Always With You (The Connor Family 6)

“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.