Deserted - Auctioned

“This better not be a prison,” Jayden muttered. He was eyeing the little box where a guard sat twenty-four seven and manned the gate.

“The opposite.” Gray quirked a faint smile and pulled out his wallet. “The security is to keep the wrong people from getting in. Anyone can get out if they want to.” He handed over his driver’s license to Darius. “I don’t know if Adeline put Jayden on the list, but I’m on it.”

“Got it.” Darius drove forward.

Gray caught something in his periphery, a flash of green, and glanced out his window, only to choke on a breath. “Stop the car,” he coughed. His heart was suddenly pounding. He knew that car, hidden behind Lincoln’s truck. There was probably only one just like it in the whole state. An ancient, metallic-green Beetle, and someone was in it. Mom.

The second Darius stopped, Gray had already unbuckled his seat belt and was on his way out of the car.

He jogged across the lot, the gravel crunching underneath his shoes, and it didn’t take more than a second or two before his mother stepped out from behind the wheel with an apologetic expression.

“Adeline called me.” She rushed out the words as her eyes welled up with tears. “I just wanted to see you, baby. I promise, I wasn’t going to come up to you.”

Jesus Christ. The plea in her voice almost shattered Gray.

“I know you’re not ready,” she choked out.

Gray shook his head and finally reached her, and he threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

Mom let out a sob and fell apart in his arms.

The guilt crashed down on Gray, regardless of how much he’d needed this break from everything and everyone.

“I had to see you,” she cried.

Gray sniffled and peered up at the sky, willing his own emotions to stay back, but it was fucking impossible. As the first tears fell down his cheeks, he pressed his lips to the top of her head and squeezed her a little harder.

“I’m sorry for shutting you out.” He sniffled again and did his best to speak past the thickness in his throat. “I should’ve called you more often.”

Mom shook her head quickly. “No. No, I understand you, Gray. I understand. It w-was just so hard.” She let go to wipe her cheeks, and Gray took over. He brushed his thumbs under her eyes, which caused her to get weepy again for some reason. “I missed you so much.”

He lowered his hands. “I missed you too.”

She sniffled and peered up at him. Really looked at him. “You look good, sweetie.” She touched his stubbly cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“Better,” he was quick to say. “It’s a roller coaster. Two steps forward, one step back.”

She nodded and wiped her cheeks again. “Don’t push yourself too hard. You have to let it take time.”

He smiled carefully. “You sound like Darius.”

She exhaled a tearful laugh. “Bless that man. He’s kept me updated with daily reports. He uses very few words, but he gets the message across.” She paused and cleared her throat. “I won’t keep you. I have a million things to say, but we’ll save it. Can—can you come home soon? Let me take care of you for a bit? I won’t crowd you.”

Fuck, how he’d missed her. He smiled and threw a quick glance over his shoulder. Jayden was watching them, his face all but pressed against the window.

“I’m gonna stay with Darius for now,” he admitted, and he went on before Mom’s face could fall. “But I’ll stop by a lot, okay? I wanna get updates on all of you.”

“Okay, fine,” she sighed dramatically. She was too cute, trying to lighten the tension. “Can I tell you one thing?”

He nodded.

The most beautiful smile took over her face. “You became an uncle yesterday.”

Gray’s eyes went wide. “Isla had her baby?”

“Two!” she laughed. “She had twins. Can you believe it? They missed one at her ultrasounds, and then—you remember Jack took her to a doctor in Florida? That was when they learned about the second baby. They kept it from us because of everything we were going through.”

“Holy…” Gray rubbed a hand over his mouth and couldn’t stop the grin. “That’s fucking amazing.”

“A boy and a girl.” She nodded. “They haven’t announced the names yet.”

Gray pinched his lips together, happy for Isla and Jack. “How does it feel to be a grandmother?”

“Good!” She almost bounced on her feet. “Jack’s mother and I have decided that she’s Grandma, and I’m Nana.” She touched Gray’s arm. “Keep that in mind for when it’s your turn. I’m a Nana-type, I think.”

Gray almost choked on saliva. Mom’s statement was as wildly bizarre and unbelievable as it was…hitting a little too close to home. It was only a matter of time before she learned that Gray had every intention of one day adopting Jayden.