Finding Home | Finders Keepers #1✔️

Thirty-Eight - She, Who Is Home

When I started the car, he finally starts telling me everything I need to know about his parents.

"They're strict, they care about their reputation, and they're very protective of it," he states, sighing in sadness. As I catch a glimpse of him, I see his staring at the window, unable to show me what his expression is. "You already know that I'm an asshole but they're the biggest assholes yet. They care about putting me in place. When it came to Caroline, they seemed to be understanding, kind, and loving towards her, probably because she's the daughter they always wanted.

"I was the son that craved their attention—that wanted his father to play baseball with him, that wanted his mom to take him out on milkshakes like she used to do with Caroline. Because I badly wanted those things, I decided to follow every order they gave me. They barked at me and I would just follow like a zombie and when I would mess up, they won't talk to me, they'll act for weeks like Caroline was their only child. When I realized as I grew that I was never going to get any of those things that Care got, and that they'll just continue to treat me like the puppet they can control, I lost it. It's why I started brawling at school, it's why I became the huge asshole I was, and it's why I decided to be part of the Shadows."

All of it was all because of them.

He chuckles humorlessly. "I remember coming to mom, telling her that I wanted a cake for my birthday. You know what they got me for my birthday? Nothing. Not even a greeting of some sort. But when it came to Care's birthday, oh, how everyone in the family is invited, everyone in the neighborhood is there to bring their presents for her."

"Oh, Luke," I glance at him. He still hasn't faced me. "Is this the reason why you were also an asshole to Care?"

His shoulder slump down, I can see it from the corner of my eye when I turn back to the road. "It's always been because she was the golden child, the child that will be the breadwinner of the family. I don't blame her now, I guess, for a long time, I was jealous of it all. Or I still am. Then, I realized that I didn't have to be because they were never the parents I wanted, I didn't have any—I had bosses, and the person who had to raise me was myself. Caroline was there to help me carve out who I am now today."

"So, why aren't you sleeping right because of them?"

I turn left, getting ready to park in front of their house.

"Because I know them," he sighs. "I know that when they meet you, they'll judge you, tell you terrible things about me, and when they ask you what your parents do, they'll immediately see the dollar signs and will hang onto you like leeches that they are. They'll also push every button I have and I don't want you to see me like that, but I thought that maybe if you're there, you'll be able to help calm me down. You always do."

Every single day that we've been together, Luke has always thought about me and been there for me, so much so that he wouldn't sleep until I do just to make sure I don't have any nightmares. Now, it's my turn to be there for him, my turn to support him, and hold him just so he wouldn't explode on his parents.

What can go wrong?

So, as I park, I take his hand. "Of course, I'll be there with you. It's my turn to take care of you and I'd be glad to help."

With our fingers entangled, he presses his lips to the back of my hand. I swear, every single time he does something like this, it makes my heart go crazy.

"I love you, Ro," he utters so easily, the words rolling off his tongue so naturally. "I love you so much."

A part of me feels guilty from feeling like this, from feeling like I don't belong here, like this was only one of my destinations and I was getting ready to walk away. It felt like I was betraying him, and it hurts. I shouldn't be feeling like this, I should feel like this is permanent—that no matter where I go, I'm still going to feel like they're my home.