Chapter 98
I let go of the breath I was holding. My eyes opened to find a very emotional Rocky and an equally shocked Richard.
“… I finally get to see both, my children,” he said, not being able to mask the shock in his voice.
“Both?” Rocky asked.
“Well, isn’t this a joyous family reunion!” Mum chuckled from her bed.
I ignored her and kept staring at Rocky. He was standing there awkwardly, still glaring at Richard. My heart was beating so fast I was worried it would pop out of my chest.
“Look at you. The last time I saw you, you were six years old and had just learned to ride a bike. That was what? 10 or 11 years ago?” Richard took a few steps toward Rocky.
“22 years ago, actually,” Rocky replied. Richard looked a little taken back by the harness in Rocky’s voice.
“What do you mean, both kids?” Rocky asked and wiped his tears on the back of his sleeves. He wasn’t an emotional wreck like I was. If anyone could keep it together and ask the hard questions, it was Rocky.
“I have two kids, Richard. Rosalie and you.” Richard’s gaze fell on me before going back to Rocky.
Taylor gasped and covered her mouth. The shock was written all over her face. Her eyes were the size of saucers. Rocky turned around to look at me. His eyes were soft and filled with emotions I couldn’t figure out. Was he mad at me? I was part of the reason his dad left him. He had every right to be angry. My throat went dry, and I felt like a fish out of water, struggling to breathe.
Slowly a small smile appeared on his face. He walked over to me, his smile growing with every step. I felt Blake’s arms loosen around me a little.
“You and I have always had a special relationship. I always felt a connection to you and never understood what it was. Everything makes a lot more sense now.” he said, and that small smile turned into a full–blown grin.
I reached out, and he immediately engulfed me in a big hug. Rocky always silently filled in those big brother roles in my life. We had a fun banter, but when I needed someone to talk to or encourage me, he was always there. I remembered blowing out my birthday candles on my 18th birthday and wishing he was my real brother.
of my I buried my face into Rocky’s chest and let my tears pour out. Rocky gently stroked my hair, and he shushed me. I felt him rest his chin on the top head. He held me tightly, and I remembered all the times he had hugged me when I was having a meltdown. All the times he had stood by me during my difficult times.
“You two have no idea how happy it makes me to see the two of you like that. I can’t believe you both already know each other so well.” Richard spoke from behind us, interrupting the moment we were having.
Rocky sighed, and his arms loosened. He held me at arm’s length, looking at me intensely. There was still this emotion playing on his face that I couldn’t understand.
“I’ll deal with him, ya?” He said, wiping the tears from my face. I nodded. I was a wreck and had no intention to talk to Richard.
He looked behind me, and suddenly another pair of hands wrapped around me. I knew it was Blake the moment his skin touched mine. He pulled me into his chest and supported my weight, holding me in place.
uched
“Please stop with your bullshit. Twenty–two years ago, you packed and left. No note to say why you were going or where you were going. I watched my mother work three jobs to support us. I watched her cry herself to sleep. I watched her blame herself for the ruined relationship. I watched her break apart but still hold it together for me. She always said that you were a good man, that you would come back for us. When I turned 21, I finally demanded to know what had happened, and mum told me. Even after everything you had done, that woman still spoke highly of you. Like it wasn’t your fault!”
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