WILD RIDE (Rafe Cameron x OC) *COMPLETE*

Chapter Sixty-Three (Alana)

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

Alana

Sarah dropped me off before going to meet with Kie. When I got to my childhood home there was no one there. A note said, "be back later, out with Pops" and that was it. I waited on the screen porch and sat on the couch. Watching the water and where the sky meets the sea. Just like I did a year ago for months.

So much has happened in a year since my old man when missing. I went from angry to sad to finding peace and making do with what happened. John B never stopped believing and maybe that was his way of coping. But me? I coped differently.

John B partied hard until he picked up on treasure hunting just like Dad. Me? I drowned myself in school and then a career. Then stupidly got sucked into the treasure bullshit but it was never my intention.

And all the shit with Rafe and now.. I look down and am relieved that through this big shirt you can't tell that I'm hiding a baby bump under here. Even though the dragon inside of me is moving around like crazy. Rafe hates that I call it a dragon but that's what it feels like.

I see a jet ski coming up the marsh and see that it's pulling straight toward the house. My heart stops when I see that it's John B and... And my dad. I stay sitting on the couch and just watching as they tie the jet ski to the dock and walk down toward the house together, laughing like no time passed at all.

When John B opens the door and sees me he stops and then turns to look at Big John who freezes like a deer in the headlights. No expression on his face. Almost like he was hoping he could have avoided me. Maybe he thought I was still in Guadeloupe with Rafe and Ward and Rose. Unless John B hadn't told him all of that.

John B doesn't even know that I'm pregnant.

Or married for real this time.

"Flower..." Big John says breathlessly. "You came home."

I shake my head. "No... This isn't my home but... You're the one who came home. If you even want to call it your home. Maybe the place you'd been hiding for a year is your new home. New wife? New kids? Did you forget us like Mom did?"

He sighs. "Flower, it wasn't going to be safe if I came back. I couldn't call you guys-"

"Not even a cryptic letter? Something? Anything? Or how about paying back the money you stole before you left."

Big John scoffs. "It's been a year. You all thought me to be dead and I don't even get a hello? Missed you Dad? So glad to see you alive? Nothing? I see what's happening. Picking up right where we left off. You're mad about that shoebox money, I get it, Flower-"

"You left us." I stand up. "You stole my money and tried to steal John B's car and you fucking left us. Yet again to fend for ourselves. So you know what if I want to pick up where we left off that day then I think I have earned the right to do so."

"Alana calm down let's just sit and talk-" John B says and I whip my head over to him.

"What about you? He comes back and I find out from Sarah and only because she was sneaking around Tannyhill to get more of her stuff? Was no one going to tell me anything? I wasn't hiding the fact I was back in Kildare. So why hide from me?"

John B crosses his arms and looks me up and down. "JJ told me."

"Told you what?" I play stupid and match his pose.

His eyes go to my stomach and back up to my face. "He told me when you got captured by Singh. I didn't tell anyone else about that. But the reason I didn't tell you about what was going on here is because you have a new life now. Don't you? You're a Kook now."