My Cowboy

Home at Last

The next morning, our flight was at 9. The alarms were all set for 6 to allow time to get there. Well, I may or may not have sabotaged them and turned them to 6:45 so everyone would panic.

When we all did get up, we rushed to get our things together. We quickly made it to the airport and through security. We almost missed the plane, but they boarded just before the doors shut. When they did shut, I was on the outside of the plane. I could almost hear them freaking out from the inside. I know they were almost willing to pay the 15,000 dollar fine to open the door. I texted them: Sorry guys, but I'm staying here. I don't want to live in Texas. Don't bother wasting 15 grand.

Getting back through the airport was a struggle. I had already passed security and I had to explain that I missed my flight and wasn't rescheduling.

Last night, I spoke to Andy, who agreed to let me live in my old apartment and he would "own" it because I legally can't. All I had to do was work in the security monitor room to pay Andy for my apartment rent.

I quickly hurried back from the airport to my old, new home. I scurried up to put my bags in my apartment. Then I went over to Rani's.

"Jada! Aren't you going to miss your flight?" She asked answering in pjs with messy hair.

"I already did." I answered.

"Where's everyone else?" She questioned.

"On the plane."

Her mouth dropped wide open.

"I'm home, Rani. I'm staying here." We both began to cry and hugged each other.

"Really?" She asked.

I nodded. We both ran over to Kota's.

"Jada! You're gonna—" he began.

"Miss my flight. I know. I already did because I'm staying in New York." I responded.

He spun me around like he did when I surprised him the first time.

They both asked a ton of questions as we sat in the bay window of my room. I knew by the time I was finished answering them all, the plane would land and my phone would once again be bombarded with text messages. I was right.

"Hold on guys. I got a text from dad. Oh and Ryder. And Emily. And May. And Adam..." My voice trailed off.

I put them all in a group text.

To all: I'm not coming home. This is my home and I like it here. There's 5 ways this can play out. 1) you send my stuff 2) you send my stuff, Dad, and my boyfriend 3) you send my stuff and my boyfriend 4) you send my stuff and Dad 5) you don't send anything and try to get me home. 5 won't work because if you do that it will only force me to want to stay more.

I ignored every message about how I was coming home and how Ryder was freaking out. There was no way I was leaving here a second time. Yeah I like Texas, but this is my home. I grew up here and I intend on my kids growing up here too. My dad called and he tried to reason with me.

"Jada, you can't legally own a place to live. Where do you plan on living?"

I explained my entire plan to him.

"Because of my job, I can't leave Texas. I know you haven't been yourself and this move has been rough for you. What I'll do is I'll let you stay for a month. If I feel that you can't handle being alone, or I feel there is any reason why you can not continue living there, you come home. Prove to me you're ready to be an adult, that you're ready to be a parent." He calmly responded.

"Thank you daddy! What about my stuff?" I paused and my voice softened. "What about Ryder?"

"I'll pack your stuff and deliver it myself, but I highly doubt they'll let Ryder come all the way out there. I don't know if I'd even want him there myself." He said.

"Dad, he'll miss important steps in my pregnancy and the baby's life. He could watch over me and protect me. Can you try?" I begged.

"I'll do my best, munchkin. I can't promise anything. I love you."

"I love you too daddy!" I responded and he hung up.

"Well?" Kota asked as they both stared at me.

"I get one month, then my dad's doing a check up on me to see if I can handle living here on my own." I stared straight ahead, looking at my empty walls in my empty room. "Rani, can I stay at your house for the night? I know it's a school night, but I don't exactly have a bed." I asked.

"Yeah, my family will be thrilled to have you. They'll just be glad you're back in New York." She responded.

"Why don't we go celebrate. How about we go to a club later?" Kota suggested.

"I lost my fake ID somewhere between here and Texas. Plus, you guys have school tomorrow." I responded.

"Okay, how about we just go ice skate." He said.

"I can't. I'm broke from here on out. I work in the monitoring room here to make money for the apartment and I also am going to work either at Dunkin' Donuts or Starbucks. Somehow, I have to find time for school too." I replied.

They both bowed their heads in silence.

"You guys go. I want to sit here and enjoy my home. When you come back get me and I'll head over to your house with you Rani." I said.

For hours, I just admired my home waiting for them to return.

I've got a voice mail from Ryder. Hmmm. I never heard my phone go off.

The message said, "Jada, after you texted us on the plane saying you weren't leaving New York, I made a tough decision. I hate to do this, over the phone no less, but I think we should break up. I can't date someone who can't move on from the past and accept a different future and a new life. What I mean is, I ain't dating someone who's too childish to accept that they've moved to another state. I still love you, and I always will in one way or another, but this is goodbye for now. Call me in eight months and I'll come out to see the baby being born."

I dropped my phone as tears streamed down my face. My dad texted me to inform me that Ryder had no intention on moving to New York with me.

Just then, Kota stormed into my room through my bay window.

"Rani's eating with her family, so I've got pizza!" He shouted looking down at it.

"Good, because I just got dumped." I cried.

Kota set the pizza down on the window seat and came over to hug me.

"You're going to be okay. He's the one missing out, you're perfect. Nobody is more caring." He kissed my hand. "Nobody is more stunning." He kissed my cheek. "Nobody is more loving."

I kissed him first. You all know I have a problem with being vulnerable when I'm upset. We made out for a few minutes then decided to eat the pizza and continue this at Kota's.

After we did have sex, he tried to DTR, which means define the relationship.

"So, what are we now?" Kota asked.

"What do you mean, what are we?" I questioned. "I'm Jada Cadwell, soon-to-be mother and ex-girlfriend/best friend to Kota Sky. You're Kota Sky, single guy in love with Jada Cadwell. That's what we are. I'm not dating you, you're not dating me. WE are single." I put clothes on and climbed through his window and walked across the fire escape back to my apartment.

Then, realizing I have no where to sleep, I grabbed my suitcase, locked my windows and door and walked over to Rani's. I slept in her bed with her, which is a normal thing for us because her room isn't big enough for a couch.