Page 30 of Make Me Whole
She offered Hailey one, who then immediately started shaking her head. My sister's lips moved and it looked like she was asking, 'Are you sure?'Hailey's answer was an immediate sharp nod.
That was when I remembered she'd mentioned she didn't drink. Yet, another thing I got to add to my box of curiosities. My eyes stayed on them while my sister took Hailey from person to person; introducing her to the ones she'd yet to meet.
It felt like hours before they finally made their way to where we were sitting. Talia had her arm slung around Hailey's shoulder. "Look who finally came out to play."
I couldn't stop looking. The fire light only lit up half of her face, but still, her beauty couldn't be hidden. Maybe it was because I knew what she looked like when the sun burned bright above us. Or maybe it was simply because I stored every little detail about her like a squirrel storing nuts away for the long winter.
Her gaze flicked from person to person before it ultimately landed on me. "Hi." Her smile wasn't immediate; her lips tentatively curving upward.
Tipping my bottle in her direction, I gave her a half grin. "Hi."
Talia's eyes bounced from me to Hailey and then back to me again. "Oookay," I heard her mumble, before she steered Hailey toward Jessie. "Maybe you can settle this argument once and for all. Pineapple on pizza. Yes or no."
Because I was still staring, I caught Hailey peek at me over her shoulder. She tugged her lip between her teeth before giving her attention to my sister. "Pineapple belongs in a bowl of fruit salad."
"Yes!" Sawyer jumped up; both fists reaching for the sky. Chest puffed out, he walked in a slow circle like a boxer who'd just won a world championship. His victory was short-lived when Jessie's fist connected with his abdomen. "Oof." Hugging himself he doubled over. "What the hell was that for?"
Jessie threw her blonde hair over her shoulder and grinned. "Eh. Simply bringing you down a peg your or two."
My eyes found Hailey again. She might've had her hand in front of her mouth, but one look at the tiny crinkles in the corner of her eyes and I knew she was smiling. I felt my brow wrinkle as I wondered why she'd even hide her smile. Did she not know how beautiful it was?
Over the next hour or so, the five of us settled into an easy conversation. Or rather, Jessie, Talia and Sawyer chatted away while Hailey carefully watched them, only adding her two-scents when spoken to directly.
I, of course, spent the entire time observing her. She never relaxed. Her back stayed ramrod straight, the distant look in her eyes never left. For reasons I had no hope of understanding, it pained me that she couldn't unwind with us. That she felt the need to keep her guard up.
In the distance, Beckett thrummed out a new tune. I knew of his love for Elvis, and we rarely ever went through one of these nights without him paying tribute to The King. So, when the first few chords ofCan't help falling in love with youfiltered through the air, I wasn't surprised.
What did intrigue me, was Hailey's reaction to the song. Her already tense body stiffened even more as she nervously glanced over her shoulder. She hid whatever she was feeling when she squeezed her lids together and took a deep breath.
I'd never wanted to lunge forward and wrap someone up in my arms as much as I wanted to do it right then. When she song glided into the second chorus, she finally couldn't take it anymore. Without saying a single word, she jumped to her feet and rushed down the path that led back to the house.
Talia and I sprang to action at the same time. "I'll go." I didn't give my sister time to respond before I sidestepped her and hurried after Hailey.
I was doing something I'd never done before, and it wasn't lost on me one bit.
