I Never Expected You (I Never 2)

Everyone turns their attention to me, confusion all over their faces. Kelly sits back down.

“I just think there’s a reason she reached out to only Zach.” I hate it just as much as everyone else that I haven’t heard from her either, but now is not the time to hash out those feelings. “But I know my best friend, and there’s a reason she chose now to come home finally.”

“Did she indicate any reason?” Adam runs his hands over his face in distress.

At that moment, it’s as if I see a glimpse of Zach in the future. Not only do they look alike, but Zach and his dad’s mannerisms are so similar.

Zach, who has grown quiet yet again, responds, his voice just above a whisper. “No.”

I chime back in. “All I’m saying is that we have no clue where her mind is now. If she’s still in the same mindset as when she left, we don’t know. I think if we bombard her or smother her by us all showing up, she may just leave again. And I, for one, am going to do everything in my power to keep her here. I think it should just be Zach.”

“Well, how will that work? She’s going to see that you live there too obviously. How did Dani react to the news of you two?” My mother’s words sting a bit as I flash back to our fight this morning.

My gaze turns to Zach. He exhales loudly. “I was so shocked that she called, it didn’t actually come up.”

“What didn’t come up?”

“Me.”

Their expressions go from sadness to shock.

“I know. I know. But I couldn’t believe I was actually talking to my sister—I didn’t mean to overlook that.”

He turns his body to face mine on the couch and reaches up to cup my cheek, and I lean into his touch. “I’m so sorry, baby. I know I hurt you, and I’m sorry.”

The tears I’ve been holding back this entire conversation begin to fall.

“You are the most important person in my life, and I’m not going to keep us a secret. We’re going to tell her.”

Okay, Haylee, time to tell him the plan. Just rip the Band-Aid off. He might not like this, but it’s for the best.

“No, we’re not.”

This time it’s Zach who flies off the couch. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Zachary Jacobs, you watch your tone, young man,” his mother scolds.

He holds up his hands in defeat, but he doesn’t sit back down.

“We’re not going to tell her. At least not yet.”

“Are you insane?” I can see the tension rippling through his body.

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch our parents rising from their seat and exiting the room. Assholes. But I’m glad they did leave. This wasn’t exactly how I had planned to tell him.

I pat the couch next to me for him to sit down. He continues to stand, holding my gaze.

Deep breaths, Haylee. He will understand.

“Do you trust me?”

His head snaps in my direction. His brows furrow and his forehead scrunches.

“What? Of course I do. Why would you ask me that?”

“Sit.”

I adjust myself on the couch so I am now facing him. “So, remember how Cami was going out of town?”