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Graduating and leaving for college was normal. Heck, even the small sabbatical I’d planned to take before my first semester started wasn’t weird. No work or school. Just some downtime before the fall semester started.
Plenty of people took a break between graduating high school and starting college. Mine would just be for a few short months until my nineteenth birthday.
I wanted to let go, and once school started, I had to somewhat behave—allow minimal indulgences when it came to partying or sleeping with random women.
Suddenly, the sound of the sliding glass door opening was heard faintly in the background, but no footsteps followed. I knew who it was before she opened her mouth.
She always brought a slight smile to my face. “For Christmas I’m buying you a cowbell, little B.”
Two thin arms wrapped themselves around my neck from behind. “Don’t be a jerk, Hunter.”
“Just speaking the truth, kid.” At my words, she huffed and smacked my shoulder. It stung a tiny bit. “Why so violent?”
“Call me a kid again, and I’ll knee you.” Bailey walked around me and placed herself in my line of sight. Hand on her hip, she stood over me with a glare. However, that mock anger evaporated at the sight of my somber expression. “What’s wrong? Talk to me.”
Green eyes looked at me with such a soft expression that my chest ached—gave a harsh thump inside my chest, and I rubbed the spot. The truth of the situation was hitting me dead in the heart.
Bailey and Emily were going to grow up without me here to protect them. Already beautiful, in a few years they’d make heads turn and dirty minds wander.
I wouldn’t be here to punch out the first jerk-off who makes them cry.
“Melancholy’s hitting me hard, little B. Nothing else.”
“Make room,” she demanded, and I opened my arms for her. Within seconds, she’d placed herself on my lap with her head nestled into the crook of my neck.
It was comforting
This was something we’d done since we were young and needed to vent. Sit close and talk. Just be. Didn’t matter that I was considered an adult at eighteen—a high school graduate—while she’d just turned fifteen a few days ago.
We were family.
Close. Bailey had been as much my best friend as she was Emily’s.
Since the age of seven when we met, she’d been my little confidant. The one person I could talk to that wouldn’t judge me.
“Comfy?”
“I am. Thank you so much for asking.” Her giggle was muffled by my shirt’s collar.
“Brat,” I muttered under my breath, but she heard and elbowed me hard. Immediately, I wrapped an arm around her midsection and held tight, making it impossible for her to move and try to hit me again. “Behave, or I’ll toss you in. I hear the drowned-rat look is all the rage in those girly magazines you and my sister worship.”
“Do it, and I’ll shave your eyebrows at night while you sleep.”
I threw in a dramatic gasp. “You wouldn’t dare. I’m too handsome.”
She raised her head and tilted it to the side. “Want to bet?”
“Truce?” Because there was no doubt in my mind that she’d do it, too. That slightly crazed look in her eyes confirmed as much.
“Thought so.” Bailey snorted and then resettled on my lap. “Now, enough with the distractions, Hunter. Talk to me. What put that sour look on your face?”
“Erica and I—”
“Why am I not surprised this involves her,” she interrupted, her tone dripping disdain.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gently, I pushed her back so I could look into those expressive green gems. Bailey had a poker face like no other, but her eyes gave her away every time. To me, they were like an open book. “Please explain. You never disliked Erica before.”
Rolling her eyes, she resettled her stare away from me. “Always so defensive when it comes to your precious girlfriend.”
