Chapter 28

twenty-eight

Rose – One Month Later

I smile as I gently kiss Diego’s head, then pull his motorcycle covered blanket up a little more, then slowly back out of the room. He’s sleeping in his new room, and it’s a kid’s dream.

Heck, not even I had a room like this growing up.

We’re back in Kingstonville, something that took a lot for me to agree with, but Noah’s band is signed up to do a charity show for underprivileged families, and well, he begged for me to come with him.

Something about not being able to be away from me for two weeks.

I had fully planned on staying at Dad's after I relented and took time off work. Instead of taking me there, though, he had the driver bring us to his home, before taking Cam and Barnett to the penthouse suite they co-own forty minutes out of town. When I asked why they weren’t dropped off first, Barnett mentioned Noah needed reinforcements to convince me to stay at the mansion, which he wasn’t wrong about. The boys basically carried me inside.

Staying in a house that we spoke about, where we would one day raise a family, wasn’t on my top lists of things to do, but seeing everything that he’s gotten for Diego, the room he’s had decorated for him, and his own drum set to boot….

It was a hard pill to swallow because, well, I can barely keep a roof over our heads right now.

Sighing, I check that the night light is on, and that the monitor is working, then I slowly close the door and head downstairs.

Noah is rehearsing with the boys, and said I should look up Kingston University to get a feel for it. He also said I can’t back out of it because it’s nonrefundable, and I’d be wasting tens of thousands of dollars.

He’s doing everything he can to get me to move back here with him, and it isn’t very comforting how much my body is pulling toward that idea after everything.

Trying to breathe through the sudden panic, I stop at the bottom of the stairs, my eyes taking everything in.

This house is our dream….

I’m trying to move past everything, I am, and it helps that Noah’s refusing to tour when I have to be onsite, but I just…. So much hurt and pain is between us, the crap Gina pulled with Piper, and then there’s Vanessa, who’s now blaming me for her marriage failing.

Al kicked her out. Everything, the house, the cars, the bank accounts, is all in his name. She contributed nothing to their marriage, and she also signed a prenup where they must be married for two years before she can get alimony.

After our meeting, he asked her mom, who was extremely disappointed in her daughter, to pick her up. Ever since, she’s been crying about how it was all my fault and, according to Noah, she’s pushing my brother further away.

Al’s willing to do marriage counseling, but she needs to open her eyes and shut her mouth first. I texted her last night, saying exactly that. She texted back, “Thank you, I’m sorry,” but I don’t believe her words.

She’s become a possession-obsessed housewife, losing who she really is. Honestly, I don’t know if they’ll make it, but no matter what has happened, no sister wants to see their brother unhappy.

My eyes go to the pictures on the mantel as they normally do when I come into this room, noticing it’s more crowded.

Noah’s added to them.

I scrunch my brows and walk closer. I notice the one of Noah leaning against the bike. It’s the one I had near the TV at home, as well as the one of the tree we dubbed ours.

“Wait, are they the ones from my…” I mutter but stop when someone knocks on the door.

I narrow my eyes at the photos and head to the door, knowing security wouldn’t let someone pass unless they knew Noah personally.

With a promise to look at the photos more closely, I open the front door but freeze as I lock my eyes to light brown ones.

“Well, it didn’t take you long to convince my brother that brat is his son, and get him to move you into his home!” Gina sneers, placing her hands on her hips.

I blink, then blink again.

Would it be wrong to hit Diego’s aunt?

Gina looks me up and down from my slipper-covered feet and leggings to Noah’s black button-down shirt.

“Does my brother know you wear his expensive clothes, huh, Rose?” she snaps.

And I blink again and state, “Actually, this shirt is from prom. I took it and never gave it back.”

She looks over my top again, narrowing her eyes before her eyes widen slightly, confusion etching her features as she murmurs, “Piper said he gave that top to her….”

I tilt my head at her and ask, “Gina, what are you doing here? If it was to wake up my son, then I’m going to politely ask you to leave.”

She scoffs and pushes past me, and I sigh, shutting the door.

“Lord, give me strength,” I whisper before following her.

I stop behind the couch as my eyes look around the room before noticing her near the fireplace, holding a picture of Noah and Diego in a frame I recognize….

“I’m sure that frame was at my apartment,” I mutter, getting Gina’s attention, but I ignore her and walk over to the mantel, looking at the photos. I notice all the ones that I had near my bed and TV, and I curse, “That little….”

Growling, I grab my phone from my pocket and bring up the text thread between me and Noah….

Me: Seriously, you stole all of my photos?!

I press send without a kiss emoji, and Gina snorts when she sees his contacts name. “My Musician, really?”

I roll my eyes. “That was your brother.” She smirks, and I ask, “What are you doing here, Gina?”

She clears her throat, puts the photo back, and whispers, “He looks so much like Noah.”

I nod and admit, “I know. If he didn’t have my red hair, he’d be his double.”

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 realize I was 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….”

“See, right there, you just said family …and don’t think I haven’t seen the ring around your neck.” Gina effuses, and I sigh.

“A lot of hurt has gone on between us, Gina. We spent two years of our relationship fighting you, your mom, my dad, and let’s not forget that he left me. Yes, you showed him a completely innocent photo, but he used it as an excuse to leave. I’m trying to move forward and forgive, but it will take time, and jumping in with both feet will just tear us apart….”

She interjects, “How?” I look at her to see the determination in her eyes, the girl I knew before Piper came on the scene coming through. “You love him, right?” I nod because I do, “And you’re allowing him back in?” I nod again, and she remarks, “Then what is left? Unless you jump in with both feet, trust won’t build again. You need to give it your all, and I promise you I won’t stand in your way again. I was wrong, so very wrong, and because of my actions, my big brother hates me, and I don’t know my nephew. Jump, Rose….”

I open my mouth to ask who this girl is and where the other Gina has gone, but the front door opens, and Noah walks in.

“Alright, Petal, let’s hear it, scream and shout at me, and give it your best shot because you won’t win.”

I roll my eyes at his determination in his voice as Gina raises a brow at me, smirking.

“Gina…? What in the hell are you doing here?” Noah’s tone has changed, and I look at him and instantly swallow my tongue.

I don’t know what it is about him, but when he wears skinny jeans and a wife beater, I’m instantly aching for him.

Gina stands up, reminding me she’s here and that I can’t climb him like a tree. She clears her throat, admitting, “I’m making amends.” Noah raises a skeptical brow, and I stand up as well, walking over to him. His arm instantly lifts, wrapping around my shoulders, bringing me into his body as Gina continues, “Well, really, I came here to threaten Rose to leave town after finding Piper a wreck on her hotel bathroom floor. She says she’s pregnant with your child.” I swear if I roll my eyes any harder, they’ll get stuck in my head. Gina smiles at me, seeing my reaction. “She said she’d been sleeping with Noah since she went on tour with him, and I-I?—”

I cut her off, “You believed her because she ‘saved’ you from being jumped.”

“What the fuck!” Noah shouts.

I nudge him hard while Gina snaps, “Inside voice, Noah, your son is asleep!”

He tenses and looks down at me, giving me an innocent smile, but I just nudge him harder, making him smile wide at me, and kiss my nose.

“I-I’m so sorry, Noah,” Gina sobs, and we look at her. Tears coat her cheeks, her hand covering her mouth as she cries. “I’m so sorry for what I did to you two, for lying about how far along she was. Gina said the baby was Professor Hail’s, and her dad knew she was only four months along. I’m so sorry I’m the reason you never got to see your son born or hear his first word…. Oh God, what have I done?”

Gina falls to the floor in sobs, and on instinct, I move out of Noah’s arms, and run toward her, my hate for Piper escalating to the point I’m concerned I’m going to be put away for murder if I ever see her again.

I wrap Gina in my arms and look at Noah, who seems indecisive. I hold my hand out to him, and he walks our way.

He cups Gina’s cheeks and wipes them, before whispering, “I don’t forgive you, and I’m not sure when I will. But you're still my sister, and I still love you….”

Gina sobs harder, and he grabs her from my arms, pulling her into his. I go to move, but she grabs my hand while gripping Noah’s shirt with her other, and I squeeze it tight.

As Noah said, forgiveness is something hard to give, but just like with my father, with Noah, heck, even with Al, I’m willing to try.

Gina was manipulated, and now she has to live with her actions. I think that is enough punishment.