Page 82 of Before You
“Maybe let’s hold off on arguing so we don’t overwhelm Marley?” Dad suggests, setting down the plate piled high with hamburger patties and hot dogs.
“It’s okay, really. I love this,” Marley says, and I feel my whole heart melt at the idea of her fitting in with my family. It’s one thing to hope they’ll get along, and another thing to actually see it happen.
“Us arguing?” I ask, snagging a patty to set on my open bun. Marley really is one in a million if she can see the arguing for what it really is—love.
“Yeah. It reminds me of me and my brother with Bria,” she says, her smile taking my breath away.
“Just wait till you come visit back home. It feels like all we do with each other is argue, but it used to be worse when Bailey was there. He and Mira would go at it until they were blue in the face,” I say, chuckling at the thought.
The only response is silence, and my throat seizes, choking me as I realize what’s slipped from my mouth. My parents’ smiles fade, and Mirabelle’s eyes fill with tears.
No, I wouldn’t have—except I did.
Marley’s hand finds mine, squeezing. “I’d love to visit,” she adds, her voice seeming to shake everyone from their spells, and Mom’s smile looks forced.
“You’re welcome anytime, honey. We have plenty of room.” She clears her throat, standing up from the table as my stomach fills with guilt. “I’m sorry, I’ll be right back.”
Dad doesn’t bother apologizing before following inside after her, and I can’t believe I was so careless I would say his name in front of them.
“If you think her reaction to hearing his name is bad, try being the identical twin and knowing everyone is wondering what Bailey looks like now when they look at you. They can’t even look at me sometimes without tearing up,” Hunter says bluntly, and no one says anything because there’s nothing to say.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Marley
“I’M SORRY,” I mumble again, pulling the blanket over my face as more cheering sounds outside our building.
Leave it to me to end up with the worst sinus infection on Halloween, while also having my period.Talk about a double whammy.“What are you apologizing for?” JJ asks, wrapping his arm around my shoulders, and I don’t even have it in me to try to pull away.
“Because you’re here instead of the party we were supposed to go to. And because I don’t want you to get sick again,” I say, pressing my fingers to my sinuses as if it will do anything to relieve the pressure. JJ’s been pushing himself especially hard the last week and a half since his family left, despite the fact he’s supposed to be taking it easy after the hit to his knee, not to mention the stomach bug he came down with last week. I suggested he should maybe see a doctor, but JJ insisted he was fine.
Aside from getting sick, I’m worried he’s not fine. Asher’s been glued to his side since his parents left, but I suspect part of it’s because it gives him an excuse to be around Bria.
JJ kisses the side of my head, pulling the blanket tight around us. “Sweetheart, there is nowhere else I’d rather be than next to you.”
“Mar, are you sure you don’t want anything to eat?” Bria asks from the kitchen, and I moan as my face throbs. “I’ll take that as a no,” she says, assuming correctly.
“So what movie are we watching?” Asher asks, and I’m jealous of how lively he sounds. I came down with the sinus infection over the weekend while they were in Arizona for a game, but my period started yesterday so the cramps are killing me.
“It’s Halloween. What do you think we’re watching?” she asks, and JJ chuckles, his fingers twisting through my hair.
“Ghostbusters?”
He couldn’t be more wrong, but it’s part of what makes them so perfect for each other. I’m pretty sure he spent the night last night, but I’ve also taken so much cold medicine I could be delusional. I tap JJ’s chest, hoping to get his attention without having to move too much.
“Yeah?” he whispers.
“Did he stay here last night?” I ask, keeping my voice quiet as Bria informs Asher we’re going to watch a slasher movie instead.
“Yep,” JJ murmurs, and I smile, curling my fingers around the soft fabric of JJ’s shirt as I focus on the steady rise and fall of his chest. I totally called them getting together. Kaden is never going to believe me when I tell him it’s happened.
Bria’s always been a hard nut to crack, and sometimes I wonder if she gives Asher a hard time just to see what he’s willing to put up with. To determine if he actually wants her instead of the idea he might have of her.
I think I understand it a little, because part of me wondered if there was a chance JJ was more in love with the fictional version of me he’d created in his head, but every moment with him has made me regret even considering the thought that his love wasn’t genuine. Maybe it’s why I fought so hard against forgiving him in the first place for not telling me the truth about Trent.
I know it wasn’t very long ago, but it feels like an eternity has passed since then.
“Can’t we watch something less . . .” Asher trails off, and Bria snorts.
