Chapter 25
Drew
I gently trace my finger along Bellamy’s brow, hoping to ease the worry he has going on, and I sigh when it doesn’t work. Distress etches his features despite being asleep, and that worries me.
Before his family came, he was tense. I’m not stupid.
I felt it, and I saw it on his features.
In his mind he was never returning home, and he hated that he was going to let his family down.
His brothers, the club that wants nothing more than him to take his rightful place but then one phone call and they came running.
They have proved to him exactly what he meant to them, what I meant to them.
They showed him he is their leader and he will always come first to them and now his eyes are opened despite the guilt he’s trying to not carry anymore but still makes its way into his subconscious.
He wants to go home but is afraid I’ll resent him. I know it doesn’t matter what I say to him, I need to prove to him that if he wants to go home, we can both go.
As much as I love my studio and students, I love Bellamy more.
I can find another studio, start again, and continue with my charity shows by travelling here, but he doesn’t see that right now.
He only sees his fear. I think I need to bring in the big guns to help convince Bellamy we can do this—if it’s what he truly wants.
He won’t lose me, and more importantly, he can confront his past and finally mourn, because he hasn’t yet.
Swallowing hard, I slowly stand as determination to help this man builds deep inside my chest. With one last look at Bell, who still looks stressed in his sleep, I walk out of our bedroom and head to the front door.
Before leaving, I place a note on the side table explaining I’ve gone to see my parents. I don’t want him to worry.
Heck, what am I saying? He’ll still be pissed that I snuck out without waking him at five in the morning.
***
“Mom? Dad?” I call ten minutes later, already knowing they’ll be up, as I walk into my childhood home, relieved Elizabeth will still be in bed for this conversation.
While she’s calmed down a little and claims to want to make amends, I’ve seen the way she looks at Bellamy.
The lust and want still shines off her, even now, a leopard can’t change its spots.
She still wants everything I have, especially my boyfriend.
Don’t get me started on the jealous looks she gives my bump—which is absolutely pathetic.
I don’t care that I’m fourteen weeks pregnant, I’m ready to cut a bitch.
“In the kitchen,” Mom calls back.
I take a deep breath to steady my nerves and brace for the anger she’ll most likely throw my way.
I walk towards the kitchen while my eyes take in my old home.
It’s a place I used to hate coming back to because of Elizabeth.
It doesn’t hold any happy memories for me since I was around seven or eight, which is why I find it easy to leave.
I sigh. Dad will be on my side with this.
He understands that I don’t hold an emotional attachment to this town or this home after the last time I brought up possibly moving before I met Bell.
Mom will probably flip. She’s still trying to make up for neglecting me as a child and in her mind, that has to come before everything.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Dad says as I walk into the kitchen, and I smile as I take a seat next to him at the breakfast bar, placing my head on his shoulder.
This is the routine my parents have always had. Mom gets up with Dad early so they can have that quality time together before he goes to work. I must admit, I resented Mom a lot over the years because she never made time for me as she did for Dad and Elizabeth.
“What do we owe this early morning visit? And where is Cage?” Mom asks as she places a cup of decaf coffee in front of me.
I clear my throat as I sit up, suddenly nervous about speaking mainly to her, and I mutter, “Thanks, Mom,” as I wrap my hands around the mug before I decide to go in slowly and admit, “Bellamy is still in bed. I left him a note.”
Not noticing my nerves, Mom chuckles, “He’s not going to like that,” while Dad sighs, picking up my nerves instantly as he wraps an arm around my shoulders, and I lean into him.
“You’re moving, aren’t you?” he confirms quietly, but not quietly enough, because Mom spins around from the stove and gasps, “What?”
I wince at the hurt look on her face—her shock and confusion so clearly visible. My own emotions flicker, guilt for hurting her, but resolve to speak my truth.
“Mary,” Dad placates, “surely you saw this coming?”
Mom scowls as she points the spatula at him and snaps, “How could I have? Cage has settled down here, Drew has responsibilities, and her leaving would be a mistake! This is her home!”
Dad clears his throat, clearly wanting to snap at Mom and her na?ve ways, but I nudge him slightly before I focus on my mother.
“This isn’t my home, Mom, Bellamy is my home,” I say softly, earning her glare but I’m used to this in my sister's favor, so I power through. “This was just a place where I’d sleep. This town doesn’t hold happy memories for me as it does for you.
I only had myself,” She flinches as if I just struck her.
I swallow hard, “I’m not trying to hurt you, Mom.
I love you. But Bellamy is my future. He’s the man I want to marry and have more babies with.
If he chooses to go home, I’ll happily close my studio and start fresh in Hill Crest. He has family there—brothers and a role he’s spent his whole life learning to take over before he lost his best friend. ”
“You have family here!” Mom chokes, and I sigh.
“And you’re only three hours away, not half a country, Mom. I can take my ballet anywhere, I can teach anywhere, he can’t lead his club from here,” I remind her gently.
She shakes her head as her tears fall, and she cries, “I thought he didn’t want that life! Why would he take you away from me?”
“Fuck’s sake,” Dad mutters, clearly not happy with Mom’s antics.
“Mom,” I say before he can snap. “Bellamy isn’t taking me from you.
He’s giving me the sense of family that, I am so sorry, but you never gave me.
While I understand now why you favored El and neglected me, it doesn’t take away years of feeling unwanted and unloved.
” She lets out a sob, but I don’t stop, “I need to do this. I cannot and will not live without that man.” I stand and walk to her, gently taking her hands in mine.
I remind her, “This is what you wanted, Mom. You wanted me to find someone to fall in love with and start a family. Guess what, I’m doing it, and I am so grateful you pushed for me to—because I have never been so happy. ”
I lean my forehead against my mom's, and I whisper, “I’d give up ballet for the rest of my life and never dance again if it meant I got to keep him.”
Mom squeezes her eyes tight, understanding the love I have for my boyfriend. He comes before my passion. She quickly takes me into her arms.
I hold her tightly as she cries, “I’m so sorry…” causing my grip to further tighten.
"Mary," Dad says softly as I pull back and wipe away Mom's tears. When she looks at Dad, he questions gently, "Did you really think I was going to allow our daughter to move three hours away?"
I tilt my head in confusion. Mom sees exactly what he meant and gasps, "You want to go home?" and my eyes widen in shock.
Dad smiles gently and admits, “Chains has looked after my home for years, my cut that I got before leaving for college is still hanging in my closet.”
“Dad,” I whisper with so much emotion but then part of what he said hits me, and my mouth drops. I accuse, “You’re a brother?”
He smiles my way and confesses, “Technically, yes. The leather is still waiting for me.” I blink, then blink again before he admits, “Cage isn’t the only one who wants to go home, sweetheart.
I do as well. I miss my old life and the brothers.
I have spent years living for you girls, for your mom, I want to live for me now and to do that, I need to go home. ”
Oh my… I nod, feeling a tightness in my chest, as I look at Mom, whose tears continue to fall. I wait, unsure if I am ready for what she’s about to say.
Will she agree?
Or will she want to stay here? In her hometown?
She says softly, “You’ve done nothing but put me first through our whole relationship, our marriage.
Even when I messed up with Drew, you still stayed by my side, even when I didn’t deserve it and you hung up that cut for me, so if you want to go home, then I’ll be right beside you.
You are my home, Joel, and I refuse to miss any time with my grandchild after I hurt our daughter so much. ”
My eyes blur with unshed tears, and I quickly blink and then wipe away the few tears that have fallen.
"I'm glad you're both on board," I say, my voice hoarse. "But there is one person we need to try and convince, and by we, I mean you, Dad..."
“Crap, your sister,” Mom whispers which doesn’t shock me that she was the first person to come to her mind.
Dad instantly shakes his head. “No, not El, Cage.”
Mom looks at me with anger, clearly wanting to know why I’d put us through this conversation at five in the morning, especially if Bell hasn’t even decided to go home or return to his family yet.
"He confessed last night after I asked him to take away all the pain and hurt. I asked him where he wanted to be, and he said he wanted to go home, but he’s holding himself back," I admit and Dad sighs.
"He's scared to confront his ghosts," Dad says.
I nod and reply, "He's also scared I'll resent him if he moves us back to Hill Crest. Dad, it wouldn't matter how much I tell him otherwise, he'll always have that thought, and he'll self-sabotage without meaning to."
“I’ll talk to him,” Dad says, “I’m booked in for a tattoo this morning, and I’ll speak to him and get him to understand that going home is for the best. If he knows we’re coming with, then I think he’ll be more optimistic about going home.”
Just as he finishes, I hear, “Who is going home?”
I look to see my sister wearing skimpy lingerie in the doorway, and I screw my nose up.
“Elizabeth, what on earth are you wearing? What if Cage was here?!” Mom demands while Dad scowls at his daughter, who looks smug as she looks around the kitchen.
Mother…
“He’s not here, Elizabeth, so why don’t you do our father a favor and actually put some clothes on instead of scarring him!
” I snap, suddenly pissed at her antics, and I add, “Also, stop trying to get a taken man’s attention because Bellamy wouldn’t look at you if you were the last bitch on earth, he isn’t Drake so grow up! ”
Elizabeth's eyes narrow, and Dad growls, “So much for you trying to make amends, El!” and she stiffens while I snort before looking at Mom, whose eyes are still teary despite the anger now shining off her.
“I’m going to head back and start contacting the parents to let them know I’m closing up shop. I’ll call you once Dad has spoken to Bell,” I say softly, and Mom nods just as Elizabeth demands, “Why are you closing your studio?!” Then she gloats, “What? Can’t hack it anymore?”
I smirk and inform my spoiled, spiteful little sister, “Actually, I’m moving to Hill Crest with Bellamy so he can take over as president of his club.”
Her face reddens, pure jealousy radiating from her, and I just shake my head before walking past her. Even as she says, “He goes back to that club, he’ll get distracted by the club bunnies, you’ll be stupid to move back there,” I keep going, all while Dad scowls at her for being petty.
Is it bad that I’m hoping she’ll decide to stay in Rose Hill?
***
“Seriously, Drew? A fucking note?” Bell snaps as soon as I walk into the apartment fifteen minutes later. I look up to find him only in a pair of boxers, his hair all tousled and his phone in hand, glaring at me.
Oh, holy mother of abs…
I bite my bottom lip as I stare at the man I love, looking extremely edible. My hormones go haywire, my clit instantly throbs, wanting him, needing him.
All the way home I was trying to come up with excuses as to why I went to my parents without waking him. I don’t want him canceling his appointment with my dad, but now, I don’t think I need one because I need him – like now.
“I told you I struggle without you by my side, that I need to check your studio or wherever you're going because of those fuckers!” he snaps, and I clear my throat when he growls, “Look at my face, Drew, not my fucking body like I’m some piece of meat!”
“You’re more like a delicious chocolate bar that I want to eat,” I mutter before I lock eyes with his amused ones.
The anger is gone, and, just as I hoped, so are the questions about why I went to my parents.
“You like what you see?” he asks with humor, and I hum as my eyes take him in.
“What time is your first client?” I ask as we lock eyes, and he grins as he admits, “Your dad at nine.”
“Then what on earth are you waiting for, Bellamy?!” I demand, “Take me back to bed!”
He chuckles. “With fucking pleasure but don’t think this conversation is over!
” he says with a growl before he storms my way, grabbing hold of the back of my thighs.
He lifts me while I slam my lips against his, really fricking needing him and he walks to our room where he does indeed forget about the conversation he wanted to have because after four orgasms and leaving me sated, he had to run off to the shop before he was late.
I was happy because I know for a fact that man would never look at another woman.
Not just because he’s madly in love with me, which I see in his eyes every day, but because he’ll never have time, not with me needing him continuously and that thought brings a huge smile to my face.