« So, you're trying to tell me that my parents died a year ago and this is my little brother?" Zack asked, clearly angry with me.
"Yes"
"And now you're just raising my little brother?"
"Yes"
"And you didn't think to tell me when you found out?"
"I…I didn't think it was the best idea the time, especially after I was instructed not to."
"And that night at Gallagher when we talked about our parents, you didn't think to mention what you knew about mine?"
"First of all, I didn't know much. I saw your parents' names quickly the one time I glanced at the information on the disc, I didn't know that much. Second of all, my father trusted me with that information and I wasn't about to just give it away to some guy I barely knew."
"Oh, Come on, Cam! When are you going to stop acting like your innocent and nothing is ever your fault?!"
"Oh" I laughed. "So you're suggesting that your parent's death is my fault because if I would've told you that night, you would've been able to save them? That's great Zach, thanks." I slouched in my seat and began to rub Mikey's back. He fell asleep on my shoulder after he finished his French fries.
"I didn't say that" he was gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles had turned white as we sped down the highway.
"It was employed. You couldn't have saved them, Zach."
"How do you know?" he snapped.
"…"
"God, what more do you know?!" he yelled.
I sighed, "Your parents were captured by a guy named Lonny Rork. He's a very powerful guy. He's in charge of a very powerful organization responsible for the deaths of many CIA and MI6 agents reported to be MIA."
"And if you didn't look at the disc for long? How would you know they're all dead?" he asked, accusing me.
"Because Zach! It isn't just your parent's will that my name is on! It's all of them, and there are a lot of them! I can only assume they're dead when a shitload of there stuff is delivered to my doorstep. I don't know how in the hell is happens. I don't know how the will could be carried out and you and all those other people's families weren't notified! I do know that if went to try and save your parents, they kill you in the blink of an eye, Zach! This guy is light years ahead of the CIA, and there technology is advanced! I do know that he erased your parent's memories and mentally restarted them! They were reborn as members of his cult! They were working for him! You couldn't have saved them!" I yelled, angrily. It's a good thing Mikey sleeps like a bear or he'd be awake by now.
Grant and Travis stayed silent in the back seat.
Zach was completely out of it learning all these things about his parents. "I spent years of my life blaming the COC and helping in the attempts to infiltrate them, and now you're telling me they had nothing to do with my parent's?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, Zach, I really am."
"Oh, you're sorry, that, makes it all better." He said sarcastically.
"So while I spent a good part of my life pushing myself to find whatever was left of my parents, they were just fine, working for an enemy organization?" he asked.
"You can't blame them, Zach. Your parents loved you and if they could've remembered they would've done whatever it took to find you again" I tried.
"I certainly can blame them!" he yelled. "There's always a way to get out, Cam!" he yelled.
"You can blame them, but I don't! Sarah Anne Goode murdered my father! When he wouldn't give her the information she needed, she tortured him, in more ways than you can think of, but I don't blame her, because I know that was not your mother! I know how amazing you are, so the woman who raised you must be amazing, too. Your parents as you know them died that day Lonny got his hands on them; it was just there bodies he kept." I finished.
Bu now Zach and I both had a few tears running down our face. We were all silent for the rest of the ride until we pulled into a hotel parking lot for the night. Grant grabbed my bags for me, along with his, and I waited for Travis and Zach to get their bags, while trying not to wake Mikey. We walked to the front desk I motioned for the boys to let me do all the talking.
"Good evening Mrs….Oh my god!" said the teenage boy who was running the check in desk as he looked up at me and recognized who I am. Luckily, since it was so late no one was around to hear him.
"Hello." I laughed.
"You…..hot….sing….so hot…….voice……hot." he mumbled, completely star struck, as I stood there, completely amused. "Uh….Would room a you like?" he stumbled over his words.
I laughed, "What's your name?" I asked.
"Jim" he said in a high pitched, squeaky voice.
"Well, Jim, I'll tell you what; If you can get me a couple rooms and make sure no one knows I'm here, I can give two tickets to my next concert for you and a lady friend."
He nodded his head yes many times. "Okay, I'm gonna need the biggest room you have and a couple of roll out beds, extra towel, room service, and a 5 am wake up call. Here's my card." I said, handing him my Visa.
He just kept nodding his head and handed me back my card and a couple of room keys. "3rd floor" he managed to get out.
"I'll have those tickets for you tomorrow morning. Thanks, Jim." I smiled before heading to the elevator with the guys.
"Now why are we all sharing a room?" Grant whined as the elevator doors shut.
"My billing goes straight to my agent and she's only expecting me to need one room, not four. I don't want to have to answer any questions. I could get in trouble." I explained.
The room was pretty big. It was red with white curtains. There were two queen size beds and 2 roll out beds nicely made and the queen closest to the window was just calling my name. I laid a sleeping Mikey down on the center of the bed and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth, and out on some pajama pants and a black cami.
When I got put, Travis and Grant were already asleep on the roll away beds in their boxers. And I was so happy to see Zach, still awake in just a pair of sweatpants and a white t-shirt, snuggling Mikey on my bed. I just stood there, watching them until Zach started,
"He's got my mom's eyes."
"Yeah, I guess the good looks run in the family." I laughed.
"What's his full name again?" Zach asked.
"Michael James Goode" I smiled, lying down on the other side of Mikey and staring into Zach's eyes.
"He's perfect." Zach smiled.
We just sat here in silence for a while; Zach staring at Mikey and me staring at Zach staring at Mikey.
"Cam?" he asked.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"For everything. For being here, for being you, for him" he motioned to Mikey, "And for setting me free."
"You're welcome." I said softly.
He carefully took Mikey out of his arms, placed him on the bed, and moved towards me until we were lying just centimeters apart, holding each other and staring into each others eyes. We just laid there staring into each others eyes in silence.
"Marry Me." He whispered.
"