He’s angry, and rightfully so.
I exhale a quiet breath, my chest squeezing. “Because I was selfish.”
“You’re right. Youareselfish,” Hunter says, getting up to signify the end of the conversation.
“Are you ever going to be able to forgive me?”
The look on his face is hard and unwavering. “Have you forgiven me?”
It’s the closest he’s ever been to admitting what he did. Hunter knows exactly how he hurt me, and that it was wrong. We both know he’s not talking about his reaction to me coming home anymore.
I wonder if Kaitlyn would still be with him if she knew the truth?
I don’t know if I’ve forgiven him. I thought I had, but it’s a lot fucking harder being here and seeing their relationship in front of me. To see her smile up at him like I’ve dreamed of her smiling at me.
My silence says everything. Hunter chuckles under his breath, and I recognize the self-deprecation behind it. “I love her, Bailey.”
I know, but I love her too.
He doesn’t say anything else, climbing around me to go through the window, leaving me alone with my thoughts, the moon, and the stars.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Kaitlyn
NOW
Dad looksup at me over his breakfast, his dark brows raised at how I devour my scrambled eggs and yogurt. “Where are you off to in such a rush?”
I grab my plate and silverware to rinse and put into the dishwasher. “The Walkers.”
I got a late start to my day, but I needed the sleep after staying up most of the night painting. I was trying to sketch Hunter again to see if I could get his features right, but it wasn’t until I stepped back and saw the scar I added above the eyebrow and the freckles across his nose that it dawned on me it wasn’t my boyfriend.
After that, I gave in to my guilt by disappearing into repressed memories while I painted, but just like when I tried capturing Hunter, I couldn’t get Bailey right either. It’s maddening.
“Can you wait for me? Thalia should be back from an appointment, and we’re meeting to go through applicants for the gallery in town,” Mom says, setting down her espresso.
I bite back my groan, knowing if we’re riding together, she’ll want to get ready, and it literally takes her forever. I wantto get over there likenow. Javi had his second doctor’s appointment this morning, and I want to know how it went. Baileystilldoesn’t have a phone, so it’s not like I can call him and ask. Even if he did have one, I’m not sure he’d answer me. I think he’s been avoiding me since the conversation last week in his room, and things were weird the other day. Actually—Iwas weird because I wasn’t really sure how to act after his wholeask me againthing. No one noticed since we weren’t in the same room for very long. Hunter wanted to go pretty much anywhere Bailey wasn’t now that he’s back to ignoring his twin.
I had hoped whatever brief interaction they had while surfing might be a sign Hunter would give him a chance, but when I tried to ask if something else happened yesterday, he played it off. I’m torn between leaving it be and asking again because I haven’t been able to forget the way Bailey looked at me when he told me to ask him again why he left.
Maybe that’s why I tried to paint him last night instead.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to replicate the haunted look in his emerald eyes.
“Can we just drive our own cars?” I ask, and Dad tilts his head, his dark eyes narrowing in scrutiny.
“Which Walker are you going there to see?”
I know he’s worried I’m going to get hurt by Bailey when he leaves again, breaking my heart for the second time. Dad’s not wrong to think it—I know there’s a good chance he’ll leave.
But I’m holding out hope Bailey won’t.
He’s already lasted three weeks longer than anyone thought he’d stay, and the Fourth of July is this weekend. I’m starting to believe he might actually stay, even if he’s not ready to admit it.
I shrug, rolling the fraying edges of my cutoffs between my thumb and forefinger. “Allof them?”
“Why’s it a question?”
