Page 122 of The Destruction You Desire

"Can we do this again next weekend?" he asks hopefully.

The three of us look at each other before nodding. "Yeah, that sounds like a good plan, bro," Luca says with a smile.

Although he might be sad that our time together is coming to an end, Kayden still doesn't come up for air from talking all the way home about all sorts of nonsense. Luca and Leon soak up every word. They're going to be incredible big brothers to Kayden. I already knew that but seeing them together only solidifies it.

His bottom lip trembles as Aunt Fee comes out of the house to help him from the car. It breaks my heart but I know that we've got things we need to go and do, uncomfortable conversations to have.

26

Luca

Leon drives his own car to Rosewood but he doesn't follow. Instead of taking a right at the intersection out of Maddison, he took a left and disappeared.

We both watched as he vanished into the distance but neither of us said anything. There really is nothing to say. Lee needs to deal with all of this his own way. And his way of coping with shit is shutting the hell up and banging a redhead. As much as I might want to shake him, demand he tells me how he's really feeling, I know it won't make any difference.

"You ready for this?" Peyton asks as we pull up on the driveway of my mom's place.

She sold the house we all grew up in after she kicked Brett out. I get it. There were too many memories inside those walls. I kinda miss it though. While she might not like to remember some of our years there, it was the place where Peyton and I spent most of our time. A part of me wants to reminisce in my own bedroom.

She downsized and bought a beach house just a couple of miles from our old home. The entire back wall is glass, making the most of the ocean beyond. It's pretty sweet, and definitely too small for our father's taste, probably one of the reasons why she bought it when she could have afforded something much more impressive after the deal her lawyer got for her following their separation. But Mom was never about that kind of life and needing to have the biggest and best everything. That was all him.

"Am I ready to shatter my mom's heart all over again? No, not really," I say, assuming that she's in the dark about the whole Libby situation.

"She knew he was unfaithful," Peyton says as if that will help soften the blow of the truth.

"Yeah, she's more than aware."

Hand in hand, we walk up to the front door and I let us inside.

"This place is really cute," Peyton muses before her breath catches when she gets sight of the view. "Wow."

"Yeah, Mom's got good taste."

"You don't say."

"Hello?" Mom calls from upstairs.

"It's Luc," I shout, leading Peyton over to the windows to get a better look.

Seconds later, Mom's footsteps race down the stairs.

"You should have said you were coming," she says a beat before she appears.

She's got a wide smile on her face as she sees me but that's nothing compared to what happens when she gets a look at who’s standing beside me.

"Oh my God," she squeals. "Peyton?"

Mom damn near runs at Peyton, ripping her from my side and engulfing her in a hug.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she demands, gently slapping my upper arm while still holding my girl.

"Thought it could be a surprise."

"Well, I'm certainly surprised," she says, finally releasing Peyton. Although she doesn't let her go very far because she holds onto her arms and looks her over.

"Look at you, all grown up."

"Jesus, Mom," I mutter, running my hand through my hair.