Page 119 of Chasing After You
“Hunter, you could’ve picked a community college if it made you happy, which is the only thing we care about. I’m proud of you for going with your gut. It’s not easy to do,” Sebastian says.
“So you’re not mad I picked Oceanside?”
“I’m not mad,” he affirms, and Hunter’s shoulders relax.
Mirabelle turns to me, the initial shock gone from her face, whereas I’m afraid to open my mouth and risk saying the wrong thing. “We’re not the only Walker-Price couple anymore.”
I guess not, but this isn’t the couple I expected.
~
Wilson went out with the team tonight, but after all the excitement earlier with Hunter, I’m glad for the quiet evening at home. Mirabelle is curled up on top of me, her head resting on my chest as we watch a movie, but my mind is a million miles away. I think hers is as well.
I’m running my fingers through her hair as she keeps a slight grip of my shirt in one hand, the other resting on my chest, our legs are tangled together under the blanket.
Unfortunately, my biological mother called while Mirabelle and I were swimming tonight after everyone else had left. Somehow, she still hasn’t gotten the hint I have nothing to say or give to her.
I can’t even count the number of voicemails I’ve deleted without listening to them. The number is that high. It’s probably time to tell Sebastian she’s still calling, but I’m not there yet.
“What are you thinking about?” Mirabelle asks softly, breaking the silence.
“Nothing important.”
“I don’t believe you.”I swear Mirabelle might know me better than I know myself.She lifts her head up to look at me, her face knit with concern. “Is it still everything from earlier? I should have tried harder to get Stacey to back off—”
I smile down at her worried face, shaking my head. “It’s not Stacey, or any of the shit she made me do today.”
“Then what is it?”
I don’t like talking about my mom. I mean, who enjoys admitting their mother willingly left them and only wants something to do with them because it’s convenient for her? I can only assume the divorce was ugly because she’s a taboo topic for my dad too.
“It’s my mom, or I guess I should call her Allison. She hasn’t exactly been much of a mother.”
Mira’s eyes soften, and I take that as my cue to continue.
“She won’t stop calling. I’m afraid one of these days she’s going to show up at my door or at a game, demanding to see me,” I admit. “She wanted nothing to do with me before, but now I’m a professional athlete, I’m suddenly good enough for her?”
“Do you ever answer her calls?” she asks, chewing on her bottom lip. I lift my hand to brush her hair behind her ear.
“I used to, thinking it was a sign she . . .” I trail off, not wanting to admit that despite Penelope having treated me like her own, I still craved the approval of Allison. “I told her to stop calling me six months ago. She said she just wanted to talk. I-I hung up on her and changed my number.”
Her nose scrunches up in confusion. “I thought you changed it because your phone number got leaked.”
“I didn’t want my dad to know she was calling me. It didn’t stop her from finding my new one, though. I accidentally answered a call a few months ago, but I ended it as soon as I realized who it was.”
“I might have accidentally told him and my dad that she was. I’m sorry, Henry,” Mirabelle apologizes. “I didn’t mean to, but I felt awful you were taking all this shit from everyone, and you didn’t deserve it. You carry so much weight on your shoulders, and it wasn’t fair for them to add to it with their accusations. My temper definitely got the better of me when I talked to your dad, and I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Well, I guess that answers my question about why Sebastian suspected we were in contact, but I don’t understand when she would have had this conversation? “When did you talk to my dad?”
“The morning before the season opener. I didn’t go to Uncle Owen’s to talk to your dad, if that makes it any better? JJ and I were staging an intervention with Hunter about Bailey. Your parents were there too, and your dad tried talking me out of being with you. I just got so mad because no one ever listens to me or what I want. It just slipped out, and I didn’t know how to tell you. I’m so sorry, Henry,” Mirabelle rambles as she moves to sit up, attempting to pull away from me. I keep my arms wrapped around her, preventing her from moving.
I smile at her, trying to reassure her I’m not upset. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m not mad.” Mirabelle melts into me, exactly where I want her to stay. “How’s Bailey?” I ask, trying to decide whether I should open that can of worms before I can talk to Kaitlyn.
“He’s still ignoring my calls.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“What’s there to talk about? My brother hates me, and I don’t even know what I did. Mom told me he hasn’t said a word to anyone since I told my parents he quit soccer. JJ told me last week Bailey answered a FaceTime call, though. Bailey didn’t say anything, so JJ said he rambled about his classes and teammates, but he still answered, so maybe there’s hope.”
