Page 140 of Chasing After You

I look closer at the fire, this time noting all the soccer apparel in the thick of it, but lying on top is the framed photo of our entire family at Dad’s last game, the glass shattered.

“Did you light this?” I ask, staring at my younger brother in horror, spotting the box of matches in his hand.

“Get away from there before the wind shifts. The fire department is on their way,” Henry calls out, and I can’t breathe. “Mira?”

“Did you light this fire?” I repeat my question, but I don’t think I want an answer. Bailey wobbles, yanking his arm from my grip.

“You don’t understand, Mirabelle!”

“What don’t I understand? For fuck’s sake, Bailey, how can I when you haven’t said anything? We can’t keep going around in circles like this!”

“Everyone is a fucking liar, and I can’t stand it! You left and lied about Henry. You don’t care about us anymore, you only care about him! Mom and Dad have been lying our entire lives, and Hunter lied about Kaitlyn! The only one of us who isn’t a fucking liar is JJ,” Bailey seethes, and I take a step back from him.

I wanted him to talk, and he’s finally talking.

“What exactly are Mom and Dad lying about?” I ask, my entire body frozen.

“Dad was engaged to someone else, and then he cheated on her with Mom. He left her, refusing to help her with anything. He is horrible and walks around acting like he’s the king of the fucking world. I hate him, I hate Mom, and I hate this fucking family.”

Henry wraps a protective arm around my waist, tugging me away from the heat of the flames. “I’m not sure where you got any of that information, but it’s not true. That’s not what happened with Mom and Dad, but even if it were, that doesn’t give you an excuse to burn all your soccer gear! What if the house catches on fire? What am I supposed to tell our parents?”

It’s only then that the truth hits me.

“You’re the arsonist.” I exhale as Henry’s grip on me tightens.

“It was me, and I’d do it again. Maybe it all deserves to burn,” Bailey confirms, his face painted with hatred as the sirens of fire trucks are audible in the background.