Chapter 27

twenty-seven

Noah – One Week Later

I smile as I watch Rose teaching Diego to walk.

Last night, he took three steps by himself before falling on his ass, and he’s been trying to walk ever since.

Rose is helping as much as possible, and fuck me, am I glad I get to witness it.

“Oh my God, Noah look, look!” Rose says excitedly as Diego takes a step, letting go of one of her hands, then another.

I kneel, holding my arms out, grinning.

“That’s it, bud. Walk to daddy…” I say, and Diego grins and giggles, babbling, “Da-da-da-da,” his legs moving quicker before he walks straight into my arms.

“Yes!” Rose exclaims, clapping, and I laugh. I lift Diego up, throw him in the air, and catch him a few times, making him squeal in delight. Then, I hold him close, and kiss his head.

“Alright, bud. Let’s try one more time before you go spend some time with Uncle Barn,” I rasp, place him on his feet, and continue, “Go to Mommy, bud….”

I let go of his hand as he takes a step, and then stumbles over to a very excited-looking Rose. As soon as he gets to her, she lifts him, and then dances around the room with him in her arms, cheering while he laughs and giggles, clapping his hands.

I grin and grab my phone, taking several photos, not willing to miss a single second of it.

As soon as I put my phone away, someone knocks on the door, and my girl’s dancing stops. Her smile fades, and I sigh.

I know she doesn’t want to do this, but she needs it; we need it to move forward.

Giving her a reassuring smile, I open the door, but before I can say anything, Cameron shoves Barnett out of the way and runs into the room, making a beeline for my girl and son, nearly knocking me over.

Barnett growls and runs after him, pulling him back by his shirt, and getting in front of him. But before he can grab a squealing Diego, who, I might add, looks adorable in his mini rock tank and skinny jeans, Cameron grabs Barnett's foot and yanks it hard, causing him to fall to the floor.

Rose’s eyes widen in shock as Cameron takes a willing Diego from her arms, and I just lean against the door frame, crossing my arms over my chest, and raising an eyebrow at the idiots.

“Dammit, Cameron!” Barn snaps, banging his fist on the floor, “I was the one they asked to watch him, not you!”

Cameron shrugs. “And yet you were the stupid one who told me about today, and I got to him first , so you snooze, you lose!”

Rose bites her bottom lip to stop her laughter as she crosses her arms over her chest, causing her tits to lift, making my cock twitch.

What? I’m a red-blooded man, who has lived without his girl for two years, and she is fucking beautiful, and despite no longer nursing our son, her tits are still huge, and that summer dress does nothing to hide them.

Man, what I’d give to be sucking on them right now….

Shaking my head when Rose clears her throat, I look at her to see a blush rising across her cheeks and chest. I just grin, not bothered that I got caught checking her out. I look at the two idiots arguing over a one-year-old, and ask, “Cam, didn’t you have a meeting with PR over that girl claiming to be pregnant with your kid?”

Barnett sits on the couch with a pout, crossing his arms over his chest, and scowls as Cameron grins.

“There was footage proving we were here when she claimed to have screwed me in Texas at the time of conception. The lawyers are threatening to sue her for fraud, but I didn’t need to be there for it.”

Rose butts in, “I thought you can’t sue someone for that because they could claim they didn’t know?”

Cam grins and admits, “She doesn’t know that, and hopefully, she’ll learn her lesson.”

Rose snorts, and takes Diego from him, making him scowl, but she ignores him, places Diego on his feet, and then says, “Diego, go give Uncle Barn a cuddle.”

I grin as Barnett sits up with a confused frown until Diego takes a few steps, and his frown turns into a smile while Cameron states the obvious: "He’s walking!”

Diego walks straight into Barnett’s arms before my friend stands, and throws him in the air, praising him. Cameron also gets in on it, and I chuckle, walking over to Rose.

I come up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist, pressing my lips to her neck, and gently rubbing my lip ring along her skin. I hear her sigh as she relaxes into me, and I smile.

Since last week, we’ve gone back to the old us, the ones we were in high school, and I fucking love it. She’s still struggling with trust, but she’s trying, and now that I’ve paid more attention to her and not my fears, I can see everything she’s doing.

Heck, she even stayed at the condo two nights ago, much to the two idiots’ joy.

“We’ve got to get going, Petal,” I rasp against her skin.

She hums, watching our son be loved on by his uncles. I kiss her neck again before gently pressing my body against her to move her forward.

Even though she wants to protest, she doesn’t; she lets me take the lead.

As much as she doesn’t want to see her brother, she knows it is necessary for her own peace of mind.

After prying Rose away from our son, we make it to Katie’s Diner half an hour later.

Natalie gives us some coffee, and that prick Peter keeps his distance, though he keeps looking over, and I swear if he gives her sex eyes again, I’m going to cut them out.

Alejandro and Vanessa were already here when we arrived. They did not look happy with each other, which is sad to see.

According to my mom, Van wants a baby, but Al has said he’s not ready to be a father yet, and he wants to enjoy being an uncle, if Rose ever forgives him.

Twice, Vanessa has poked holes in their condoms, and twice, he’s left her over it, only for her to beg and plead, stating she’s willing to wait.

Unfortunately, when Vanessa wants something, she’s always gone and got it, no matter who she hurts in the process. This time, it's her own husband. According to Mom, Vanessa threatened to cancel the wedding if Rose attended, not because of what she supposedly did to me, but because Rose had Diego.

I think Rose's having a child before her has bent something in her. I’m not sure what, but she’s been acting crazy over it, and if she’s not careful, Al will leave her. He’s spent most of his time at the office, where she’s banned, and most of his evenings on the phone with me, trying to get Rose to speak to him.

Vanessa clears her throat and wraps her hand around her coffee mug, her manicured nails clacking together, which has me fucking cringing.

She’s waiting for Rose to start the conversation, but I know for a fact that’s not going to happen. Alejandro wanted this meeting, so it was time he spoke his peace before Rose decides to leave because, so far, she has said fuck all, not even looking at them. My hand is firmly on her thigh, just below her dress, holding her there, because I know she wants to bolt.

“How’s Diego?” Al finally asks, and Rose tenses.

I grip her thigh, gently rubbing my thumb along her skin, and I rasp, “He’s good. He took his first steps today.”

Alejandro’s green eyes sadden but he smiles. “That’s awesome. I guess he’s with Barnett right now?”

I feel the anger coming in spades from my girl. Our son is a very sensitive subject, but she keeps her mouth shut, and I admit, “And Cameron. He decided to high-jack their day, much to Barn’s dismay.”

Al half smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Vanessa sits in silence, her eyes on my girl.

“So, uh, is he talking yet?” he asks, and I smile a little when I feel Rose sigh, giving in.

She finally speaks, "He says a few words, but ‘dada’ is his favorite. Cam is Caca, and Barnett is Bam-Bam.”

Alejandro sits up and smiles. “It’s good to hear your voice, Little Bit….”

Rose flinches and grabs my hand on her thigh. I go to tighten my grip again, expecting her to shove it away and bolt, but instead, she removes it and links our fingers, placing our joined hands on her lap before gently tracing her name on my ring finger.

Pride shoots through me as she looks at her brother and gets straight into it.

“And who’s fault is that?” Alejandro’s throat bobs, but he keeps quiet, allowing his sister to give him the hell he deserves. “Growing up, you were my person, my protector. You were the only person I could count on, and when I needed you the most, a scared seventeen-year-old, whose father had given her an ultimatum and kicked her out, you turned against me.” Rose’s eyes tear up, and I squeeze her hand, giving her support. “The love of my life ran, he broke my heart, and where were you, Al? Where was my big brother who knew my heart, who knew what Noah meant to me, who fucking knew that I’d never hurt Noah that way? Where in the hell were you!”

That’s my fucking girl!

“Rose, I-I….fuck.” He leans forward. “I don’t know what I was thinking. All I saw was Noah heartbroken, and that stupid photo. It wasn’t until after my wedding that Dad pulled me aside and laid into me, explaining how innocent it was. I have no excuses for how I treated you, but I’m trying here, Little Bit, to make things right. I’ve lived two years without my little sister. Being deployed was hard, and seeing you that day in the café, I wanted nothing more than to tell you how much I missed you, but Noah…I, I saw how bad he was, Rose….”

Fuck, I look down, ashamed, knowing where he’s about to go.

“He was killing himself, and Vanessa…she blamed you, and so did I,” he admits.

Rose nods, then whispers, “But that didn’t give you the right to allow your girlfriend to hit your pregnant sister, and it didn’t matter if you knew or not; she had no right to lay a finger on me, and you had no right to stand back and let it happen.” She tilts her head. “Did you think I was having the time of my life, Alejandro?” He flinches. “I was working two jobs and living in a motel I had to clean for room and board while pregnant. I gave birth early, then went straight back to work within a few weeks.”

I tense at her words, not knowing that little bit of information about the motel and going straight back to work, and she squeezes my hand tighter.

“Rose, please…. I know I fucked up; I know I let you down, but all I’m asking for is a chance. You gave Dad a chance, and Noah….” He winces, but I just nod because he’s right; she has given me and her father a chance but, unfortunately for him, there’s only so much someone can take.

Rose shakes her head, about to answer him, but Vanessa speaks up, “Look, should I have hit you? No, I shouldn’t have, but honestly, Rose, you hurt my cousin, so I’d do it again if I had to.” I sigh as Al scoffs and sits back in defeat, all while Rose just raises her brow, and Vanessa continues being the bitch she’s turned in to. “Right now, Rose, you are just acting immature, showing that you shouldn’t even be a mother, especially at twenty.”

I look at my cousin with fury, but she doesn’t back down, even when Al moves his chair away from her. Instead, she glares at my girl, showing us a side of her none of us has seen before.

Rose chuckles, causing Al and I to look at her, confused until she says, “Really? Funny. Because the lawyer you hired to sue for full custody of my son said I was a good mother, putting her child first, and that because my father and brother were not part of the petition for you to gain custody, you had no case.” I stand up in shock while Al slowly looks at his wife. Vanessa’s face goes white as Rose continues, “And there is proof that my brother definitely wasn’t a part of your screwed up plan,” Rose sneers at Van. “The reason I’m not willing to reconcile with my brother, Vanessa, or allow him near my son, is not only because he said I was dead to him, but because he’s still married to you. I won’t force him to choose between his nephew and wife, unlike you.”

“What, I what…?” Al stutters.

Rose looks at him and sighs. “Ever wonder why Vanessa wanted a baby straight out of high school despite having so-called plans to go to law school?”

Alejandro’s eyes widen with realization, and he chuckles darkly. “She knows about the stipulations in Dad’s will….”

I frown and ask, “What stipulations?”

Rose gives me a sad smile and admits, “After I was born and we lost mom, Dad made a stipulations in his will that should I have a boy before Alejandro, then that boy will inherit 50% of the family’s business and assets.” My eyes widen, and she continues, “But if Al were to have a boy before me, then his child would gain all of it; neither of us would inherit anything except family memories.”

I blink then look at Van and ask, “What the fuck happened to you?” She flinches but I don’t stop, “You tried getting custody of my child, not even knowing he was my son, and why? Because you got greedy? What happened to the girl who wanted to be a lawyer? Who looked at Rose like she was her little sister?”

Vanessa looks away and admits, “I failed my entrance exam. I didn’t want to lose everything.”

Rose snorts, causing Van to glare her way, and I open my mouth, ready to put her in her fucking place, but Al beats me to it. “Don’t fucking look at my sister that way. Not once did you tell me about your exam. You claimed you had a change of fucking heart, and just wanted to spend time with me because I was gone for so long. It’s why I allowed you to come to work with me before Dad banned you from the premises.”

Vanessa shoots her glare at him next and sneers, “I had to put up with you gone for most of our fucking relationship because you just had to help save the world. I only wanted a child to secure our future, but you wouldn’t even give me that!”

I blink in shock while Rose chuckles and stands, taking a few dollars from her jeans pocket, dollars I know she can’t afford, placing them on the table.

She shakes her head at Vanessa, then looks toward her big brother and says, “That is who you chose over the sister who needed you. She is the reason I cut you off, but you saying I died when mom did, that was just the icing on the cake.” She looks at me ,then back to her brother. “I’ll allow you to see Diego, but only because of Noah and the bond he’s created with his son, a little boy who deserves the world and all the love in it. Your wife does not go near him.”

Rose walks around the table but pauses when Al asks desperately, “And what about you and me?”

I swallow hard as she replies, not looking back, “I died when Mom did,” then continues walking away. We watch as she kisses Natalie’s cheek, then walks out of the door, heading to the bike, leaning on it, waiting for me.

Vanessa frowns. “That’s the bike she was riding when we met her at the café.”

I snort. “And yet you didn’t stop to think, ‘Oh, that’s Noah’s favorite bike.’” She glares at me, but I just shake my head. “I miss my old cousin, the one who cared about others, and wasn’t so bitter over failing an exam that she became money hungry.” I look at Al. “I’ll speak to her about your relationship, just give her time and don’t give up. I didn’t give up, and now she’s practically moved me in and given me the bike, even though she has no other means of transportation.”

He nods and looks down, and I sigh, patting his shoulder as I walk past him. I give Natalie a salute and follow my girl to the bike. Her eyes tear up when she sees me, and I smile slightly, gripping her hips.

She looks up at me and whispers, “I’m sorry….”

I gently kissed her lips. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. If you’re not ready to forgive him, that's fine, but you’re still allowing him to meet his nephew, and that’s a big step. I’m proud of you, Rose, and every day, I’m grateful for you.”

She smiles, and I kiss her again before climbing on the bike, then help her climb on behind me.

Her arms instantly wrap around my waist, her head on my back, and I start the bike, revving it, ready to go see our son.

Al may not have gotten everything he wanted, but he’s got to realize that she gave more than she wanted. As for Vanessa, until she’s changed her outlook on life, I want nothing to do with her, and she most fucking definitely is not welcome near my son.