CHAPTER THREE // BAD FEELING
A sense of dread had formed in the pit Naomi's stomach since Jax had called and told her about Luann's murder. The blonde lawyer didn't want to go back to Charming, but she had too. It was would disrespectful of her to skip Luann's funeral just because of a bad feeling.
There were words that seemed to get caught in her throat whenever Miguel asked if she was okay with going back to Charming. She wanted to scream and tell him she wasn't; that Charming was hell on earth to her, but whenever her loving husband asked in his worried and gently tone all she could do was give him a small smile and nod.
Of course Miguel knew how Naomi felt about her hometown. The couple didn't have secrets between them, their marriage would not have lasted long if they did. The topic of his wife's hometown though was still a sensitive issue for her — even after she had been gone for years.
"Amor." Miguel walked into their spacious bedroom with their twins in his arms, eyeing his wife as she sat on the edge of their bed with her hands in her blonde hair. "Thalia and Finn want to say goodbye to you before they go spend a few hours with abuela." Miguel smiled lovingly at his excited twins as he walked towards Naomi, who instantly placed a smile on her lips and stood up from the bed.
Naomi never wanted her children to see her upset. She wanted her children to always see their parents happy, and Miguel and her had done a wonderful job of that so far and she wasn't about to change that. The Galindo woman had grown up in a house where she heard too much fighting at a young age and she never wanted that for her children.
"Hi, my babies." Naomi kissed her daughter and son on their foreheads before placing a kiss on Miguel's cheek. "Are you excited to spend some time with abuela?" She questioned as the twins nodded enthusiastically with giggles leaving their mouths.
Naomi loved seeing the relationship between Dita and her grandchildren. Some days she wished her own mother could have been less toxic so she too could have a bond and know them, but Naomi knew that would never happen. Gemma only cared about the club, saying she cared about family was a lie she liked to use to control everyone around her.
"Is Nestor still picking up Sadie and Lucas from swim class?" Her blue eyes now turned onto her husband as questioned about their five year old daughter and Emily's son. The two were best friends and went everywhere together. It always bought a smile to Naomi's lips whenever she saw the two children together.
"Yes." Miguel nodded. "He'll bring them back to Emily's afterwards."
Naomi nodded at Miguel's words. Emily had offered to watch Sadie for a few hours with everything going on so that Naomi and Miguel could pack and get everything situated for the trip to Charming. She really was lucky to still have Emily in her life.
Sometimes she wondered what would have happened had she never met her all those years ago when she was lost and wide eyed in New York City. She'd probably still be lost and wide eyed, throwing up in a trash can in the middle of a busy street.
Naomi placed another kiss on her twins foreheads as well as Miguel's cheek. "I love you my babies. Have fun with abuela." She smiled as they both reached for her blonde hair with their tiny fingers, giggles leaving their mouths.
"I'll be back in a little bit and then we'll get everything ready." Miguel promised as he placed a kiss on his wife's soft lips. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
The blonde watched a Miguel walked out of the room before sitting back down on the edge of their bed, putting her head back in her hands. There was so much to do before they left for Charming, and none of it she wanted to do.
A deep sigh escaped her lips as she looked at her empty open suitcase on the hardwood floors. 'I'll get there eventually' She thought to herself before laying down on the overly large bed and closing her eyes.
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Naomi sat inside Emily's house, a glass of wine in her hand as the two best friends sat on the couch together. The Galindo woman had come later that evening to pick up Sadie, but of course her daughter had convinced her to stay a little bit longer; not that Naomi was complaining, she did need some girl time with Emily.
"How's everything with EZ going?" Naomi questioned as she swallowed the wine in her mouth.
Like Naomi; Emily too had come to college with a broken heart, though the circumstances were much different than Naomi's — in some ways. The two girls broken hearts was another reason they had bonded so quickly, spending hours eating ice cream and watching shitty romances was a way to cure their wounds.
"It's going alright." Emily shrugged, placing her wine glass down on the table. "He's doing what he should be doing and I'm really thankful for that." The brunette stated.
A smirk formed on Naomi's lips as she watched her best friend talk about her ex and father of her son. It was obvious that Emily was still in love with EZ Reyes.
"I think he's a good guy, Em. I mean, would I still beat his ass for breaking your heart back then, fuck yeah, but the way he looks at you and you look at him. It's obvious." The blonde stated with a smirk. "Don't try and argue." She held a hand up, seeing the brunette open her mouth to protest. "Have you forgotten I'm a lawyer." She teased.
"Whatever." Emily rolled her eyes. "Enough about my nonexistent love life. How are you?" The Thomas woman's voice was gentle as a look of sympathy formed on her face.
A sigh fell from her wine stained lips. "That's a loaded question, Em. It hasn't really sunk in that Luann is gone. I mean, I'm still waiting for a call or text from her. It's crazy. I also have this sense of dread that won't go away." She admitted making sure to keep her voice low so that Sadie and Lucas wouldn't hear.
"About going home?" Emily questioned.
Naomi nodded as she finished her glass of wine. "I don't want to go back there. I left for multiple reasons. I just feel like going back is going to start some bad shit." There they were, the words that seemed to be getting stuck in her throat — now out in the air.
"I'm sorry, Naomi." Emily frowned at her best friends words. "You'll have your brother though right? You two are close."
"Yeah." Naomi smiled faintly.
It had been a little while since she saw Jax, but they always talked and he visited when he could. She loved her older brother and wanted her children to know him, and they did and they loved their Uncle Jax.
"Miguel would never let anything bad happen to you either. That man loves you with his whole heart." The brunette stated matter of factly.
"I know, I know. I'm just worried about the kids. I don't want to bring them with us, but I don't want to put that much on Dita."
"I'll watch them." Emily quickly offered without hesitation.
"Emily, I couldn't ask you to watch three extra kids." Naomi shook her head. "That's too much."
Emily quickly waved off Naomi's words. "Stop. It's not too much. Sadie and Lucas would love it and they're perfectly behaved together and the twins are little angels. I can do it, Naomi." Emily's tone was firm as a smile formed on her face.
"You're sure?"
She completely trusted Emily with her children and she knew Nestor or someone close to the family would be left behind to help, but she didn't want to put too much on Emily's plate.
"I'm sure. I know you hate Charming and how toxic it is. I got this." She promised. "You and Miguel just got take care of what you have too."
Naomi threw her arms around Emily. "Thank you, Em."
It felt like a weight had been lifted off from her shoulders. Maybe now she could rest easier tonight.
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AN —
next chapter might be a flashback or it might be Naomi and Miguel finally in Charming next sure yet. Also, I still can't reply to comments so I promise I'm not ignoring you if you've commented on any of my books recently! 🩷