Then I Found You

Chapter 23

This is the last chapter then the epilogue

One Month Later.

Riley stirred once more in her sleep as she heard the incessant knocking on the door. Her eyes fluttered open and she glared at the door. If this was the hotel’s idea of a wake- up call, they had another thing coming. She got up quietly, trying not to disturb Nick in the process.

They were in Philadelphia now but her search for her half- brother hasn’t been successful so far. She had gone on every website and looked through all the books and at one point she even went door to door but she just couldn’t find anyone named Claire Williams and when she did, they had no sons.

She opened the door and glared at whoever it was angrily until she saw Ghost standing there, looking dead tired. She cocked one eyebrow. What was Ghost doing here? Or better yet, how did Ghost know she was here?

“What are you doing here?” she asked, still in shock.

“Looking for you. I called Nick and he told me and I just borrowed my mother’s car and drove for three hours straight. Feel special” he joked, she couldn’t help but chuckle at that.

“Yeah but why?” she asked, cocking her head to one side.

“So, my mom seemed kind of depressed for the past month and when I asked her what was wrong she said the man who she used to love died” he started. Riley cocked one eyebrow. She had no idea where he was going with this. “My father died, Riley” he said with a sad look in his eyes.

“I’m really sorry to hear that Ghost” she said, she knew how it felt to lose a father.

“But the funny thing is, he died the same day your dad died, in the same hospital, at the exact same moment” Ghost said, staring at her intensely. Her breath caught in her throat as he said that. She wondered if this was going in the direction she thought it was going in. “But I couldn’t bring myself to go to the funeral” he finished. Riley slapped him straight across the face as soon as he finished and he looked at her in shock.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she asked, trying to hide the fact that slapping him hurt her hand.

“I don’t know but Jayden’s really depressed that’s why I came to tell you. I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you sooner Riley” he said. “But you and Jayden are so much alike. He punched me in the face when I told him you were my half -sister.”

Riley pulled Ghost in for a hug which he returned immediately and kissed her forehead. In many ways, she was glad Ghost was her half- brother. She held onto him tighter until she heard someone clear their throat from behind them. She turned around to see Nick crossing his arms over his chest giving them a look of disapproval.

“What are you doing?” Nick asked, sounding pissed.

“Hugging my brother” Riley responded nonchalantly  and Nick’s eyes widened.

“You…?” he asked, staring at Ghost who still had his arm around her, in shock.

“Yes. And since Riley is basically your sister, that means I’m your brother too” Ghost said, smirking at Nick who still looked shock.

“A bug will fly into your mouth if you don’t close it” Riley teased, pulling Nick into a hug.

“So you two better start packing. We’re leaving today” Ghost said, throwing himself at the bed.

'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~''

“Jayden” Riley whispered as soon as she saw him. He hadn’t changed one bit. She watched as he bounced the basketball multiple times before attempting to shoot it in the basket. He hadn’t noticed her yet so she cleared her throat. She chuckled when his eyes widened.

“Riley. What are you doing here?” he asked, as he continued bouncing the ball. She cocked one eyebrow at how detached his voice sounded. Had he lost feelings for her while she was gone? It’s only been a month. She shook off the dread she was feeling.

“Um well, Ghost paid us a little visit while I was in Philadelphia” she said.

“Why did you leave?” he asked his voice full of emotion now. “You didn’t tell anyone you were leaving. I don’t even know why you left!” he yelled, making her take an involuntary step back. She grabbed the ball from him.

“I told you didn’t I?” she asked, thinking back to that dreaded phone conversation where she told him her feelings.

“After you left and then you just hung up” he pointed out.

“I’m sorry Jayden. I don’t like goodbyes. You know that” she said, idly throwing the ball around in her hands.

“Neither do I. Why would you think it was okay to just up and leave like that? I was so worried. I thought something bad might have happened” he scolded, making her feel angrier by the minute.

“So what do you care?” she asked, feeling her temper rising. She had gone to do something that her father asked her to do and this is the treatment she got for doing it?

“Of course I would care!” he yelled angrily, his grey eyes looking darker. “The girl I love disappears after her father’s funeral. I knew you were depressed. Do you know how much scenarios were running through my mind?” he asked. She couldn’t help but smile when he said the word ‘love. “You think this is funny?”

“No of course not. But can you repeat what you just said?” she asked, the smile still plastered onto her face.

“You think this is funny?” he asked, looking confused.

“No, before that.”

“I thought you knew I loved you” he teased.

“Well I kind of hung up on you after I said it so” she said sheepishly.

“I never got the chance to say it back” he finished for her. “Well, I love you Riley Moore” he said, taking hold of her hand. She felt her stomach flip as he said those words.

“I love you” she whispered, smiling as Jayden kissed her. She knew that she loved Jayden more than anything. She just couldn’t believe it took her so long to realize how much she loved him.

So next chapter is the epilogue

Reminder: this is my idea of a short-ish story

So you didn’t expect it to be Ghost did ya? Haha. I had this planned.

Okaybye.

Btw @joiningthedots is the sass master of wattpad

Okaybye.