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

hard, “Are you out of your mind?!” I yelled after rolling down the window

ice and snow, and I could have hit him if I hadnt

his face gloomy, “Is Russel at your place?”

with me, would I need you to help find him?

s faking running away and is just hiding at your place? Asking me to help find him could just be a smokescreen

was stunned by Neil’s suspicion. His thought process had

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

face darkened even more, “If I’m not mistaken, after all this time, nobody could find him, yet you got him to call home overnight,

out to me and promised me that he would

Russel ran away to me

imagination” I was in

I didn’t understand

near your office? We can share the ride. Neil buckled his seat belt and responded as if it were the most natural thing in the

at StarGlow Enterprises, the fact that he was hitching a ride with me was mind-boggling.

on riding with me. I felt like he was doing it on purpose to annoy

stayed put, “Take your own

a drink this

drive.” Neil did

pick you up.” I offered a second

at me unhappily, “Is it really that big of a deal for your ex-husband and neighbor to hitch

that Neil was constantly hitching a ride even though he

him, I might as well switch careers and become

shamelessness always rubbed me the wrong way whenever I left the house.

seat. His even

reminded me of Sleeping Beauty

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