“Fine, I promise.”
“Hailey, it’ll get better. Trust me.”
“I miss him,” I admitted, biting my lip. “And I don’t want to.”
“Oh, damn, girl. I want to jump in a plane right now and come to you.”
“I wish you could,” I whispered.
“We’re going to have a full-day sister program when you’re visiting.”
“Yes, yes, yes. I want extra cuddles.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I can’t wait.”
I chatted with Val for a few more minutes, and then turned back to my laptop, deciding not to watch anything romantic after all. A horror movie, yeah, that could work. That would get my mind off romance.
Blinking away the burning feeling in my eyes, I curled on one side, pressing Play. It had to get better. I just had to hang in there until it did.
***
Reid
“Look who’s alive,” Bianca exclaimed when she opened the door to our parents’ house. “We were wondering if you’d make it at all.”
“Of course I would. I don’t miss dinner.”
“Well, you did miss my one million or so calls.”
“I’ve been busy.” While that was technically not a lie, it wasn’t a good enough excuse to let my family’s calls go to voice mail.
Stepping inside, I hung my coat.
“You’re always busy. Never dodged my calls before.”
“I haven’t—”
Bianca crossed her arms. “It wasn’t a question.”
I groaned. She was on a mission. Clearly, she had something on her mind. There was no point trying to fight it. The least painful way was to just get it over with.
“You knew I was going to roast your ass because of Hailey.”
And there it was.
“Bee-Bee.”
“Don’t Bee-Bee me. A family dinner was the only excuse I could think of to get you out of your cave.”
“Darling, you’re here,” Mom exclaimed.
I felt Bianca’s eyes burn the back of my head as we walked to the dining room. Dad was already at the table.
I suspected something wasn’t right when I caught my parents exchanging a glance. When they then exchanged a look with Bianca, I didn’t just suspect. I was sure.
“What’s going on?” I asked.