Page 68 of Chasing After You
“You shouldn’t be, but I appreciate your help. I’m sure he would have put up a bigger fight if you weren’t here,” she says, and I open the door for her. “Merci.”22 Mirabelle offers me the barest of smiles. I’m starting to have a whole new appreciation for the French language.
“De rien.”23
Bailey smells like he belongs in the basement of a fraternity house, but I’m hoping he doesn’t get sick before we get back to their house.
I glance in the rearview mirror, noting that Hunter and Bailey could not be further apart in the backseat. Obviously, they’re fighting about something, but whatever it is, it doesn’t make sense for Bailey to be so upset with Mirabelle.
“How’s soccer going, Bailey?” I ask, poking the bear. Bailey stays silent, but Mirabelle turns sharply to face me.
“What are you doing?” she asks, but I ignore her. This might be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever done, but Mirabelle isn’t going to get answers if he remains silent.
“I would think as a senior, you’d be getting plenty of playing time with how many scouts were at your games this summer. Have you started looking at schools?” I push further, and Hunter’s looking at me questioningly too. “Bailey?”
“I don’t know why you’re asking me about this when I knowshetold you I quit the team,” Bailey responds tightly.
“Why’d you quit? You’re really good.”
I mean it too. Bailey is really fucking good at soccer, and furthermore, he loves it. I remember Sebastian bragging about him last spring because Duke was looking into offering him a spot on their team, and they have one of the best programs in the country.
Mirabelle is shaking her head next to me, and I soften my voice. “B, we’re all worried about you. If you talk to us, then maybe we can help.”
“I don’t want your help. You don’t care about me. The only reason you’re saying you care is because you’re fucking my sister.”
I clench my jaw so tightly I’d be shocked if I didn’t crack a tooth. Mirabelle shifts in the passenger seat, and that’s when I notice she’s chewing on her nails again. I’ve noticed it’s something she does when she’s feeling out of control, and my patience is starting to run thin.
“Instead of ripping into Mira for doing nothing wrong, maybe you could say what you’re actually pissed about.”
Bailey’s head moves in the mirror, his eyes rimmed in red finding mine. “Maybe she did do something wrong. Have you ever thought about that, Henry? Perfect fucking Mirabelle who could walk on water. How could any of us ever live up to her?” Bailey mocks.
Perfect fucking Mirabelle? Is that what he thinks about her?
I’ve watched her run at a higher capacity over the last few days than any human should be capable of, but she does it with a smile. She doesn’t complain about it; she is desperate to prove she belongs.
“B, come on. That’s not true,” Hunter pipes in, and now I’m wondering if I should have asked Mirabelle to drive so I could have sat in the back seat with Bailey.
“Whose side are you on?”
“Why do there have to be sides?” Hunter asks, and Bailey falls silent once more.
This time, for Mirabelle’s sake, I let the conversation die completely. I turn the background music up higher, my heart aching at the sight of Mirabelle chewing her nails fucking bloody. I shouldn’t have pushed him, but I hoped he’d give me something other than whatever the hell he’s blaming her for.
I reach over to grab her hand in a smooth motion because I can’t stand the sight of her hurting, even if it’s self-inflicted, entwining her fingers with mine again to rest them on her thigh.
The faint squeeze she gives me eases the tightness in my chest, even though it should be climbing higher the closer we get to finally talking with her parents.
~
Thalia rushes to hug Mirabelle the second she steps out of the car while Sebastian hangs back on the front stairs. Bailey wavers, catching himself before he tips over after climbing out of the car.
“Bailey,” Sebastian says sharply, and I know all too well how it can cut through to the bone, flaying you open from the inside out. “Go to your room.Now.”
Bailey scoffs as Hunter hangs his head, lingering by me. I’m not sure I’m the safest person to stand by when it comes to being here. Bailey brushes past his father, disappearing into the house, and I’m shocked he doesn’t slam the front door behind him.
“Henry, why don’t we go out back and talk.” Sebastian’s dark eyes feel as if they can see right through me as my confidence wanes. It’s a statement, not a question up for debate.
“Okay,” I agree calmly, and Thalia gives me a warm smile, so drastically different from the last few occasions we’ve been in the same vicinity. I wonder what caused the change of heart, but I’m not complaining if it means I’m no longer being accused of grooming Mirabelle.
Sebastian steps into the house, leaving the front door open for me to follow. I’ve been here so many times over the years, but I’ve never felt this much anxiety. Normally, I’d relax the moment I stepped through the door, but instead, my stomach is in knots. Is this what livestock feel like as they’re lured into the slaughterhouse?
