Chapter 178
Jojo:
While the alpha took sometime to himself to make calls and make sure that everything was ready for our arrival, I helped Mrs Smith tidy up the dining table, and pack the plates to the kitchen. She had baby Lucian in her arms as she held on to him. From the kitchen, I could see her spray kisses all over her grandson’s face and forehead.
I did not know I had been staring at them with both my hands filled with soap lather, until I heard Mel speak beside me.
“She’s going to miss him.” She started.
I snapped out of my thoughts and turned sharply to look at her. Mel placed the last set of tupperware in the sink, and wiped her hands against her blue denim trousers. I let out a long sigh, allowing my tense shoulders to fall. I risked another glance at Mrs Smith and Lucian. He was awake and busy making happy noises.
I looked away from them and fixed my gaze on the sink, making an effort to concentrate on the dishes.
“I know. I’m sure he will miss her too. But, we won’t be gone for so long, it’s only a matter of time until we come back and you…”
“Do you really want to do that?” She cut in.
I dropped the ceramic cup in my hands carefully, before turning to her. Mel stared at me with a straight face, it was me who arched my left brow in query.
“What does that even mean?”
She kissed her teeth with the back of her tongue and leaned on the wooden cabinet next to her. She slipped both her hands into the side pockets of her sky-blue hoodie.
“You know what returning here means. With all that has happened in the past few days, are you sure you do not want to give him another chance? The alpha, I mean.”
It was sad that she added her last statement. I had been prepared to act as though I did not know who and what she was speaking about.
I returned to the cup and shook my head vehemently.
“That isn’t what I intend to think about during my stay there. I am only going to be in Rush long enough to bring my mother back. The home and life I have built in Ten might not be much, but at least it’s mine…” I paused my speech to look at her.
“… and that’s more than I ever thought I’ll have. That’s all I really need.” I concluded.
She stayed quiet, we both did for at least ten seconds, before she chuckled and opened her arms wide, beckoning on me for an embrace.
“My hands are soapy.” I spoke, chuckling between words.Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.
She nodded, a bright and proud smile on her face.
“Don’t go all clean on me now, bring it in.” She replied.
I laughed and moved to embrace her, although, not without wiping my soapy hands on her ass on purpose.
“Jerk.” She hissed, before placing a soft kiss on my cheek.
“You know, I’m going to miss you.” I found myself saying. I had told myself I was not going to cry, but holding her in my arms and recalling all the times she had ever had my back, everything brought tears to my eyes.
I sniffed them in and she let out a soft, but sad, laugh.
“Come on, Jo. You really do not need to cry on me. Your dry eyes are the only reason my eyes are dry.”
I couldn’t help the snort that escaped my throat, but I did it from a place of joy. However, my eyes soon betrayed me, and my tears came pouring down in their volume.
She tapped my back gently.
“I’ll always love and support you, Jo. You know that, right?”
“I know.” I mumbled against her shoulders. The tears from my eyes already soaked the shoulder of her hoodie.
“Okay, let’s get this cleaned up. The alpha asked me to tell you your flight leaves in twenty.” She added.
Of course. I moved away from her and wiped my eyes with the back of my palms. I could feel her eyes on me, and when our gazes locked, we both bursted into laughter, mocking ourselves for the tears in our eyes.
While she joined me to clear the rest of the dishes, I kept one thing in mind; I had found a sister and a best friend in Mel, and no matter what happened in Rush, that fact was never going to change.
**************
Lake:
Phone calls, and more phone calls. My phone rang for the third time in ten minutes and I took a short glance at the caller ID before I answered it.
It was Bec, my gamma.
“I have gathered a total of six cleaners to the condo in central city. You want us to completely clean the entire house, right?” He asked, his tone was as strict as it always was, even over the phone.
I nodded as I rolled the last of the luggages into the car. I had made arrangements for someone to drive the car back to the man we had rented it from, with extra cash. The car had really come in handy throughout my stay in Ten.
“Yes, Bec. The entire place needs proper and thorough cleaning. I have not been back there in only the goddess knows how long. I cannot begin to imagine the state it’s in.” I spoke.
I could hear a short laugh at the other end of the line.
“All five rooms?”
Truthfully, we weren’t going to need that number of rooms, but I couldn’t tell which of the room Jojo would pick. It was better safe than sorry.
“That’s right, all five. And make arrangements for a valet to pick us up from the airport. Let this discussion be between the both of us, Kenji already knows all that there is to know.” I instructed.
“And the cleaners? They might be eager to know why they have been requested to clean up all of a sudden?”
I frowned.
“Are you serious, Bec?”
I heard his laughter again. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. He barely brought out the comic side of himself, but whenever he did, it annoyed me. However, I’m sure that was the point.
“Alright alpha. Do call me when you arrive.”
“Will do.”
The line went dead immediately. I closed the trunk of the car and turned to take another look at the house.
I took in deep breaths and glanced at the wristwatch on my left wrist.
Fifteen minutes past eight pm.
I shook my head, an attempt to shake off the cold that was threatening to freeze my brains, and started to walk towards the house.
“Alright, people! I love a sweet goodbye, but it’s time for us to be on the road!”