Ari

Shane drove us home in my car. From the look on sebs face he wasn't happy about it. That didn't really matter though. Shane drove charlie and me here, his bike was still at the house it only made sense.

"So..." Shane starts once we're out of the gates.

"Hmm?" I hum in response keeping my gaze put the window.

"You and seb?"

"What about us?" I ask him

"Are you guys like together?"

"No, we used to be"

"Ohhh, I wasn't sure. He seems awfully territorial over you. What happened?"

I let out a snort "I got kidnapped. I'm sure you have heard the story."

"Yep, dumb question" He sighed

"He moved on its been three years I don't blame him."

"I don't think he's actually moved on" He tells me "I mean I know he sleeps with some of the girls but we all do." He tells me

"My brother and dad dont."

"Thats because they have woman they love and would never do that to them"

I know Shane didn't mean it the way I'm hearing it, but I can't help but feel a sharp pain in my chest at his words. Dad and eli had woman they love and wouldnt do that to, seb didn't. He didn't love me the way Dad loves peyton, or the way eli loves locklynn.

"I didnt..." He starts but I cut him off.

"It's fine, really no need to apologize."

The rest of the ride is made in silence. Once my car is parked back in the garage I get charlie out of her carseat and head in the house where peyton is cooking dinner. "Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?" She asked pulling me into a hug.

"Gama" Charlie squealed throwing herself at peyton.

"Hello my beautiful grand daughter. I missed you today."

"Missed you" Charlie tells peyton. I'm so greatful for how well my daughter is adjusting to the outside world she never had anyone else's attention but my own and she's soaking up every ounce she can get from everyone else "did you have a good day with aunt locklynn and amd aunt elli?"

Charlie nods her head vigorously "and gampa, ewi, and sebby"

"Sebby?"

"Mmhmm, pwince sebby" she smiles brightly.

"It was just a story I used to tell her then she met seb and... well she's kind of attached now. It'll fade soon she's only two."

We found out when we took Charlie to the pediatrician that she was around two years old and she was underweight. Peytonhad been doing everything in her power to rectify that.

"I wuuuvvv sebby" she tells peyton.

Peyton chuckles before handing me back charlie "grandma's gotta finish up dinner before everyone gets here."

"Who's everyone?" Iask her

"Just your dad, ellie, eli, locklynn, and Parker." She said.

The evening drew on agonizingly slow. Charlie kept asking where seb was, she asked everyone she saw multiple times. When dinner was over I excused charlie and myself to go upstairs for her bath time.

After her bath we lay in my bed together while I read her a book. She has asked me for sebby at least five times since I started this book. With a sigh I reach over and grab my phone pulling up seb's contact that peyton had programed.

Me: hey, it's Ari. I'm sorry to text out of no where. I was wondering if you were busy rn. If you are that's totally fine, it's not an emergency or anything.

Not even thrity seconds later my phone vibrates a response

Seb: never too busy for you angel. What's up?

Me: well it's not really for me.... Charlie has been asking everyone for you all night and now she's crying to see you. I just really want her to go to sleep. Could you maybe video chat with her. I know it's weird and I'm sorry. I should have never told her those stories. I don't want to make you uncomfortable or put you in an awkward situation.

Me: I'm sorry I shouldn't even ask. It's okay she'll get over it, it not your problem.

Before I can even set my phone back down it's ringing with a video chat request from Seb "hey, I'm sorry." I answer

"Stop apologizing you didn't do anything wrong. I want you to call me anytime either of you need anything."

"We're not your problem seb."

"You're right, neither of you are a problem. Yall are the solution to all my problems. Now put my princess on the phone so she'll go to sleep." I move to phone so they can see eachother.

Charlie instantly stops crying when she sees seb "sebby?" She sniffles

"Hey, princess. Are you okay?" She nods her head at him "why are you sad?"

"Miss you" she tells him.

"I miss you too sweetheart. I'll see you soon okay? But for tonight its time to go night night." He tells her softly and my heart could just explode. I need to stop this, they are getting too attached to eachother and this can only end in one way, heartbreak.

"Otay sebby, I wuv you" Charlie days with a yawn.

"I love you too princess, sweet dreams"

Charlie climbs off of my bed and goes to her toddler bed peyton had delived a couple days ago. I still don't feel comfortable putting her in the room peyton and dad set up for her next to mine, I need her close.

"Thanks seb" I tell him looking at his beautiful face through the phone. I can see he's sitting on his couch at his house and I'm greatful he wasn't at the club when he called.

"No problem angel. Anything for my girls. Whenever you or charlie need me I'm just a phone call away."

"You can't do that seb." I whisper

"Can't do what angel?"

"You can't act like nothing changed between us. I shouldn't have asked you to call charlie, im sorry."

"No ari, you don't get to do that. You are the only girl I have ever loved ever. Charlie is apart of you. How she's here the fact that she doesn't share my DNA means shit. She is yours and I will protect and love both of you until my last breath. I will never let anything happen to either of you ever again.if charlie is sad and wants to talk to me call. If you're sad and want to talk, call. If you ever need anything at all you call ari."

"Seb" I sigh

"Angel. Tell me you dont love me"

"Seb. Im not the same girl I was when I was fifteen."

"Thats not what I said. I know you're not the same person you were at fifteen I'm not either, but that doesn't mean our souls aren't connected, you ari masters are my soul mate. Forever and always."

"I still love you seb." I whisper as I feel the tears fill my eyes. "But everything's different now.... daisy told me"

"She told you what?" He asks slowly

"That you were planning on making her your old lady. That you had a future planned with her before I showed back up. I'm not mad seb. I get it really. I have been gone a long time, though I didn't choose to leave you, I don't blame you for having a life without me."

"What she said was a lie ari. She was never going to be my old lady. I didn't move on from you can't you see that? I could never move on from you. Yeah I fucked around but I never made a commitment to anyone I slept with because angel there's only one woman in this world that I trust my heart with, it's you ari, it's always been you."

I lay awake long after we eneded the call long after Charlie's soft snores fill the room, just thinking.

Why did I have to be taken? Why do I have to miss out on a life with sebby? Why does it hurt so much to know he has been with other people? Why am I still in this town? Why daisy? Why did my mom never reach out after I wask taken?

With thag last thought I sit up straight in bed. It's weird because my mom was on my ass about my dad and peyton before I was taken then all of the sudden I'm gone and she goes radio silent without anyone telling her I was taken. It's not adding up.

I get out of bed and make my way downstairs dad is in the kitchen eating some brownies peyton made for desert.

"Hey dad." I say sitting at the kitchen island.

"Hey sweetheart, it's two AM. What are you doing up?"

"Peyton said my mom never reached out after I was taken."

"Yeah" he confirms

"Don't you find that weird. I told you before she was constantly calling and saying how I needed to leave and come live with her. She was saying that you'd never cut me off so we'd always have money and we'd be together. Then I'm taken and she just forgets I exist?"

Dad sets his brownie on the plate and looks at me with his brows furrowed in concentration. Like he's putting together peices of a puzzle that he didn't know existed. "That fucking cunt, I'm going to kill her"

"You think she'd really..." I let my words trail off because I know the conclusion he drew the one I drew too but was hoping he'd tell me couldn't be possible.

"I think a junkie would do anything for their next high" I don't think inhave ever seen my dad so angry.

My mother was in on my kidnapping....