Jacob usually loved them. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t want to go home.”

Normally he’d say hedidwant to go home. “I don’t understand, sweet boy. Do you want us to go home right now?”

“Noooo.” He shook his head. “Abuelo promised I didn’t have to go back again. Don’t make me. I can’t go home. I want new home.”

Oh.He was talking about that limo ride we’d taken with Tanner. When Tanner brought us back to the lake house. Jacob was so upset he’d sworn he didn’t speak English. I knew he didn’t want to go back there right now. But he would one day.

“Hey,” I said and squeezed his knee. “We’re not going to the lake house. Right, Matt? He’s taking us somewhere else…” my voice trailed off as I looked out the window.Oh my God.I’d been so distracted, I hadn’t seen the familiar turn.

The car rolled to a stop in front of Matt’s house. Well, his parents’ house. It looked exactly the same. Even the creepy gargoyles. But it was hard to be creeped out when his mom and dad were standing there on the front steps laughing.

“Where are we?” Jacob asked.

“My parents’ house,” Matt said. “You’ll like it. My mom just made a fresh batch of hot chocolate. Do you like hot chocolate?”

“Yessie.”

“Do they know?” I asked and turned to Matt.

He shook his head. “I called them this morning and told them I’d be stopping by with a surprise. And that they should have some hot chocolate ready around noon. And to have the gardener rake some piles of leaves.”

I looked out the window at the huge piles of leaves just begging to be jumped in.

“I know you used to jump in the piles with your mom. I thought Jacob might like it too.”

I turned back to him. If he asked me to marry him again right now, I don’t know how I could resist saying yes. “Yeah. He loves it too.” Miller would always rake up piles for us to jump into. Jacob was going to be so happy. “Your parents really don’t know I’m back?”

He shook his head.

I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. I’d really missed his family. His mom was so sweet. And his father had warmed up to me in the end. I’d been so excited to be part of his family. I opened up the car door and stepped out.

Mrs. Caldwell was laughing at something Mr. Caldwell had just said. But the smile fell from her face when she turned toward me. Her jaw dropped.

“Brooklyn?” Mr. Caldwell said. He took a step forward. But then he froze, like if he moved again, I’d somehow disappear.

“It can’t be,” Mrs. Caldwell said. She put her hand to her chest.

I ran up to them and threw my arms around Mrs. Caldwell. “It’s me. I’m okay.”

She immediately hugged me back, a sob escaping her throat. And I started crying too. Because I’d always loved her hugs. They reminded me of my own mother’s hugs. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed her.

And I felt Mr. Caldwell hug me from the side too.

“How?” Mrs. Caldwell asked. She pulled back and wiped the tears from her face, before grabbing mine and staring at me. “How is this possible?”

“It’s a long story,” Matt said.

Mrs. Caldwell’s hands dropped from my face as she turned toward Matt.

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