CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Bailey
NOW
Once the rainstopped and we were able to get out of the house, it felt like Kaitlyn and I spent forever clearing the driveway of all the tree limbs and debris blown in by the storm. Henry must have caught one of the first flights allowed into the area, and hasn’t left Mirabelle’s side since getting back.
Based on the way my mom is squeezing me tightly, I don’t know when I’ll be left alone either. “I’m so glad you’re all okay,” Mom says, somehow managing to apply more force into her hug. For such a tiny person, she’s really strong.
“Mom, you’re going to crack my ribs if you keep squeezing.” She relaxes her hold just enough to let me breathe a little deeper. “I just can’t believe a fucking hurricane decides to show up right as we fly to California! What are the fucking odds?” she says, and Dad clears his throat.
“Love, maybe let B go before you hurt him?” he suggests, surprising me when Mom actually listens. It’s not like her to be so cooperative, but I stand corrected when she hits Dad’s arm with the back of her hand.
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Dad laughs, and then pulls me into a brief hug. “I hope she knows this is hurricane season, and the odds of a hurricane forming are pretty high.”
I can’t help laughing, especially after seeing the daggers Mom’s throwing with her eyes at Dad’s back. Her super hearing having caught it. “Keep laughing. See where it gets you,buddy.”
He turns to shake his head at her, but I’m distracted by Kaitlyn. She’s wearing my sweatshirt again, and I underestimated what kind of effect it would have on me. It feels like she’s claiming to be mine, and I don’t even care if it’s written all over my face how I feel about her.
“You’re not supposed to be out of bed,” Henry says, following behind Mira as she walks into the room. She doesn’t sit still well, and the last few days, she’s been going out of her mind. The only saving grace is that Javi can’t do much either, so that’s made it a little easier.
“I’m fine. Saying hi to my parents isn’t going to do anything,” she argues, and I wince because she’s not being entirely fair, but I don’t know what this is like for her.
“And you couldn’t wait until after the doctor checks you out?”
Mom frowns, looking Mirabelle over. “Are you okay? Why do you need a doctor? What aren’t you telling me?”
“Us. What are you not tellingus?” Dad corrects, earning him another side eye from Mom as Mirabelle’s cheeks flush.
“I-I cut my hand and I . . . fainted. I’m fine, though. I spent the last few days on bed rest with Javi keeping me company while Bailey and Kaitlyn took care of everything around here. Henry is overreacting by hiring a concierge doctor because there’s plenty of other people who need immediate help,” she says, giving Henry her own look.
He shrugs, crossing his arms over his chest, and I’m relieved he isn’t backing down. It was terrifying tofind her unconscious on the ground. “I’m okay with you thinking that, but like it or not, you’re also someone who needs immediate help.”
Javi was upstairs taking a nap when my parents pulled in, but that doesn’t appear to be the case anymore as he walks into the room rubbing his eyes. He blinks, surprised by all the people standing there. “Am I still dreaming, or are you all really here?”
“I’m sorry we weren’t here,” Mom says, crouching down, and he rushes forward to hug her.
“Do you want to see my fort?” he asks, grinning at her.
Everyone is so focused on him, I take the chance to move closer to Kaitlyn, pulled like she’s my center of gravity.
“Hey, Walker,” she teases, twisting a lock of her dark brown waves around her finger. “You like my sweatshirt?”
My hand twitches, fighting the urge to reach for her. “I like you,” I answer, and her dark eyes sparkle.
“Lucky me,” Kaitlyn says, and I laugh.
“I’m the lucky one,” I correct, and she smiles just as Henry sighs in relief, answering a call, moving past us in the direction of the front door.
“That must be the doctor,” Mirabelle says, mustering a smile, and it gives everyone an excuse to disperse from the room filled with so much tension, a spark could make it explode.
I know what that’s like.
I’ve been doing my best to focus on all the positives in my life, but opening the door to tell Kaitlyn my secrets has the darkness inside me clawing its way to the surface. Pushing it to the back of my mind is easier when I’m awake, but when I’m asleep, it’s a losing battle. I’m fighting sleep as muchas possible, doing my best to function with only a few hours because any longer than that, I’m afraid I’ll wake everyone up with the screams I wake up choking on.
Cleaning up after the hurricane is the perfect distraction to keep the intrusive thoughts at bay.
