Page 66 of Chasing After You
“Please tell me you’re not pregnant. There’s only so many surprises I can take, but if you are, let me say congratulations,” Mom says, and Henry sputters next to me, choking on air.
“I’m not pregnant.”
She exhales louder than necessary. “What a relief. Do I need to find Dad for this?”
I look at Henry who nods, and I guess go big or go home. “Might be a good idea.”
“Give me a minute.”
That minute feels like the longest minute of my life. My stomach is twisting, and I think about how poorly this could go. “I shouldn’t have called,” I whisper to Henry, and he stares at me in shock.
“But you did,” he whispers back, and I look out the window briefly as if it might contain a solution.
“I don’t know what I was thinking. Why didn’t you stop me?”
I think I might be sick.
“You keep telling me not to tell you what to do!”
“Well, how was I supposed to know you were going to actually listen that time!”
“Oh my god,” Henry mutters under his breath, which is so not helpful.
“Mira? Are you still there?” Mom asks, and I actually consider rolling the window down to throw the phone out, but that’sinsane. I can’t chuck my phone out of a moving car to avoid my problems.
“So, before I start, I’m pretty sure everyone is okay. Let me try to finish before interrupting, okay?” Fuck, I’m nervous, and I’m not even the one who will be in trouble. I wait a moment to see if they’re going to say anything, but I guess they’re staying silent. Henry rubs his thumb reassuringly on the back of my hand as I explain the situation.
“For fuck’s sake. Love, what are we supposed to do with them?” I hear Dad ask in the background once I’m finished.
“I don’t know, Bash.”I guess that makes three of us, but I’m going to keep that an internal thought.“Thanks for calling, Mira. I just . . . I don’t have words right now. You and JJ never pulled shit like this. Are you seriously driving back to pick him up?” Mom asks, and I’m curious about how Bailey has been acting toward them. I’d be willing to put money on them not knowing he quit soccer.
I didn’t pull shit like this because I was training for the Olympics. And JJ is too much of a goody-two-shoes.
“Yeah, I figured it was the option that ended in the least amount of casualties.”
“She’s not wrong. I’m ready to strangle the kid,” Dad mutters, and I’m glad at least some things never change, even if I haven’t been around.
I guess it wasn’t the worst thing in the world making this call.
Mom clears her throat, and I hold my breath instinctively. “I’m not sure if you’ve already left or not, but I know the season has started, and there’s probably no chance in hell of this happening, but if Henry can come with you, I’d—we’dreally like to talk to him. Only if he can swing it, or even if he wants to come, please will you let him know he’s welcome?” Mom asks, and I steal a glance at Henry to see what he wants me to say.
I know I’m on the verge of tears because my mom is a lot of things, but hesitant is not one of them.
Henry doesn’t move for a moment, and I know I shouldn’t push, but the fact my parents are willing to get past their feelings to see me happy is everything.
“I’m driving the car. I heard everything, and I’d like that,” Henry says, and I look away so he doesn’t see the tears spilling down my cheeks.
Maybe I’m naive, but I didn’t think it was possible to be this heartbroken while being so in love with someone at the same time.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Henry
I’M NOT SURPRISED to see Kaitlyn in our parents’ living room, but I do a double take at the sight of both Walker brothers with short blond hair. Hell, I know they’re identical, but with the same haircut, they actually look identical. The giveaway is only one of them is awake, while the other is asleep at the end of the couch.
I let go of Mirabelle’s hand as Kaitlyn and Hunter’s heads turn in our direction.
She cares so much about Bailey, and he doesn’t have a fucking clue.
