Page 67 of Chasing After You
After that call with her parents, I didn’t expect Mirabelle to say much. She didn’t say anything for a while, but then she started explaining everything about Bailey since the fire. It suddenly made a lot more sense why we were going to pick Bailey up from school drunk.
Honestly? It hurts that this is the first I’m hearing about what’s going on. I’m sure as shit going to focus on that so I don’t conjure up the worst in my head for whatever happens with her parents when we get to the house.
I have a lot of questions for my sister, because I find it hard to believe she doesn’t know why Bailey’s acting out. She’s mentioned he’s been off, but I assumed it was a reaction to JJ going to school across the country and all the shit that’s happened between Mirabelle and her parents.
“Henry!” Kaitlyn darts toward me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. God, I can’t believe how tall she is.
“Why aren’t you in class, Kait?” I assumed Hunter was going to use the garage code to get in the house.
“Jerk, this is the part where you tell me how happy you are to see me.” She groans, hitting my arm as Hunter approaches Mirabelle, pulling her to the edge of the living room.
“You’re spending the whole weekend with me after your game Friday night,” I say, ruffling her hair to annoy her. Kaitlyn rolls her eyes, swatting my hand away, but she can’t resist smiling.
“Are you still coming to the game?” she asks, hope filling her tone, and I wouldn’t miss it for the fucking world.
“Yes, but you should probably get some homework done if you’re going to skip school.”
“Seriously?” Kaitlyn asks, and I nod. “I hoped you’d take me with you.”
I look back at Mirabelle, and she’s still talking quietly to Hunter. I can’t let her be the bad guy to Bailey again.
“Seriously. We’ll talk later, okay?” I promise, stepping away to take one for the team by being the one to approach Bailey.
I’d like to dump water on his head to wake him, but instead, I push his shoulder. Bailey swings an arm without opening his eyes. “Leave me alone,” he slurs.
“Henry, I can wake him up,” Mirabelle adds behind me, but this doesn’t need to fall on her shoulders.
“Bailey, get up,” I say, keeping my voice level.
“No. I’m sleeping.”
Now I don’t feel bad about shoving him harder, and his eyes flash open, anger and exhaust altering his youthful face. “We’re leaving. Get up.”
“Bailey, don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” Hunter says, and Bailey’s scowl deepens when he catches sight of Mirabelle.
“Why is she here?” he spits out, wobbling as he sits up. “I don’t want her here. Kaitlyn, I told you not to call her.” Excuse me? I know he’s not talking to my sister like that. Who the fuck is this kid?
“I didn’t call Mira,” Kaitlyn protests, and I bite my tongue.
“Then why the fuck is she here?”
Now I’m fucking over this. If I bite my tongue any harder, I’m going to bite itoff. I grab his arm, pulling the lanky kid to his feet whether he likes it or not. I am so past polite. I look at Mirabelle who couldn’t hide the devastation on her face if she tried, and it breaks my heart. I clear my throat, finding my sister is grabbing her backpack, following my directions. I’ll check on her later, but school is important. It’ll hopefully take her mind off this shit for a little bit.
Hunter and Mirabelle wordlessly follow Bailey and me to where Mirabelle’s car sits in the driveway.
I have to remind myself that Bailey’s a kid—a stupid one—but still a kid. I can’t forget, or I’ll consider knocking his teeth out for how he spoke to Kaitlyn and Mirabelle.
I open the back door of her car for him, shaking my head. “She’s here because you’re her brother, and she loves you. She’s not the enemy. I don’t know who is, but I can sure as shit tell you it’s not Mirabelle.”
“You don’t know everything, Henry,” he says roughly, climbing into the car. I shut the door behind him, turning to look at Mirabelle in disbelief as Hunter walks around to get in. Mirabelle drags a hand over her face, shaking her head.
I follow my instincts, closing the gap between us to pull her into my arms. She sinks against me for a moment, and I’m at a loss. I feel slightly more grounded holding her, but I know we need to go. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have shoved Bailey,” I say, but I’m not sorry. I’m just hoping I didn’t upset her more than the situation already did.
“Which time?” she asks, her voice muffled by my shirt.
Is this supposed to feel as natural as it does? I know I’m attracted to Mira, and I care about her, but what the hell does it mean if I breathe easier when I’m around her? If she makes me forget about all the pressure riding on my shoulders this season?
“I’m not sorry,” I admit, shoving those thoughts away as Mirabelle snorts, pulling back.
