2. Bailey
CHAPTER TWO
Bailey
NOW
“I thought your family hurt you?” Javi asks, always the picture of curiosity while I punch in the old code on the keypad to the gate. I hold my breath before hitting the open button, because what if it doesn’t work?
I force the air from my lungs as I push the button, praying they haven’t changed it, but I wouldn’t blame my parents if they did.
The gate slides open, allowing us to walk through.
I hold Javi’s hand, reminding myself of why we’re here while sweat rolls down my back in the unforgiving Carolina heat as the sun rises higher in the sky.
“They did,” I answer, forcing my feet forward before I lose my nerve.
He hasn’t complained once while we walked here from the nearest bus station, and I carried him for most of the way.
Javi tugs on my hand, and I look down to see him frowning. “Then why did we come here?”
I try to push my anxiety back as I kneel to be at eye level with him when the gate shuts behind us. I smooth his hair as best I can, but there’s only so much I can do with the unruly dark waves. “Because they can help you. ”
“I don’t want their help if they hurt you,” he says, puffing his chest up, and I can’t help the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
He’s been dealt a shitty hand in the game of life and seen more than any child his age should have. It’s because I love him that I brought him here, despite promising my family I wouldn’t hurt them any more than I already have.
“It’s okay, Javi. They won’t hurt you, I promise.”
His dark eyes stare into mine, and he squeezes my hand. “Okay,” he says, and I stand again, adjusting the backpack on my shoulders, holding all of our things.
The salt in the air is a siren call, pulling me toward the house.
Javi gasps next to me while I look at the cars in the driveway, trying to place who might be here, but I don’t recognize any of them.
My stomach twists at the sight of the front door, and I barely hear Javi’s question. “This is where you lived?”
“Yeah,” I choke out, looking at him to see how his breathing is, but he seems okay right now.
I spot the cameras on the house. Even if I wanted to run far in the other direction, for the sake of the little boy next to me, I push through, stopping in front of the door.
How am I supposed to face any of them?
I never planned on talking to anyone in my family again after saying goodbye to JJ five months ago, let alone returning home, but here I am.
“B?” Javi asks because I’m frozen. Before I can say anything, the door swings open.
It takes away the decision of whether to knock or not as I stand face to face with JJ.
His vibrant green eyes widen, and I remember how similar they are to mine. The suitcase in his hand falls to the ground with a crash. Javi startles, moving behind me and JJ’s attention to him for a moment, then back up to me again .
“Bailey.”
God, it’s been so damn long. An apology rests on the tip of my tongue as I remember how many times my brother begged me to tell him where I was, but I refused every time.
“I didn’t have another option. Javi needs a doctor, and I . . . please. He needs a doctor.”
It’s so much harder seeing him than I imagined it would be.
A girl I recognize from the glimpses of JJ I’ve caught in gossip magazines on every corner of New York walks up behind him, her hand landing on his arm. He inhales sharply, and her blue eyes land on me. “This is Bailey?”
JJ’s slow to nod, his gaze never leaving me like I’ll disappear if he looks away for a moment. “Are you really here?” he asks, skepticism forming as if he doesn’t trust himself, and I swallow the lump in my throat.
“Yeah.”
And then the air is knocked from my lungs as JJ pulls me into a tight hug.
It catches me off guard, and my whole body tenses, immediately conscious of how I haven’t showered in almost a week.
I can’t imagine how bad my clothes smell.
Why didn’t I stop somewhere for us to shower before coming here?
I was so focused on actually making it back to Wilmington with Javi, I didn’t prioritize it when I should have.
“I’ve missed you so fucking much,” he whispers, and tears spring to my eyes. I blink them away quickly, hugging my older brother back.
I missed him too. I’ve missed all of them.
“Marley, if JJ is forcing you to pack, call out for help!” Mirabelle’s voice rings out from inside the house, and the memories of the last time I was in the same room as her cause my stomach to twist into knots. JJ steps back, wiping his cheeks to clear away the tears falling.
“You should come inside,” JJ says, and I reach for Javi’s hand. He’s why I came back. His hand is gripping my fingers tightly, and we step inside the place I once called home.
“JJ, are you okay?” the girl asks him, but JJ doesn’t answer.
Mirabelle steps out from the kitchen, drinking from a glass, but she stops dead in her tracks when she sees me. She gasps, and the glass slips from her hand, shattering all over the hardwood floor.
All I can do is stare at the apparent bump. I had no idea she was pregnant, but why would I? It’s been months since I last spoke to JJ.
The sound seems to set everything in motion. JJ and his girlfriend dart toward her as my mother rushes from the same direction Mira came from. “What happened?” she asks, but Javi pulls on my hand, interrupting the slow panic building inside me, giving me a reason to stay present.
“B, I want to go. They keep dropping things. I don’t like it here,” he whispers, and I give him a smile I hope is reassuring because I feel like I’m about to throw up.
“Just a little longer, okay?” I say, but he doesn’t look convinced.
“Bailey?” Mom’s voice echoes, and JJ holds his hand up to stop her.
“Mom, careful, there’s glass,” JJ warns, and she gives the area a wide berth, moving fast toward me.
I force myself not to flinch, but I haven’t known what to prepare myself for.
I know JJ’s told me the past doesn’t matter, and everyone wanted me to come home, but would they still want me if they knew everything?
Her arms close around me, and I feel like a little kid again, wanting her to tell me everything is going to be okay.
“Oh my god, you’re home. You’re finally home. I knew you would come back,” she says, her whole body shaking against mine as she hugs me, and it takes everything in me not to fall apart. Mom pulls back, reaching up to take my face in her hands. “You’re so tall, and handsome.”
Her scrutiny is too much, and I don’t want her to look too closely. I don’t want her to see all the scars I’ve accrued. I turn away, causing her hands to fall.
“Bailey, I want to go,” Javi whimpers behind me, and I step back from my mother’s reach, trying not to focus on how her face falls.
“Let me get your father,” she says, unable to hide the hurt in her expression, and I hear the silent plea. Please still be here.
My head is swimming, fighting against the memories swirling around me. I came here for one reason, and one reason only: Javi. I need him to be okay. He saved me without realizing it, and now it’s my turn to rescue him.
“I’m okay,” I hear Mirabelle say through sobs as JJ’s girlfriend leads her to the couch, and I force my gaze away from her to Javi.
“Javi, it’s going to be okay. Trust me, please,” I say, and he clings to my leg.
Dad and Henry run in, and Henry falters, trying not to step on JJ, who’s cleaning up the glass.
His dark eyes widen, and I’m reminded of one of the worst moments of my life when Henry pulled Mirabelle away from me on my last day home before I left.
I don’t know where to look as my twin rushes in after our dad, Kaitlyn hot on his heels.
Of course she’s here.
I allow myself only one selfish moment to meet her gaze before focusing on my dad. His mouth falls open as he gapes at me, and I don’t know what to say.
I don’t know how I could have ever believed the lies I was told about him. I owe him more apologies than anyone. I’d take it all back if I could. I was young and stupid, and I should have asked more questions before assuming the worst of the best man I’ve ever known .
Finally, my gaze slides to Hunter, unsurprised to find his face cold.
“Thanks for letting us know you’re alive.
See you again in three years,” he says, firing the first shot.
Everyone turns to look at him in shock, but I’m not.
I expected this reaction from him because you can only push someone so far before they break.
I’d say Hunter knows better than anyone.
I want to correct him by saying it’s only been twenty-six months, but I’m not sure it matters.
“Hunter—” I start to say without a clue of what’s going to come out of my mouth next, but he storms off, Kaitlyn following dutifully behind him.
Looks like some things never change. “Maybe this was a mistake,” I say, ready to turn and flee with Javi.
I shouldn’t have come back. I’ll find some other way to help him.
“No! Please, don’t listen to Hunt,” Mirabelle blurts out, tears still rolling down her face. “You belong here with us.” She sniffles, and Henry whispers something to her, causing Mira to nod, wiping her cheeks again.
“Who is this?” Mom asks, looking at Javi clinging to me like if he holds tight enough, he can disappear.
I comb my fingers through his hair, and he peeks up at me for a moment, his dark, trusting eyes melting the fear from my bones.
“This is Javi, and he saved my life,” I say, giving him a soft smile before meeting her eyes again. “He’s sick, and I can’t get him the help he needs, but you guys can.”