“I thought your family hurt you?”Javi asks, always the picture of curiosity while I punch in the old code on the keypad to the gate. I hold my breath before hitting the open button, because what if it doesn’t work?
I force the air from my lungs as I push the button, praying they haven’t changed it, but I wouldn’t blame my parents if they did.
The gate slides open, allowing us to walk through. I hold Javi’s hand, reminding myself of why we’re here while sweat rolls down my back in the unforgiving Carolina heat as the sun rises higher in the sky. “They did,” I answer, forcing my feet forward before I lose my nerve. He hasn’t complained once while we walked here from the nearest bus station, and I carried him for most of the way.
Javi tugs on my hand, and I look down to see him frowning. “Then why did we come here?”
I try to push my anxiety back as I kneel to be at eye level with him when the gate shuts behind us. I smooth his hair as best I can, but there’s only so much I can do with the unruly dark waves. “Because they can help you.”
“I don’t want their help if they hurt you,” he says, puffing his chest up, and I can’t help the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
He’s been dealt a shitty hand in the game of life and seen more than any child his age should have. It’s because I love him that I brought him here, despite promising my family I wouldn’t hurt them any more than I already have.
“It’s okay, Javi. They won’t hurt you, I promise.”
His dark eyes stare into mine, and he squeezes my hand. “Okay,” he says, and I stand again, adjusting the backpack on my shoulders, holding all of our things.
The salt in the air is a siren call, pulling me toward the house. Javi gasps next to me while I look at the cars in the driveway, trying to place who might be here, but I don’t recognize any of them. My stomach twists at the sight of the front door, and I barely hear Javi’s question. “This is where you lived?”
“Yeah,” I choke out, looking at him to see how his breathing is, but he seems okay right now.
I spot the cameras on the house. Even if I wanted to run far in the other direction, for the sake of the little boy next to me, I push through, stopping in front of the door.
How am I supposed to face any of them?
I never planned on talking to anyone in my family again after saying goodbye to JJ five months ago, let alone returning home, but here I am.
“B?” Javi asks because I’m frozen. Before I can say anything, the door swings open.
It takes away the decision of whether to knock or not as I stand face to face with JJ.
His vibrant green eyes widen, and I remember how similar they are to mine. The suitcase in his hand falls to the ground with a crash. Javi startles, moving behind me and JJ’s attention to him for a moment, then back up to me again.
“Bailey.”
God, it’s been so damn long. An apology rests on the tip of my tongue as I remember how many times my brother begged me to tell him where I was, but I refused every time.
“I didn’t have another option. Javi needs a doctor, and I . . . please. He needs a doctor.”
It’s so much harder seeing him than I imagined it would be.
A girl I recognize from the glimpses of JJ I’ve caught in gossip magazines on every corner of New York walks up behind him, her hand landing on his arm. He inhales sharply, and her blue eyes land on me. “This is Bailey?”
JJ’s slow to nod, his gaze never leaving me like I’ll disappear if he looks away for a moment. “Are you really here?” he asks, skepticism forming as if he doesn’t trust himself, and I swallow the lump in my throat.
“Yeah.”
And then the air is knocked from my lungs as JJ pulls me into a tight hug. It catches me off guard, and my whole body tenses, immediately conscious of how I haven’t showered in almost a week. I can’t imagine how bad my clothes smell. Why didn’t I stop somewhere for us to shower before coming here? I was so focused on actually making it back to Wilmington with Javi, I didn’t prioritize it when I should have.
“I’ve missed you so fucking much,” he whispers, and tears spring to my eyes. I blink them away quickly, hugging my older brother back.
I missed him too. I’ve missed all of them.
“Marley, if JJ is forcing you to pack, call out for help!” Mirabelle’s voice rings out from inside the house, and the memories of the last time I was in the same room as her cause my stomach to twist into knots. JJ steps back, wiping his cheeks to clear away the tears falling.
“You should come inside,” JJ says, and I reach for Javi’shand. He’s why I came back. His hand is gripping my fingers tightly, and we step inside the place I once called home.
“JJ, are you okay?” the girl asks him, but JJ doesn’t answer.
