Chasing Forevermore by J.D. Rivera Read Free Book Online Page A

it, and I have a great life now.”
    “I’m still sorry. I will carry that guilt with me forever.”
    I nodded. “Where have you been?”
    “Actually, I’ve been here. Well, Oklahoma City.” He glanced around the living room, taking in all the decorations. “Are you married?”
    “Engaged. How about you?”
    “I have a girlfriend.”
    More silence followed as we stared at each other. “Harley’s asleep,” Hayes said as he entered the living room, breaking the silence. He sat down in the chair next to me and took my hand, not saying anything else. He knew exactly what I needed.
    My nerves and anxiety were notching up by the second. I wanted to yell at Trey, make him tell me whatever he came to tell me, but I remained quiet.
    Trey took a deep breath and rubbed his hands down his cheeks. “I have something to tell you. I just don’t know how.”
    “Just tell me.” I bit the inside of my cheek and waited.
    After swallowing, he started, “I got a call a couple days ago…” He closed his eyes and I knew whatever he was going to tell me was bad. “I got a call the other day and Mom’s in the hospital being held for a psychiatric evaluation.”
    “She’s in a psychiatric…hospital?”
    He nodded. “Something like that. I guess she had a breakdown.”
    “Wow.”
    I turned to look at Hayes, who was staring at me. “You okay?”
    “Yeah.” But the truth was, I didn’t know. My brother showing up after eight years and telling me Mom was in the hospital was a little overwhelming.
    “That’s not the end of it.”
    I glanced back at Trey, trying to remain calm. “Okay. What else is there?”
    He cleared his throat again and let one hand run over his short hair. “Dad’s…dead.”
    Dad’s dead.
    Dead.
    My breath caught in my throat and Hayes’ hand squeezed mine. “Dead?”
    He nodded. “I guess he finally drank too much.”
    Holy shit. My dad was dead. The man who had beaten me for years and made my life miserable was…gone. But he was also my dad. I had a lot of emotions running through my head, but I couldn’t grasp any of them. “Okay.”
    “It happened a week ago, I think,” Trey stated. “He was cremated.”
    Well, that was good. I had no plans of going to a funeral for him—at least, that was what I told myself. “I guess the world is a better place,” I said, surprising myself when those words slipped out.
    Trey nodded and chuckled. “Yeah. I’ll agree with that.”
    My head was starting to ache and my thoughts were running rampant. And as much as I hated my father, I didn’t like what I had just admitted aloud. I stood. “Look…can you leave your number with Hayes? I’d love to talk more…if you want. But right now, I just need to absorb all of this.”
    “Of course. It was great seeing you, Mackenzie.”
    “You, too.” I started to leave the room, but stopped when he stood. “Maybe we can grab dinner soon or something?”
    “I’d love that.” He stepped next to me and hugged me awkwardly. “I’m really sorry for running out on you.”
    I pulled back and smiled. “It’s okay. Just give me some time to process everything.” I turned to look at Hayes. “Can you get his number for me? Or give him mine?”
    “Yeah.”
    I headed toward our bedroom and sank down on the edge of the bed, trying to calm my thoughts. My breathing was becoming uneven and I didn’t understand why. Why the fuck did I care about what happened to my parents?
    “Trey, get in here. I’m going to kick your ass, you little shit!”
    “Merry Christmas, sunshine. Come see what Santa left you.”
    “Nobody will hear your screams or care!”
    My dad’s voice rang in my ears, making me remember every bad memory mingled with my one good Christmas memory.
    I was trying to calm my racing thoughts when my phone lit up with a text. I grabbed it from the nightstand.
    Miranda: Why did Hayes take Baylee home yesterday?
    My eyes burned with tears as I read and re-read the text. Hayes had taken Baylee home