Page 139 of Chasing After You
“Don’t cry?You can’t write all this and expect me to not cry,” I say, sniffling as I try to regain control over my emotions. “Is there a pen in here?”
“Do you have one in your bag?” he asks, reaching for it, and thankfully, there is.
I pull the cap off and check the first thing off the list.He’s right, I do like to check things off.
“I love you,” I say, smiling widely at the man I’ve loved my entire life.
“I love you too,” he echoes, leaning forward to kiss me, making the whole world fade away.
EPILOGUE
I DRAG MY surfboard onto the sand, absolutely exhausted from the last hour I’ve spent with Henry, shredding some of the best waves we’ve ever had at this beach. It’s too bad JJ’s in Florida for spring break with his friends from college. My parents are in France, and Hunter is in Mexico with Kaitlyn, Chris, and Penelope.
Bailey stayed here with me, not out of choice, but basically because Mom and Dad said they weren’t going to reward his behavior with international trips.
It’s been seven months, and he’s still barely speaking to any of us.
I look back at the water just in time to see Henry fall off his board. He pokes his head up from under the surface and climbs back on the board before paddling in.
“You fell again,” I tease, sitting down in the sand once he’s close enough to hear me over the crashing waves.
“You fell too,” Henry retorts, setting his board next to mine, and I laugh.
“Yeah, but I only fell once, and that was the fourth time you’ve fallen.”
He shakes his head like a dog, plopping down next to me on the beach. “Yes, you’re right. I fell four times,” Henry admits, looking over at me with a dopey smile on his face.
“You fell four times, but I still love you,” I say, smiling, and his somehow shines brighter. I lean over to kiss him briefly on the lips, deliriously happy to be here with Henry.
“Je t’aime aussi.”57
I move to sit between his legs, leaning against Henry’s chest as we watch the large waves roll in.
“I could get used to this,” I say, and Henry presses a short kiss to the side of my head.
“Me too. It’s a nice change of pace from the craziness during season,” he admits.
“Definitely,” I agree, exhaling. Thankfully, things have started to die down in the media, but I’m still trying to figure out my path forward. All I know for sure is I can do anything with Henry by my side. “Do you think we should invite Bailey to surf with us?”
“If you want to, but I’m not sure he’ll say yes.”
I’ve tried repeatedly to talk to Bailey, but I haven’t been able to get through to him. I don’t know how to help. My little brother is a shell of who he used to be. It makes me sad.
I hear Henry sniff behind me, and I turn around to look at him confused. “Are you smelling me? That’s kinda weird, babe.”
There’s a flicker of amusement on his face, but he shakes his head. “No, I’m not smelling you. Do you smell smoke?”
I inhale the familiar smell of salt that fills my lungs, but Henry’s right. I do smell smoke.No, no, no.Bailey’s in the house. Fear instantly floods my body at the thought of my brother getting trapped, and Henry and I not being able to do a damn thing about it.
I leap to my feet, Henry just a mere second behind me as we run, slipping every few feet on the loose sand to get to the house.
My heart fucking stops at the sight of a blazing fire in the brush, dangerously close to the house, with Bailey standing in front of it.
“Bailey, what the hell are you doing?” I yell, grabbing his arm to pull him back before the flames can burn him. “Henry, call 911!” I shout over my shoulder as Henry dashes up the deck stairs to get one of our phones we left inside.
His emerald eyes are rimmed with red as they slowly focus on me. “Nothing.I’m doing nothing,” Bailey slurs, speaking to me for the first time in months. My brain stutters, feeling like it’s working overtime to understand the situation.
“Are you drunk?” I ask, my brain racing to piece everything together.
