Page 33 of Chase

“What happened?” Yasmin asks. I love how she feels sitting on my lap. I like being close to her and touching her. It calms me, as much as it calms her. I wait for Arden to speak. He’s the only one that can tell this story. It hurt all of us, but he’s her brother. He took it the hardest.

“Julia was sick as a child. It took a while for the doctors to figure out she had type one diabetes. Once that was diagnosed when she was ten, she was also diagnosed with other auto-immune diseases. Dad pulled her from school and got her tutors because she was in and out of hospital.” We would spend so much time at the hospital with her. Yasmin shifts, giving Arden her full attention.

“Her mum stuck around for a while. Julia got a severe kidney infection and ended up in hospital for a couple of weeks. Her mum left in the middle of the night. Didn’t leave a note. Just packed her bags, emptied her joint account and left. When Julia got home from hospital, she locked herself in her room and pushed us all away. She barely talks to Dad. The only person she let in was Martha our housekeeper.” As Arden talks, I remember the day he showed up here distraught. He couldn’t figure out why she had locked us all out. They were always close.

“What a bitch. Has she contacted anyone since she left?” Yasmin asks.

“Nope. Not a word. Dad hired Casey from Dory’s Private Investigative Services in New Hope to try and find her. Casey is the best in the business and she had no luck, it’s like she just disappeared into thin air.”

“I’m happy she came tonight. It’s nice to know Millie has a friend here. It’ll make leaving next year a little easier.”

“What are your plans next year?” Rhys asks Yasmin. I shift so I can hear her response. I don’t know if she plans on going back to wherever she came from or if she will be sticking closer to here.

“Law school. Hopefully at New Hope University. I decided last year that I wanted to go to NHU. When I was looking at campuses online, it was the one that stuck with me. I was drawn to it. I didn’t even pick a back up school.”

Rhys looks kind of surprised. “Me too. Dad has been pushing law school on me for years. He’d have a coronary if I decided to do something else. Lucky for him I like the idea of being a lawyer. Although, he wanted me to attend Neverland University. I compromised with him and we settled on NHU.”

Yasmin watches Rhys. It’s obvious she’s shocked that he is talking to her. I love him, but he is definitely not a talker.

“Well hopefully I get in. It’ll be nice to have someone to study with.” She smiles at Rhys. He just nods and whispers in Ashley’s ear.

I relax at the idea that she’ll still be close next year. I’m not sure I could say goodbye to her.

After a while Rhys, Ashley, and Hayden leave. Ashley didn’t drink so that she could drive the boys home. We discovered Millie, Julia and Daisy passed out in my bed.

“Wanna stay with me tonight?” Yasmin asks. She licks her lips and moves a little closer.

“You don’t have to ask me twice.”

We ask Arden and Ally if it is okay if the girls stay here with them. Mum’s already asleep; I know she won’t mind. She’ll love having the girls here in the morning. Ally and Arden practically shove us out the door. I guess they don’t mind either.

***

Walking into Yasmin’s house brings back memories of earlier. I pull her close the minute the door closes. She walks backwards holding up her hands to stop my approach.

“Whoa, back up. Can we at least make it to the bed this time?”

“Lead the way.”

I follow her up the stairs and into her room. Looking around, I see the wall-to-wall bookcases packed full.

“I think you might need some more shelves.” I suggest.

“Yep, I still have ten boxes downstairs. Dad told me I can’t get any more bookshelves because I am leaving, and they won’t fit in a share room next year.” She pouts as she talks.

Right here right now I tell myself that I will build this girl as many bookcases as she wants if it makes her happy. Her dad is right though. The five she already has probably won’t fit in a share room.

“You’ll have your own library one day.”

“I hope so.”

I move to her, pulling her to me. My lips find hers and she melts into me. Moving towards her bed, I lower her slowly, not breaking the kiss.

I spend the next few hours getting to know both my girl and her body before she falls asleep in my arms.

Early in the morning, Arden messaged to let us know that he and Ally were taking the girls to his house to watch movies in the theatre room. He’d bring Millie back tonight. Allowing me to spend some much-appreciated alone time with my girl.

***

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