Worth The Wait {Book III}

Chapter 14

Drake 

I heard the door open and heels storming through the house. I looked up and saw Mere walking into the living room. "You seem stressed," I joked but she kept a straight face. "What's wrong?"

"You knew exactly what happened in that bathroom years ago," she said slowly. I nodded and felt a little guilty when her face fell in disappointment. "Why wouldn't you tell me? Didn't I have the right to know?"

"I wanted to protect you. If I would've told you, you might have gotten back together with her," I spoke in my defense, but she shook her head.

"That wasn't your decision to make. You saw how broken I was after that night and you could've changed that. I don't know what I would've done back then but it would've been my choice," she said in a tight voice.

"I'm not apologizing for protecting you," I stood my ground.

"God Aubrey, I don't always need your protection! I'm a grown woman, not some little girl anymore. There's some things I need to go through on my own and you have to let me!" She snapped and I couldn't look at her. I knew she was right, but it was hard to not feel protective over her. She sighed and walked out of the house. I'll let her cool off before talking about this again. I heard footsteps again and soon Mylan joined me on the couch.

"I talked things out with Mom yesterday," she commented. It caused me to put my laptop aside and give her my full attention. There was something clearly wrong with Nicki and I was trying to figure it out. She broke apart in my arms last time so I knew it had to be bad, but I couldn't think of a reason why.

"What did she say?" I spoke up since I realized that I didn't respond.

"She told me she would think about New York. I don't think I'll be able to change her mind but at least she's thinking about it. She knows how I feel about Deyo and she knows that I've been skating behind her back. Everything was just out in the open yesterday, but I think she took it well," she explained.

"That's a lot to take in," I said, and she sighed.

"It is but I think for the first time in years, she actually listened. I guess she really had no idea how I was feeling all of these years. I thought she might have just been ignoring it but I'm starting to think that she's a little oblivious," she shrugged.

"Your mom can't read your mind Mylan. If there's something you want her to know, you have to tell her. I know she might be busy, but she will always make time for you. You just need to let her know when you need her. Nicki would move the world for you, and I know that you know that," I reminded her.

"I know and I guess I should've tried harder. It just felt like everything was changing so fast and I didn't have time to truly process everything. You can't blame me for being scared."

"It's alright to be scared My. I'm here whenever you need me," I said to make sure she knew.

"Thanks Dad," she sighed as she laid her head on my shoulder.

"Nicki was terrified to step up and be a mother to you. She thought she couldn't do it, but she loved you so much. As scared as she was, she knew you deserved to have a mother. I know she gave up a lot over the years for you, but I know she doesn't regret it. I need you to realize that she has literally done everything under the sun to make you happy. Don't ever doubt her love for you," I slightly scolded her.

"How'd you know that you loved Mom?" She changed the topic slightly and it brought back memories.

"Honestly it hit me randomly, but I told her in an abandoned jail," I admitted, and she turned to look at me surprised.