“—roke my heart to find out Bailey was trading sexual favors with strangers who would either pay him or give him a place to sleep for the night. If he didn’t want to go home, he could have stayed with us. I hate how I didn’t do more to keep him with us, but I’m proud of my daughter for being there for him when he reached out to her for help. I don’t know if she felt like she owed him for how everything had turned out, but I’m so proud of my baby girl. She did the best she could with his damaged soul?—”
A lone tear splatters on the screen of the phone, pausing the video I’m sure makes Kiera out to be a saint. I turn the phone off, setting it on the counter as I brace myself over the sink. The mirror is clouding with steam, hiding myreflection.
I wish I’d never responded to Carter, never met up with him, never let my heart fill with hate for my undeserving family.
The sound of my phone vibrating forces me to pull my head out of the what ifs. There’s nothing I can do to change any of it now.
JJ’s name is lit across the screen, and while I wish I could hide forever, I can’t.
Maybe he hasn’t seen it, and he’s just calling to check in? I forgot to call him back last night.
I move the phone up to my ear, trying not to cry again. “Hey,” I greet, but my attempt to sound normal is feeble.
“Are you okay?” JJ asks, erasing the glimmer of hope he hadn’t seen it yet.
Fuck, shit, fuck.“I can explain?—”
“I don’t give a shit about an explanation.Are you okay?” he repeats, and I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to say. “Bailey?”
“No,” I answer honestly.I’m not okay.Who would be after having their trauma turned into a headline?
“Hunter and I aren’t going to be able to catch a flight back until the morning, but I promise we’ll be home as soon as we can.”
“Wait, JJ, you guys have classes and football. You don’t have to come back for . . .this.” I don’t want to disrupt anyone’s lives. I have never wanted that.
He makes an odd sound of disbelief. “You’re our little brother, B. Of course we’re coming home. Iwantto come home to be there for you.”
My voice fails me as JJ’s words sink into my brain.
“Thank you,” I say because there’s nothing else to say.
Hunter’s text comes through a moment later, and it’s an echo of the one I sent him the night he and Kaitlyn broke up.
Hunter
I’m sorry. Here if you need me.
I love you.
Another tear falls as I respond.
Bailey
I love you too.
There’s a knock on my bedroom door as I’m getting dressed, and I finish tugging my shirt down. I think my parents asked Mirabelle to take Javi out for ice cream to distract him so we can talk, but I’m stalling.
I’m not ready, but the least I can do is give them the truth.
Kaitlyn pokes her head in the door, and all I can hear is the quiet gasp when she read the article.
“Can I come in?” she asks, and I nod, trying to figure out if I’m ready for this to be over.
I’ve known all along it might be borrowed time, but I regret none of it. I hope Kait doesn’t either.
“I’m so sorry, Bailey,” she whispers, and I close my eyes, moving to sit on the edge of my bed.
“It’s okay. You don’t need to be sorry. I understand,” I say, feeling the mattress dip as she sits next to me. “Just get it over with, please,” I whisper, trying to accept that I’ll never be whole again.
