Page 48 of Chasing After You
Hunter looks at me, probably wondering what I’m doing here since I told him I wasn’t coming. “What’s wrong with everyone’s faces?” he asks, and Kaitlyn’s face lights up when she sees me.
“Mira! Is Henry with you?” she asks, looking around, but her smile fades. “Never mind, I hope he’s not,” she mumbles under her breath, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Kaitlyn, will you please come eat breakfast with us?” Chris asks, and I’m honestly a little impressed by the look she gives him.
“Did you invite Henry for breakfast?” she asks defiantly, and I bite my lip to hold back a laugh.
“Kaitlyn, we talked about thi—”
“No.Youtalked about this. If Henry’s not here, then I’m not hungry.”
As amazing as this is, I would prefer to not stay here all day. “Hunt, can we go talk?”
“Anything sounds better than staying in here,” he says, dragging a hand through his blond hair. I’m glad we’re both in agreement on that. I hope Hunter has answers to the questions I have. I follow my little brother as he walks outside, keeping my eyes trained on his back.
Stepping out of the house, I breathe a long exhale of relief. “Thank fuck, I can breathe again,” I say, rubbing my chest, but I still can’t get rid of the anxiety plaguing my body.
“Yeah, maybe a heads-up next time you change your mind about coming over. I would have eaten first,” he says, frowning as his stomach grumbles. “What’s going on?”
I look back at the house, pulling my phone out of my pocket. “Where’s Bailey?” I ask, and Hunter’s entire body stiffens. Okay, well, now I know for sure he knows something is going on.
“He said he was hanging out with some of his old friends,” Hunter says, fidgeting with the chain around his neck.
I press JJ’s contact, and he’s quick to answer since I gave him a heads-up. “I have never been more grateful to be an early riser with how often you forget the time difference between us. How isOperation Get Bailey To Talkgoing?” he asks, and if he were next to me, I’d probably punch his arm.
“JJ, you texted me before I was awake this morning. That’s your own damn fault,” I say, shaking my head.
“Whatever. How’s it going?”
I look at Hunter who is literally looking anywhere but at me. “Well, Bailey’s not here, but I’m with Hunter, and you’re on speaker.”
“Hey, dude, I meant to text you yesterday, but I streamed your game on Friday, and it looked like you got some good snaps in,” JJ says, and Hunter shrugs, shifting his weight. It’s crazy how he got all his height from Dad, whereas I’m short like Mom.
“It was okay. Weird playing without you, but I’ll get used to it,” Hunter says.
“Yeah, I feel the same way,” JJ says, and I clear my throat impatiently. “Sorry, we can talk about Bailey now. I don’t have anything new. He’s been declining my calls and texts since the fire, but I still try every day.”
I give Hunter the opportunity to chime in, but he says nothing.Fine, I’ll talk.“I talked to Bailey yesterday at the stadium for a couple minutes, and I’m worried. He wasn’t himself. He basically told me to go back to my perfect life and fuck off because he doesn’t need me anymore.”
“Woah, that’s . . . awful.” JJ exhales, and I watch Hunter who is still finding the ground more interesting. “Hunt, have you noticed anything?”
Hunter shrugs, kicking at the ground. “I mean, he’s been a little off lately, but he’ll be fine.”
“Off how?” I ask, and Hunter shakes his head, a pained expression filling his face.
“He’s my twin. I’m not going to rat him out.”
Yes, you fucking are.
“Is it soccer?” JJ guesses before I can.
He drags a hand over his face, groaning. Clearly, he isn’t happy with whatever is going on, so I don’t understand why he’s keeping quiet. “He quit soccer,” he finally admits, and my stomach drops.
“What do you mean he quit soccer?” I ask, now a lot more fucking worried than I was at the beginning of this conversation. Bailey loves soccer. He would never just quit. Bailey was right—I haven’t been there for him.
“He asked me not to say,” Hunter explains, and I take a seat in one of the patio chairs, my mind spinning.
“Say anything about what? I can’t believe you knew he quit soccer and you didn’t tell us, Hunter,” JJ exclaims, and I tap my foot anxiously.This is bad.
