Maybe it’s not fair to call Hunter an idiot, but in my defense, Henry called him one first after my parents finished giving the rundown of what happened after they went to the house.
Mirabelle tried calling JJ to ask if he was okay, but he was quick to decline. At least he followed up with a text a few minutes later saying he was at a meeting and would call her later. It seemed to help everyone in the room relax a little.
I kept it to myself that Hunter gave me a heads-up last night when he swung by, because there’s more to it than anyone else knows, and it’s none of their business.
We’ve just been waiting to see if Kaitlyn would show up at the hospital when she and Hunter were done talking. It doesn’t take a genius to guess that it didn’t go very well, and I don’t miss how she came by herself.
I want to know what happened, but it’s not the time and place to ask if she’s okay.
Her eyes land on me for a brief moment, and a thousand questions form on the tip of my tongue before they shift to Javi.
“Kaitlyn,” he rasps, his throat sore from the breathing tube. He lifts his hand out for her, and my mom stands up to allow Kaitlyn to occupy the seat beside Javi.
He’s been fighting sleep to wait for her to get here, even though we all promised to wake him up when she did.
“You can sit here, sweetheart. We were just about to get a round of coffee for everyone,” Mom says, glancing at Dad, and Mirabelle’s eyes widen.
“I have to pee,” she interrupts, getting up out of the other chair to go to the bathroom.
“Ca va?”?1Henry asks, frowning as he looks his sister over.
“Je vais bien.”?2She pushes a smile on her face, but it doesn’t meet her eyes.Please look at me. I need to see that you’re okay.“Hi, buddy. How are you feeling?” she asks Javi, kissing her hand to press it to his forehead, and his smile only grows wider. I can’t help feeling jealous of how affectionate she can be with him, then I feel guilty because he’s a five-year-old who just had open heart surgery. Of course she should be affectionate with Javi.
“Tired,” he says, and I try not to laugh as he continues fighting to keep his eyes open. “I can’t play mermaids for a while. Can we still be friends?”
“We can still be friends.” She combs his dark hair back, and his eyes finally shut, clutching the stuffed monkey in his other hand.
“Will you stay until I wake up?” Javi mumbles, and I think my heart melts.
“Ipromise.”
Unfortunately, my family is making it painfully obvious they’re waiting for her to say anything about what happened between her and Hunter.
She still won’t look at me. What did Hunter say to her? Is it selfish of me to wonder if they broke up?
Nervous energy builds in me, and it’s like my nerves are on fire.God, I just want Kait to look at me.
Henry and I make eye contact, and he tilts his head in the direction of his sister as if asking why I’m not making a move.
What exactly does he want me to do?
The bathroom door creaks open, and Mirabelle walks out. “I’m officially over being pregnant. I think I pee a hundred times a day,” she grumbles, plopping into her chair from before. “Did I miss anything?”
My phone rings in my hand and Luna’s name flashes across the screen. She told me earlier she’d call after she got out of class, and of course it’s right after Kaitlyn gets here. I hesitate, but Lu will raise hell if I don’t answer.
“Sorry, I have to take this,” I say, avoiding Mirabelle and Henry’s questioning glances. “Hey,” I answer, holding the phone up to my ear as I walk down the hall and away from any listening ears. My parents aren’t outside the room, so I’m able to slip away without any questions from them.
“How’s Javi doing?” Luna blurts out, and I smile at the sound of her voice.
“I told you he was awake,” I say, and she scoffs.
“Yeah, that’s literally all it said. We need to work on you providing details.”
“I’ll get right on that,” I muse. “Doc said he’s doing good. He’s tired and hurting, but he refused to close his eyes until Kaitlyn got here.”
She gasps dramatically, and I roll my eyes. “She’s there? Have you told her the truth yet?”
“Lu, you know I’m not doing that,” I remind her, but Ican’t help wondering for a brief moment what it would be like if I did.
