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

yesterday? That was why he was late? And probably why he was acting off.
    Me: I didn’t know he did.
    She immediately texted back.
    Miranda: According to her FB, he did. And she had a great time.
    I tossed my phone on the nightstand and staggered into the bathroom, tears blurring my eyes as images of Hayes and Baylee making out on a couch surfaced. His tongue down her throat, hands running over her back…
    I locked the door and turned the shower on, drowning out a loud sob escaping. Those horrible images were memories, not my imagination. Why would he take her home?
    I knew the answer even as I asked myself the question. Regardless of what he had been telling me, he missed his old life. Those were the good ol’ days. He missed going out and having absolutely zero fucks to give, fucking any girl he wanted. And I couldn’t be mad at him for it.
    He had stupidly knocked the trailer park girl up, and now he was paying for it. I knew Hayes loved me, loved Harley, but love wasn’t always enough. And who had I been kidding anyway? We were from two different worlds. My dad was a dead drunk and Mom was in a psychiatric hospital or something, while his dad was a district judge and his mom volunteered at local hospitals.
    Two completely different worlds.
    “Mac?” Hayes’ voice asked from the other side of the door as he knocked. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
    I sucked back the tears and cleared my throat. “I’m fine. I just need…” What the hell did I need? “I just need some space to absorb all of this.”
    He was silent for a moment. “Okay. I’ll be in the living room if you need anything.”
    “Thanks,” I muttered. “Why don’t you take Harley to that indoor play place or something?”
    “I’d like to be here for you.”
    “Please,” I begged. “ Please , just go.” I wasn’t sure if I could look at him when I did decide to come out of the bathroom.
    “Fine,” he huffed. “Just remember how much I love you. How much Harley loves you, and all your friends.”
    “Thanks.”
    I heard his retreating footsteps and I let my head fall back against the wall as I slid down. I knew what he was saying was true, he did love me, and I didn’t think he’d cheat on me. But what if I was making his life miserable and he was just sucking it up for Harley’s sake?
    I closed my eyes and flashes of Hayes with Baylee and his ex, Kennedy, flashed through my mind. Maybe he was wrong about me being the better choice. Maybe Kennedy would have made him happier in the long run.
    The thought brought fresh tears to my eyes and I felt sick.

Chapter 8
Hayes
     
    Leaving Mackenzie crying in the bathroom was one of the hardest things I had ever done in my life. It made me sick, actually.
    Once in the Jeep, I pulled onto the street and called my dad. I needed answers and he’d be able to provide them for me.
    “Hello?” he answered after a couple of rings.
    “Dad. Hey, I have a question,” I said as I changed lanes, heading toward the indoor play place.
    “Okay,” he answered cautiously.
    Anytime Mac’s parents came to mind, I had to reel in my temper. I took a couple deep breaths, then asked, “Why didn’t you tell me Mac’s dad died? Not that I’m not happy about it...”
    “I wasn’t aware he had. I quit checking on them when they moved a few months ago.” He paused. “He’s dead?”
    “Yeah. Her brother just stopped by to tell her. And her mom is in a psychiatric hospital or something similar.”
    “She was probably only there for a couple of days, so depending when it all happened, she could’ve been released.”
    “Any way you can check? See where she is?”
    “I can do that. How is Mackenzie?” he asked, genuinely concerned. My dad had never disliked Mac, just her family. And he had been really pissed when I brought Mac and Harley home with me one weekend without telling them Mac was back in my life and they were grandparents. In fact, he had voiced his opinion pretty loudly while we