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.

he suddenly stood in front

your

and snow, and I could have hit him

stood outside the car, his face gloomy, “Is Russel at

need

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

by Neil’s suspicion. His thought process had somehow

should see a therapist. I think you

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

promised me that he would go home today!

Russel ran away to me and him planning

called to say he’d be home today. You sure have a vivid imagination” I was in a hurry to go to work, so

it and got in my car. I didn’t understand his actions and asked, “What

ride. Neil buckled his seat belt and responded as if

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

assistants, yet he insisted on riding with me. I felt like he was doing it on purpose to annoy

stayed put, “Take

a

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

driver to pick you up.” I offered a second suggestion

that big of a deal for your ex-husband and neighbor to hitch a ride?”

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

well

the wrong way whenever I

was that Neil actually fell asleep in the passenger seat. His even breathing and closed eyes made it clear that he was

turned face and disheveled hair reminded me of Sleeping Beauty from fairy tales, even though he

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