Page 47 of Chasing After You
“Mirabelle,” Henry says, the proximity of his voice sending shivers through my entire body. It’s not fair.
“No.”
He has the nerve to fucking laugh. “No, what?”
“Just . . . no,” I say, absolutely mortified by this.
“Look at me,” he instructs, but I shake my head. “Mirabelle, look at me please.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to see how serious I am when I say this.”
It’s enough to get me to reluctantly spread my fingers to peek at Henry through them.
“All the way,” he says, gently curling his fingers around mine, to pull them down. “I wasn’t lying when I told Kaitlyn I don’t share, but I did lie when I said I was okay with you going out with Quinn. I’m a selfish motherfucker when I’m in a relationship, even if ours is fake.”
I think I’m going to have a heart attack before this day is over. My throat grows dry, and I force myself not to look away under the scrutiny of his stare. “Why are you telling me this?”
His gaze drops to my mouth, then makes its way back up to meet mine. “Because I don’t share what’s mine, and right now, you fall under that category.”
Well, shit. I guess I can’t drown myself after that declaration. I’d hate to miss when things get interesting.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Mirabelle
I PULL UP outside my uncle’s house feeling my insides twisting with nerves telling me to run in the opposite direction. I would have done this last night after the Puppy Bowl, but it lined up with JJ’s first game, so I stayed in to watch the game with Emily, Wilson, and Henry. The last thing I want to do this morning is have this conversation, but I have to talk to my brothers. Uncle Owen invited me to breakfast, but I declined that invitation for everyone’s sake.
My family is staying at Uncle Owen’s for the weekend since our house is still considered a crime scene, and he loves to show off his home. I don’t blame him, it’s beautiful, but I’m ready for construction to start on our house.
I’m pushing the fire out of my head to focus on the problem at hand. I haven’t thought it through too much, but my plan for the moment is to pull Hunter outside and call JJ so we can get to the bottom of this. I think if I try to bring Bailey into the conversation, he’ll lash out worse than he did yesterday.
This issonotgoing to be fun, but I also know Bailey is more important than the fight going on between our parents and me.
I use my code on the door handle to open it, walking in hesitantly. I push away every thought telling me it would be easier to leave before anyone sees me because I’m certain everyone already knows I’m here. My uncle probably received a notification when I entered the neighborhood.
Uncle Owen is wearing an apron with “Mr. Good Lookin’ is Cookin’”written across the front, which would normally make me die of laughter if I weren’t already on the verge of a fucking anxiety attack. The quiet chatter in the room stops as everyone sees me, and Mom’s eyes widen in shock. “Mira?”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Uncle Owen walks over and ruffles my hair. “You’re not interrupting. I invited you, but I am highly offended you didn’t compliment my apron.”
I crack a smile, pushing his hand away. “You know, maybe you’re not as good looking as you think you are if you have to remind everyone all the time.”
“She has a point, Owen,” Blake chimes in, her laughter the only one filling the room.
Yeah, this is awkward.Normally, a poke at Uncle Owen’s vanity is the quickest way to lighten the mood. Apparently not today.
“Can I make you a plate?” he asks, motioning to the spread on the counter.
“No, thank you. I had a protein shake earlier,” I say. I feel so anxious right now, I’m not sure I’d even be able to finish a single bite.
“Wait, Mirabelle—” Mom stands from her seat at the bar, and Dad looks . . . well, I’m not sure how he looks. I’m afraid to look too closely because I think the disappointment I’ll find there might send me over the edge.
“I’m only here to talk to Hunter,” I say, hating that her face falls. It’s not my fault. They have all the power in the world to take back what they said.
Hunter chooses that exact moment to make his presence known, walking up the stairs from the basement with Kaitlyn. I hold my breath to see if Bailey walks up behind them, but he doesn’t. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad sign.
