Page 59 of Girl Like Me

We all look at JD and smile, she looks confused and her cheeks heat with all the attention.

“JD, we’ve only known you for a few months but in that time you have become our lifeline. Not once have you ever wanted to change us or try to fix our flaws. You recognised our broken parts and just threw yours into the mix and said ‘it’s all okay, we’ll figure it out together.’ So when you asked us to travel with you, it threw us for a loop. We have spent years following routines and making plans because stability has been the key to recovery for us. But we spoke to our parents and they made us see that it’s okay to be impulsive and reckless. That it’s okay to make mistakes whilst we’re young, if no mistakes are made then how do we grow as people.” I say taking the lead.

“We are coming with you!” Rocky yells, not able to stand the suspense anymore. His parents were the hardest to convince since Rocky has worked for years and his end goal was always the Olympics but there was never a passion for it like Mac has. They do understand and support him no matter what but Rick was pissed for a few hours while he processed it and Carson helped talk to him.

Her eyes go wide and she leaps into Rocky’s arms and presses her lips to his. Her dad coughs, making everyone laugh.

“So that is where our gift comes in,” Carson says. “We have all chipped in and have a card preloaded with money for you to spend on activities whilst you are away.”

“Are you serious?” Mercer asks him and he nods. Mercer stalks towards his dad and pulls him into a huge bear hug before turning to Phillip and does the same.

Rory’s dad taps his glass of whiskey. “I know I’ve been an absent parent and it took a phone call from a very persistent man.”

“You’re welcome,” Carson interrupts with a laugh.

“He yelled at me and I was pissed that someone was trying to tell me how to raise my child but he hit me with a few home truths. I knew nothing about Rory, I just threw money at every issue we ever had and thought that would fix it all. I hope it isn’t too late to try and rebuild what I have broken. But myself, Chelsea and Rory’s mum would like to cover all of the accommodation costs whilst you’re away. I know how much the children's safety means to everyone and I’m so proud of all of the boys for being there for Rory when his own parents were not.”

I look over at Rory’s mum and from the scowl on her face I can tell she isn’t happy but she doesn’t object.

“I guess that leaves me. I know that Bristol doesn’t remember me right now but that doesn’t mean I don’t remember every last detail from the day she was born. I was so scared to have a daughter and bring her into this world, I worried about what kind of man she would end up with, but standing here right now I can say the young men in the room that surround her are everything I could have wished for. I know this kind of relationship is unorthodox but life is short and you should live every day to the fullest. So my wife and myself would like to pay for all travel costs involved for the entire year they will be away as our way of saying thank you to every single one of you for looking after my baby. I have already lost a son who would be so damn proud of his sister today.”

He gets choked up and Carson steps up again. “Well I guess that’s it for the gifts.”

“Wait!” Echo shouts and we all look at him in confusion. “I have a gift from her uncle, he couldn’t be here today out of respect for the cops who were supposed to be here. He said he was saving this for your eighteenth birthday, just like he had with Milo, but he can see how much you have grown over the last couple of months and he thinks that you’re ready now.”

He hands JD an envelope and she pulls out a piece of paper. Whatever she reads makes her eyebrows drop as she focuses on what is written.

“That’s a lot of zeros,” Rocky mutters and all she can do is nod as she tucks the letter back into the envelope.

“He gave you your inheritance, didn’t he?” her father asks, shaking his head as JD nods. He smiles widely, pride shining in his eyes. “That’s just like my brother to one up everyone in the room.”

Everyone laughs at his joke while I walk over to JD as her father goes to hug her and she returns his hug, squeezing him tightly.

“A million dollars,” Rocky whispers dumbfoundedly.

“You think that’s a lot? Bristol has her inheritance from her mother to receive when she turns eighteen and her brother Milo also had one set up for her. I also have one that she will receive at twenty-one. Money will never be an issue.”

“It’s too much,” she says, shaking her head.

“Maybe, but enjoy it. Set yourself up and take your time finding out what you want to do and at the end of the day if it’s still too much, donate it all, as long as you’re happy.”

We spend the rest of the afternoon by the pool and enjoy the time with our families. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives and I can’t wait to see where it leads us.

Today is the day that I’m finally moving into Rory’s house. I spoke with my father and he was happy for that to happen. He was going overseas on a business trip but said he would be back before we left to see us off on our year long vacation traveling the world. We leave on the thirty-first of December to go to Sunset Havoc. The boys explained that Rory had been invited and he was really excited for it, and if he is excited then so am I.

I have a small bag packed already, deciding to leave everything behind and start over again. There’s no point dragging along bags of things I have no attachments to.

I look around, making sure I’m not forgetting anything, as I send a message to the group chat.

Me:I’m so excited. I’ll be leaving soon.

Each of the guys reply and I take one last look at my room. I hope one day I can have fond memories of living here but right now I don’t. I miss my guys and don’t want to spend another day away from them.

I bounce down the stairs and freeze at the sight before me.

“No,” I say, shaking my head, ready to high tail it back upstairs.

“I’m sorry Bristol honey but I can’t let you leave. It’s not safe for you when you don’t have any memories.”

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