Mirabelle steps out from the kitchen, drinking from a glass, but she stops dead in her tracks when she sees me. She gasps, and the glass slips from her hand, shattering all over the hardwood floor.
All I can do is stare at the apparent bump. I had no idea she was pregnant, but why would I? It’s been months since I last spoke to JJ.
The sound seems to set everything in motion. JJ and his girlfriend dart toward her as my mother rushes from the same direction Mira came from. “What happened?” she asks, but Javi pulls on my hand, interrupting the slow panic building inside me, giving me a reason to stay present.
“B, I want to go. They keep dropping things. I don’t like it here,” he whispers, and I give him a smile I hope is reassuring because I feel like I’m about to throw up.
“Just a little longer, okay?” I say, but he doesn’t look convinced.
“Bailey?” Mom’s voice echoes, and JJ holds his hand up to stop her.
“Mom, careful, there’s glass,” JJ warns, and she gives the area a wide berth, moving fast toward me. I force myself not to flinch, but I haven’t known what to prepare myself for. I know JJ’s told me the past doesn’t matter, and everyone wanted me to come home, but would they still want me if they knew everything?
Her arms close around me, and I feel like a little kid again, wanting her to tell me everything is going to be okay.
“Oh my god, you’re home. You’re finally home. I knew you would come back,” she says, her whole body shaking against mine as she hugs me, and it takes everything in me notto fall apart. Mom pulls back, reaching up to take my face in her hands. “You’re so tall, and handsome.”
Her scrutiny is too much, and I don’t want her to look too closely. I don’t want her to see all the scars I’ve accrued. I turn away, causing her hands to fall.
“Bailey, I want to go,” Javi whimpers behind me, and I step back from my mother’s reach, trying not to focus on how her face falls.
“Let me get your father,” she says, unable to hide the hurt in her expression, and I hear the silent plea.Please still be here.
My head is swimming, fighting against the memories swirling around me. I came here for one reason, and one reason only:Javi.I need him to be okay. He saved me without realizing it, and now it’s my turn to rescue him.
“I’m okay,” I hear Mirabelle say through sobs as JJ’s girlfriend leads her to the couch, and I force my gaze away from her to Javi.
“Javi, it’s going to be okay. Trust me, please,” I say, and he clings to my leg.
Dad and Henry run in, and Henry falters, trying not to step on JJ, who’s cleaning up the glass. His dark eyes widen, and I’m reminded of one of the worst moments of my life when Henry pulled Mirabelle away from me on my last day home before I left. I don’t know where to look as my twin rushes in after our dad, Kaitlyn hot on his heels.
Of course she’s here.
I allow myself only one selfish moment to meet her gaze before focusing on my dad. His mouth falls open as he gapes at me, and I don’t know what to say.
I don’t know how I could have ever believed the lies I was told about him. I owe him more apologies than anyone. I’d take it all back if I could. I was young and stupid, and I should have asked more questions before assuming the worst of the best man I’ve ever known.
Finally, my gaze slides to Hunter, unsurprised to find his face cold. “Thanks for letting us know you’re alive. See you again in three years,” he says, firing the first shot. Everyone turns to look at him in shock, but I’m not. I expected this reaction from him because you can only push someone so far before they break.
I’d say Hunter knows better than anyone.
I want to correct him by saying it’s only been twenty-six months, but I’m not sure it matters.
“Hunter—” I start to say without a clue of what’s going to come out of my mouth next, but he storms off, Kaitlyn following dutifully behind him. Looks like some things never change. “Maybe this was a mistake,” I say, ready to turn and flee with Javi. I shouldn’t have come back. I’ll find some other way to help him.
“No! Please, don’t listen to Hunt,” Mirabelle blurts out, tears still rolling down her face. “You belong here with us.” She sniffles, and Henry whispers something to her, causing Mira to nod, wiping her cheeks again.
“Who is this?” Mom asks, looking at Javi clinging to me like if he holds tight enough, he can disappear.
I comb my fingers through his hair, and he peeks up at me for a moment, his dark, trusting eyes melting the fear from my bones.
“This is Javi, and he saved my life,” I say, giving him a soft smile before meeting her eyes again. “He’s sick, and I can’t get him the help he needs, but you guys can.”
Mom crouches down, focusing her attention on Javi, and I feel him turn his head toward her. “Thank you for saving my boy. I promise we’ll help you in any way we can,” she says, keeping her voice gentle while smiling at him. The room is quiet, and I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone were holding their breath to see what happens next. “You’re always welcome here,” Mom says to me, and I nod, silentlyacknowledging what she said because I don’t trust myself to respond.
It’s only then that I realize Dad and Marley are watching JJ carefully, and I’m afraid to ask why.
My room is almost exactly the way I left it—bare of all the soccer memorabilia I rashly burned in the yard, but someone took the time to return all my things to their original spots.
