Downtown Idea

57. Home Alone

I dreaded going home.

For a lot of reasons.

I loved Scotland and the farm. Brodie loved it here. I doubted he even remembered ever being in LA.

I love my brother and I was worried leaving him would make him lonely.

I didn't know what to expect with Calum. He promised me that we were gonna move in together and that we were gonna be together once everything settled down. But I wasn't sure if he still wanted to do that now. He didn't call or text or anything after he and the rest of 5sos left for the end of their tour.

I had several contracts breached after running off again. I had to deal with those if I went home.

Brodie would have to leave Dino at the farm because we couldn't find an airline that allowed a dog that big on board whether it be in the cabin or in a crate. He was devastated when I told him he had to leave his puppy behind. He cried when he had to say goodbye to him. Poor baby bean.

But I hopped on a plane with my kid and my sister and my niece and we went the 15 hours back to LA.

Calum and I made plans for as soon as we landed. He had to take Brodie because I had work stuff I needed to clear up. Breech of contracts were a bitch to take care of and Brodie was distracting. Plus he hadn't spent a weekend with his dad in close to a year.

So that's what I was thinking about as I clutched Brodie's hand and lugged all our stuff to where we were supposed to meet up with Calum and Ashton. I had been carrying Brodie because he was so small, but he wanted to walk and as long as I held his hand he'd be okay.

"Daddy!" He slipped his hand from mine and took off running. My heart gave out and I gasped and tried to grab him.

"Brodie!" I shouted after him as a ground of people crossed between me and my baby. I was about to panic when I saw Calum grab him. I wave of relief washed over me as I went up to him. "Hey."

"Hey." Calum smiled at me as Brodie snuggled into him. He rubbed the little boy's back soothingly. "How are you?"

"Tired. A bit sad." I pursed my lips and he scrunched his nose.

"Leave Dino." Brodie pouted as he sat up.

"Aw you had to keep your puppy with Jo?" Calum confirmed. Brodie nodded solemnly and Calum nuzzled into his cheek affectionately. "Well guess what!" He gasped excitedly and Brodie giggled.

"What."

Calum poked his tummy and he giggled again while he shied away. "I have a cute puppy at my house you can play with." Brodie gasped and Calum laughed at him. I doubted Duke was gonna be the kind of dog Brodie took to.

"Well anyway, I gotta go." I said looking at the time. We were two hours later than we had planned. I didn't even have time to drop by my house.

"Do you want me to take your stuff?" Calum reached for my bag and I nodded and thanked him quickly. He offered to do something helpful for once. "Okay, say bye bye to Mama, Goose."

"Bye bye MumMum." Brodie waved and blew me a kiss.

"Bye Cutie." I said kissing his cheek. "I love you. Be good for Daddy."

"We love you Mama." Calum said, which made my cheeks go pink as I pecked his cheek goodbye.

"I'll see you guys." I said waving to him and my cute kid. I waved to Ashton and Zoe before I headed on my way. I hoped Brodie was okay. It had been a while since he stayed with Calum plus it had been a while since he'd been away from me.