Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled

Chapter 256

Russel’s request was just too hard to refuse. I dug out the diamond ring, slid it on, snapped a picture, and sent it his way.

In no time, Russel was on the phone again, “I saw it. Looks nice,”

I responded, Im quite fond of the design too. It just wasn’t meant to be.”

Then I asked him, “Where are you now?”

He reassured me, “Don’t sweat it; I won’t do anything stupid. If youre ever unhappy, just think of me as your plan B.” He continued, “I’ll be home tomorrow My folks are pressuring me to propose to Chloe, but I turned them down.”

So that was the reason for his family feud. It hurt to hear, but there was nothing I could do. From an outside perspective, Chloe was a catch and a good match for Russel.

He went on, ‘Anyway, I’ve been away for a few days. They probably won’t bother me anymore.” He sounded like a kid saying that.

I told him, “Okay, shoot me a message when you get home tomorrow, or else I’ll be worried.” A weight was lifted off my chest.

Russel responded, “Sure.”

We didn’t chat for long, most of the time was spent in silence, neither of us knowing what else to say

By the time I hung up, it was past 3 am. It had started snowing outside. I got up and looked out the window and saw a thin layer of snow already covering it

The first snow of the year in Rosemont had arrived early I had no idea where Russel was, whether Dad was freezing his butt off in jail, whether Oscar Morse had left Rosemont, or when Mam would wake up.

I stared out the window, lost in thought.

Before I knew it, dawn had broken. I wasn’t tired at all, so I just cleaned up, got dressed, and headed for the office.

Neil was just leaving looking like someone owed him a fortune.

past him, he suddenly stood in front of my

you out of your mind?!” I

ground was slippery with ice and snow, and I could

the car, his face gloomy,

would I need

me coldly. “Who knows if he s faking running away and is just hiding at your place? Asking me to

suspicion. His thought process had somehow become so

“Neil, maybe you should see a therapist. I think you might have some mental

mistaken, after all this time, nobody could find him, yet you got him to call home overnight, saying he’s safe?”

out to me and promised me that he would go

always linked the fact that Russel ran away to me and him planning a

I was in a hurry to go to work, so I

it and got in my car. I didn’t understand his actions and

the ride. Neil buckled his seat belt and responded as if it were the most

the fact that he was hitching a ride

insisted on riding with me. I felt like he was doing

“Take your own car

had a

I was upset, so I cant drive.” Neil did

you

it really that big of a deal

wasn’t him hitching a ride; it was that Neil was constantly hitching a ride even though he didn’t need to. I couldn’t keep indulging

him, I might as well switch careers and

shamelessness always rubbed me the wrong way whenever I

seat. His even breathing and closed eyes made it clear that

and disheveled hair reminded me of Sleeping

completely defeated by Neill’s shameless behavior. Not only did he refuse to get out of the