“Are you going to ask your question?” I ask, and he shakes his head.
“I’m going to save it for another day.”
Again, another vague answer. “Okay.”
I turn away from him, trying to focus on the end of the movie.
Instead, I think about how nervous he sounded on the phone with me earlier, without considering the real reason why.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Bailey
PAST
I’m lyingon the roof, listening to the waves as I try to find the constellations I know from memory.
I had my first therapy session today, and not going wasn’t an option. The therapist tried for twenty minutes to get me to talk, but I refused. My parents can make me go, but they can’t force me to speak while I’m there.
We spent the rest of the session sitting in silence. The quiet is deafening, but I wonder if my parents gave the therapist a heads up that my stubbornness is stronger than being uncomfortable.
It’s been three days since I’ve spoken to anyone, and I can tell it’s driving Hunter and my parents up the wall. They even gave my phone back today, probably hoping it would get me to say something, but I’ve refused. I feel like a fool for hoping my parents will admit the truth about their past, but I just don’t understand how Dad could have abandoned Carter? What’s to stop them from cutting me out of their lives?
I feel like I’ve lost control of everything in my life, and I don’t know how to get it back.
There’s a breeze coming off the water, and it’sthe most at peace I’ve felt in a while. My phone vibrating in my pocket interrupts the moment, and I’m wondering who the hell would be calling me in the middle of the night?
My heart skips a beat at the sight of Kaitlyn’s name on my screen. I saw her messages earlier, but I couldn’t bring myself to respond yet.
“What are you doing awake?” I ask, my voice a little hoarse.
“What areyoudoing awake?”
I roll my eyes, sitting up. “I asked you first.”
“I’m happy to hear your voice,” she says, and I swallow the lump forming in my throat from her raw honesty. “Hunter said you weren’t talking to anyone.”
I take my time choosing my next words before saying them. “I’m speaking to you.”
“I hope so. I didn’t think we both had the ability to speak telepathically.” Kait chuckles, and a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth.
God, I am so crazy for this girl. “That’d be pretty cool,” I reply, wishing more than anything she were next to me.
“I’m pretty sure we tried to see if we could when we were kids,” she says, and I think I remember something along those lines. “Should I be worried you’re on the roof?”
“How do you know I’m on the roof?” I ask, looking around, causing Kaitlyn to gasp.
“Dumbass, don’t fall off,” she scolds after I peek over the edge, finally spotting her standing below on the deck.
“What are you doing here?”
She waves at me, and I wave back. “Couldn’t sleep, so I snuck out to go for a drive. Somehow, I ended up here, and I thought I’d walk down to the beach. I called to see if you were awake, but then I saw you up there.”
“And if your dad wakes up and realizes you’re not home?”
Chris, her dad, has a habit of being overprotective of Kaitlyn.She’s a free spirit like her mom, though, and definitely likes to push the boundaries.
“That’s a problem for later Kaitlyn. Are you coming down, or am I coming up?”
