Is it too late?
“Do you want me to leave?”
Bailey’s next move answers my question more than words ever could when he steps forward, wrapping me in his arms and tucking me against him. Now that I’m no longer actively fighting the pull I feel toward him, it feels like the most natural feeling in the world to be held by him.
I feel safe.
“I don’t want you to leave,” he whispers, and I curl my fingers into the soft fabric of his shirt, breathing in the smell of citrus and laundry detergent. He rests his cheek against my head, and I feel more tears slip down my cheeks. “It’ll be okay.”
I think I believe him.
A door opens behind me, and I back up instinctively, wiping my nose on the sleeve of my sweatshirt. “Oh, sorry! I, um, was just going to grab a snack, and . . . yeah,” Mirabelle stammers, her gaze bouncing back and forth between us. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Do you want me toget something for you?” Bailey offers, and it feels like I’ve been caught with my hand in the cookie jar. I’m certain my entire face is bright red right now, and I have no idea where I’m supposed to look.
“No, that’s okay. You guys look . . . um, busy. I can get my own snacks. Sorry again,” Mira says, and her footsteps are soft as she walks down the hall to the stairs.
“Sorry, I should go. It’s late, and we can talk about this tomorrow.” My nerves are getting the better of me after being caught by Mirabelle, and when I glance at Bailey’s face, it’s full of confusion.
“Is that really what you want?” he asks, his voice rough.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Bailey
NOW
“Can we go to the roof?”Kaitlyn asks, and I’m hit with relief because I’m a selfish asshole.
I don’t know what it means that she’s here, but I’m not ready for her to walk away from me again.
Please don’t give me hope if you’re going to take it away from me. I’m not sure my heart could handle it.
“Sure,” I say, hoping my voice isn’t shaking.I’d give her anything she asked for right now.
Her dark eyes are rimmed in red, and I can feel the spots of my shirt damp from her tears. I hate seeing her sad, but I hate being part of the reason even more.
Of course Mirabelle had to walk out of her room at that exact moment for snacks. It’s funny if you think about it, because I mean, what are the fucking odds?
I lead the way to the window and slip through before she can change her mind. My heart is racing in my chest, and I’m terrified to hope for more.
Even when I wanted to hate her, I couldn’t.
I don’t know how, and I hope I’m never able to get overKaitlyn, even if it causes me a world of pain to love her from afar. She’s worth it—and more.
Kaitlyn makes me feel like the best version of myself when I’m around her. I think if you can find someone who does that, it’s worth staying in their life in any manner they’ll have you.
I want to know the answers to questions I shouldn’t ask, but I’m mentally trying to prepare myself in case tonight ends up as another moment we pretend never happened.
I can’t help wondering if there’s a chance she and Hunter might get back together? I wouldn’t think it’d be very easy to cut the cord on a relationship you’ve been in for years.
Kaitlyn takes the hand I offer to help steady her while she climbs out. The fact she’s still unsure of the right places to grab onto gives me the smallest bit of satisfaction Hunter hasn’t been bringing her up here.
There’s enough moonlight for me to see her face, and I wonder if Kaitlyn knows she has flecks of paint splattered across her cheeks.
I want to ask what she painted, and I hope it’s something she’ll let me see.
My gaze lands on the sweatshirt she’s wearing, and it renders me speechless again because I can’t believe she kept it. Honestly, after everything that happened, I forgot I gave it to Kait that night. I guess I never expected her to hold onto it for all these years.
