Forever Lost

Chapter 31

We grudgingly left the Hotel and we swing by the house to change and pick up Miley. Flynn told me to wear warm comfortable clothes. So I'm in jeggings and a top. Flynn also made me wear a coat. It's starting to warm up now as it's May but Flynn goes overboard.
Jax drives us again. Not sure why Flynn keeps letting him drive us around but I'm not complaining. I groan when we pull up at the lake. Obviously, it's one of my favourite places but Ellen and Evelyn own the business. "What's up, babe?" Jax asks.
"Unwanted company," I grumble.
"Ri, just forget about her for today," he says as if he knows my hidden thoughts. Flynn gets out the car and opens my door. I climb out and I hold my lower back again. Mom, Dad, Tyler and Ruby have already arrived. Ricardo decided not to come. Flynn takes my hand and Miley holds my other hand as we walk into the building. Why are we here exactly?
"Hayden, Abigail nice to see you, we weren't expecting you," Ellen says. Her eyes lock on me and her eyes widen as she sees my bump through the undone coat. "Riley," she gasps.
"Yes, that's my name, don't wear it out," I mutter and Jax laughs behind me.
"Lee, enough," Mom scolds. "We are going for a walk to the lake," she informs.
"Oh have fun, it's a lovely day for it," she looks towards the office. "Evie!" she yells and I groan. Evelyn comes out of the office and she scans the room and her eyes stay on me.
"Riley?" Evelyn says. "I've been trying to contact you for ages. Can we talk?"
"I blocked your number," I shrug. "I don't want to talk to you."
"Honey, give her five minutes. We will wait outside for you," Mom says and I groan. I offer Miley's hand to Flynn and they hold hands and start walking out the building. Jax goes to walk away but I take his hand.
I walk to the couch and I push him down and I sit on his lap and he wraps his arms around me. Evelyn sits on the couch opposite. "Can you hurry up. I've got better places to be."
"Riley, please, I miss you. I'm sorry I didn't believe you about James," I roll my eyes. I don't need her to believe me. Not now. That part of my life is over. "He was always nice to me. So I guess I never really expected him to be like that."
"What does it matter? You were my friend and you did that to me. If you had told me I would have understood. Mistakes happen, I know the control he has over people. It's the fact you didn't tell me."
"You haven't been in my position. I didn't want to lose you. I didn't know what to say."
"You're wrong. I was you, Evelyn, I slept with my friend's boyfriend. I felt so sick, yet I told her. You were a coward."
"What?" she says shocked.
"The difference is Evelyn, I loved Flynn. We have a history. You had no past with James. You should have been able to resist."
"I thought Flynn is your boyfriend?"
"It's complicated. He left me after the new year for my friend. Now we are together again."
"So who is he?" she asks looking at Jax.
"She's my best friend. You betrayed her then you've gained another enemy," Jax says seriously and I laugh. I kiss his lips and he smirks at me.
"I don't understand, Flynn is happy for you to kiss each other?" He's not happy about it, it's just what we do. It doesn't mean anything. It's nothing sexual for us.
"Bitch please, I'm gay. If I want to kiss my best friend, I will." I think a part of why Jax does it is for me. To make me see how much he cares. Him a gay guy defying the odds and kissing me.
"You seem better now. As if you're in a better place from when I last saw you."
"I am, I guess I've found who I am not pretending to be someone I'm not. I tried blocking my feelings out but when I found out I was pregnant he was softening me."
"Congratulations," she smiles. "I guess I can't beg for your forgiveness but I hope one day you'll accept me into your life, I just wanted you to know that I am so sorry." I nod and she stands up and leaves us.
"Bitch," Jax mutters under his breath. "She slept with James? Why would he do that?" he whispers in my ear, "She's ugly," I laugh loudly. I get off his lap and he slides his hand in mine and we leave the building.
"Can I stay in the car? It's a trek," I grumble.
"No," Flynn growls. What's wrong with him? I roll my eyes, "If you struggle I'll carry you." I roll my eyes again and he slides his hand in my other hand. What it must look like to have two guys holding my hands? Guess I don't care.
After ten minutes I stop at the hill. "Bloody hell, we aren't going to get there before nightfall. You should have started first thing," Tyler mocks.
"Ty," I whine.
I ease myself down onto a log, "No, don't sit down Lee, you'll never get up," Tyler groans.
"Ty, I'm tired. It's a long stretch. Go without me," I mutter.
"You'll love it at the top Ri. Please," he begs. Why is this so important to him? I grumble and stand back up. I start walking up the hill. Seems a long time ago when I raced up the hill with Tyler and Flynn on my birthday.
I start dragging behind and I see Flynn say something to Jax and he nods. They both turn around and walk towards me. They stand either side of me and they grab my arms and sling them over their shoulders and then grabs my waist taking most of my weight and I squeal as they walk. "Stop, I can manage," I protest but I keep moving my feet as they assist me.
"Shut up babe, I could carry you myself," Jax says as if it's nothing. I grumble but don't resist. It's easier like this. Tears fall from my face as they continue to carry me. "Babe, are you crying?" Flynn stops and releases me and cups my face.
"Ri, why are you crying?"
My tears turn into sobs, "I need a wee and there are no toilets around," I wail like a kid. Flynn smirks at me. "It's not funny, you took me all the way out here and I'm going to wet myself."
"Ri," he sighs at a loss.
"Talk to the kid," Jax urges.
Flynn cups my bump and looks at my belly, "Hey, little man. Can you go easy on Mommy? Daddy has a surprise and you're not helping." I smile and the tears start to dry up. He looks at me, "You aren't going to be a rich snob, are you? Wild wee is as good as any."
He wipes my tears and I nod. He releases me and I scan the area. I head for a large tree, "You all need to look away," I protest.
"Who wants to see that, Sis? Just hurry up," Tyler calls and I roll my eyes. I make my way to the tree and I go for a wee quickly. I walk back towards them and trip over a root but luckily I save myself. I see Flynn running over to me, "You clutz."
"You okay, baby?" Flynn says and I nod. We start walking again and Flynn holds my hand and I watch as Miley giggles as Ruby plays tag with her. Ruby has been amazing for our family, she's a great friend, brilliant with Miley and my brother adores her.
"Fucking hell, this better be worth it," I groan. This hill seems never-ending.
"Oh it will," he assures me.
"For you or for me?" I counter.
"Both," he shrugs. "Mate?" Flynn says and before I know it they are both carrying me again. It is a lot easier this way. After another five minutes or so we make it to the top, thank christ. I walk to the edge and sit down. I look at the stunning view again. This is my favourite place, well other than my safe haven with Flynn.
After a few minutes, Flynn makes me stand back up. He pulls me away from the edge but stands in front of me and we have our sides to the lake. He leans towards my ear, "Bear in mind that you have already agreed. Go easy on me," he whispers. Huh? He pulls away from me and he gets down on one knee. No, don't do this. The proposal during sex was far more me than this. It's how we connect.
"Riley, I love you so much. Since the day I met you I knew you were my future. You are my Angel and nothing makes sense when we are apart. I've never met anyone like you, you are everything I want in life. Riley Penelo--" I hastily grab his mouth and people laugh around me. Flynn looks amused.
I look to my family, "Who told him?" I accuse and they laugh not claiming who told them my awful middle name.
Flynn removes my hands, "I'm hoping it was the name and not the question you were stopping. What's wrong with your middle name? It's cute, now can I carry on?" I grumble and he smirks. "Riley Penelope Blake, will you marry me?" Why did he have to do it so publicly? I understand he's trying to be thoughtful proposing at my favourite place but he didn't need to do this. It was far more intimate the way he did it before. "Ri, remember you've already said yes," he urges.
He rummages into his pocket and pulls out a ring. I look at it and it's my ring that I took off that day and I shy away from the pain. Flynn looks to our family and he gestures for Miley to come to us. She runs to his side and he whispers something to her. "Mommy, please marry us," Miley says excitedly. My heart melts, that was low.
I look to Jax and he nods, "Say we will marry him," Jax urges and I smile at the we again. I look back at Flynn and I think I'm making him sweat a bit.
"Yes, I'll marry you," Flynn sighs with relief and slides my ring back on my ring finger.
"Don't ever take it off again," he orders and then he scoops me up in his arms and spins me around as he peppers kisses on my face. He sets me on my feet and he pulls out my bracelet and the ring he gave me for Christmas. He pushes the sleeve up my arm and secures the bracelet.
He slides the ring on my other hand, "How did you find them?"
"I didn't, I actually looked everywhere. I thought you must have chucked them away but I asked Miley and she told me they were in the important drawer." I should know by know that Miley knows everything.
    When I used to clutch them to my heart and she'd run in the room I'd always quickly put them back in the drawer.
"I was always supposed to give them back but every time I picked them up I couldn't do it, I'd never chuck them away," I could never do that.
He cups my face and kisses my lips and they are demanding. I willingly surrender to him. What use is fighting him now? He has me, it's up to him now what he does with me.
     Everyone congratulates us but I end up drifting back to the edge and sitting down. It's always been a fabulous view. I can forget all my worries here.
     Jax sits down next to me and holds my hand. I look at him but he seems fixed on the view too. "Just because I'm engaged you won't leave me, will you?"
    His eyes snap to me and he glares at me. "Pfft, babe, we are engaged, get it right," he mocks me and I laugh. "Hottie may not know it yet but we come as a package deal now."
     I smile and his face softens. I know he's not truly serious. He doesn't mean as a throuple or anything. He just means that he's my best friend and he will be around.
     "Sis," Tyler calls. "Let's go, it's going to take us all day to get back," he moans.
     Jax helps me to my feet and I walk to mom. "Mommy, can you buy two watermelons and some cling film please?" We head back down the hill, it's much easier going down.
      She raises her eyebrows at me, "You craving watermelon?" as if it's a odd craving.
     I laugh, "Oh no, what I have is planned is much better than eating my cravings. Bigger the better."
     I think she knows what I'm up to and she only smiles. "Okay Honey, I'll swing by the supermarket on the way home."
     "Thanks Mommy." I hug her waist as we walk. "Mommy, I'm sorry I was mean to you. And I'm sorry I called you Abigail."
     Mom looks down at me with a tear in her eye. "Oh honey, I forgive you but please don't ever revert back to dark Riley. It's not who you are."
    I nod, "I promise, I love you," she kisses the top of my head and I release her waist and go find Dad.
    He's talking to Tyler as we walk down the hill. I make my way to him and hug his waist. "I love you Daddy."
     "Oh princess, I love you too," he wraps his arm around my waist.
     "I'm sorry I called you Hayden. Even when I was hurting, I always loved you."
      "Can't say it didn't hurt princess. There is a way to make it up to me," he looks down at me with a straight face.
      "What?"
      "Accept the money," he urges. "Choose a career and lastly let me buy you a house, it will be easier." I guess I always did wish I had a house.
       "I don't feel like I did anything to deserve it," I mumble.
       "Are you my daughter?" he says casually. What an odd question.
       I frown, "Yes?" I don't understand where he's going with this.
       "Just being my daughter entitles you to the money. You'd give Miley and your son money wouldn't you, if you had it? Without them doing anything to earn it?" Oh fuck! He's right, I would. Why is he being so damn logical.
      "Yes," I sigh. Bloody hell, my kids have weakened me enough to accept millions of dollars. Fuck my life.
       "I'll let you choose the house then princess," he says kissing my head and walking off to Mom.
     Gah! How annoying. I love my apartment and I love that my brother is next door. However, I do know I need a house. It's hard to walk Rex so just letting him out in the garden if Miley is sleeping will be so much easier.
     We make it to the car and I climb in. My back hurts again. Mom helps Miley in the car with me watching she's done it okay.
      Flynn gets in and I slide my hand back to him. He takes my hand instantly and I smile. What a lovely day. I'm officially engaged, me Riley Blake! Soon to be Mrs Riley Archer-Blake.
     Jax drives us home and I settle on the couch. I get my phone out of my pocket and press call. "Hello?"
     Flynn frowns at me as if to ask who I'm calling. "Ade, it's me," I smile. Flynn and Miley walk out the room as Jax flops on the couch opposite.
     "Oh hey sweetheart. Please tell me you're calling to have me correct your hair."
     "I guess I am. I'm ready now, you'll be careful though right?"
      "Of course sweetheart, I've dyed many pregnant women's hair. I'll text you." I thank her and hang up. Well, I guess it's time. Something had to be done as my roots are showing anyway.
     The rest of them arrive twenty minutes later with bags of shopping. I let them unload the shopping and then I wander into the kitchen and walk to Tyler. I hug his waist as he wraps his arms around me.
      "You love me?" he looks down at me and frowns. He knows something is coming.
      "Yes?" he says as if it's a question.
      "I need you to do something for me. It would make me very happy."
      "Fuck! I'm not going to like it am I?" he grumbles.
      "Probably not," I giggle. "Please," I beg.
      "Fine, what do I need me to do?" I pull away from him. Jax walks in and leans against the fridge freezer.
      "Well, you and Flynn are going to do it," I beam. Jax's interest is spiked as if he thinks I'm doing something naughty.
      "What are we doing?" Flynn comes in the kitchen when hearing his name.
      "You both love me, so you have to do it." I grin and Mom hands over one of the watermelons. "Mom, can you help Ruby? Jax, you can help me." Mom nods with a huge smile and Ruby's a bit unsure what we're doing.
      Jax on the other hand doesn't seem to care what we are doing, he's down for whatever. I pass the watermelon to Ruby.
       Mom passes me a reel of cling film as she has another one under her arm. I grab the next watermelon and pass it to Jax.
      "What are we doing, Riley?" Ruby asks. I walk to her and lean my mouth to her ear.
        "Attaching the melons to their tummy's, so they know exactly what it feels like to carry a tiny human around. Last time Tyler makes fun of me," I whisper.
       I'm thoroughly amused. Not much can tamper with my mood. "I love you," Ruby smiles. Her confused expression now turned to glee.
      Flynn and Tyler still look confused as fuck. Miley watching from a chair at the table. "Ready?" I ask my team.
    They all grin with excitement. I walk to Flynn and he's smirking at my little game. I direct Jax to hold the melon to Flynn's tummy. I undo the cling film and Jax holds it over the melon whilst I start wrapping.
      Flynn helps by lifting his arms for me as I walk around him. "Fuck! What's the point in this?" Tyler grumbles.
      "Watch your mouth," I glare at him. He's half way secure. Ruby and Mom working as a good team. "You both seem to mock me about how tired or slow I am."
     I continue wrapping Flynn as I continue talking, "You my brother more so. I thought it only best for you both to see what it's like to carry around a bump. 24 hours starting now."
    "I'm not wearing this for 24 hours," Tyler protests. I'm just about done wrapping Flynn making sure it wasn't too tight so he could indeed handle it for 24 hours.
     I rip the cling film off the base and then Jax slaps Flynn's ass and he growls. "Hottie is hormonal. Very hot though." He cups Flynn's watermelon. "We'd make good parents," Jax winks.
    I tip my head back and laugh as Flynn slaps Jax's hands away. I look at Tyler and they've finished wrapping him. "If you love me you'll both wear them for 24 hours. I'm going to enjoy you do daily tasks."
     Tyler glares at me but he's not trying to take it off. I walk to him and kiss his cheek. "Protect your little one. No heavy lifting and no crushing it or knocking it into anything."
     I look at Flynn and he's watching me with sheer delight. I think he will cave first. He probably thinks it's going be easy but it's not.
    The door bell goes so I leave them in the kitchen to answer the door. Nanny and pops are at the door. Back again, really? I never know when they leave if I'm honest.
      "Hey," I smile brightly. They go to step in but I hold my hand out. Nanny goes to say something but I continue. "Before I left you in. I wanted to apologise for how I spoke to you. I'm sorry Nanny."
    She holds her hands out and grabs my cheeks. "Look at you, all grown up." She hugs me and then I move out the way to let them both in.
     I shut the door and walk back to the kitchen. They haven't tried to move yet. The door bell goes again and I frown. Who else is coming over?
     I walk to the front door and open it. Ade smiles brightly at me with a couple of bags. Is she here to do my hair? She said she'd text me. "Hey Ade," I greet.
     She kisses my cheek and I invite her in. I close the door behind us and we walk to the kitchen. "Shall we sit outside? It's such a lovely day," Mom suggests.
     They all start heading outside. I follow closely behind and when I get outside I stop and freeze. My hand going over my mouth. "Surprise!" Everyone says.
     I take the garden in. Lots of blue banners around that says 'It's a boy'. Blue balloons, blue fairy lights even though they aren't very bright as it's light out.
     Lots of tables scattered around the place. All that have different baby shower games. Food table, drinks table. A present station. Oh fuck my life, I love my family.
     Mom must have got Trixie our housekeeper to help as we were out. They threw me a baby shower. Tears well in my eyes. It's perfect.
     "Don't cry, sis. It's a happy time," Tyler groans.
      I fan my face trying to stop crying. "I love it, these are happy tears. I love you all so much."
     Flynn comes to me and kisses my cheek. Music starts playing in the background. My next door neighbor pokes her head over the fence being nosy. I'm too happy to care. "Hi Joan," I call. "You want to join us?"
"Oh Riley dear, I was just checking my plant pots." Yeah, of course that's what she was doing. A woman of her age should not be on a ladder. "I might pop over for a cuppa."
I notice she gets down quicker than she got up. "I'll put the kettle on," Mom laughs. I nod as she heads inside.