101

Bailey's pov

"Can I have another?”

I bit my lower lip to fight off the giggle but couldn't fight off the smile as I leaned over the console to plant a soft kiss on Kaleb's lips.

He nibbled on my lower lip and before I knew it, we were kissing deeply. I was the first to break away, breathing so rough I had to take in a good

amount of air into my lungs to calm down my racing heart.

Kaleb lifted his hand and cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing against my cheek lovingly. "I love you," he whispered, every word coming out with

such honesty I melted.

"I love you too," I responded truthfully, kissing his nose and giggling when he scrunched it up in an adorable way.

“Babe,” he whined, pouting slightly. “I'm the one who is supposed to do that."

I rolled my eyes, laughing as I pulled away, but for good measure, I planted another kiss on his nose and jokingly murmur. "I think I rather be the man

in the relationship,” with a teasing grin I successfully got out of the vehicle whilst he was dumbfounded.

Waving back at him and closing the door, he finally snapped out of it and called me. However, I am already practically skipping to my front door,

happier than ever.

"Love you!" I shout, twirling back to give him one last wave.

I can sense his eyes on me, feel them set fire to my skin. God, I love this boy.

"I love you too flower!" He said, his voice breathless as though he had so much emotion running through him. I smiled and turned to open the door.

The house is silent which is odd because my parents are home. Dad's car is parked in front and there's a sweet tang of lemon biscuits being baked in

the air. My belly grumbles as I walk to the window, watching Kaleb drive off.

"Hey guys, I'm home!" I shout to gain my parents or my sister's attention. It's so quiet it makes me uneasy. Our house was never quiet when both of

my parents were home.

It was always filled with laughter, jokes, and sounds of kissing and teasing. Never this....silent. Something curled low in my stomach when I didn't get

a response.

I slowly set my bag down on one of the tables and made my way to the kitchen, making sure to not make much of a sound.

However, when I do get to the

kitchen, there's something brewing

on the stayé and the cookies now - “

have a titge of a burnt smell to SS

them. Ayush to put off the oven>

openitig it and fanning my hand over

mycface as the smell of smoke rises

tsmny nose. Content belafigs to

Had mom forgotten about the cookies?

Closing back the oven, I am tempted to call out their name once more but refrain and decide to walk up the stairs to check.

If anything was amiss it would be better to lay low and be quiet. Taking the stairs two at a time but making sure to not make a sound was proving

difficult when my legs were trembling and my heart was racing.

I gripped my phone in my hands tightly, making sure I had 911 on speed dial just in case something wasn't right.

With fear curling deep in my stomach and my heart pounding loudly in my chest, I hesitantly make my way to my parent's room. However, on the way

there I can hear silent sniffles coming from Lillian's room and froze.

The door is left ajar and there's light coming from inside.

My heart thuds and my fingers shook, my hands getting clammy. Those sniffles and silent sobs sound like mom. But why would she be crying?

My teeth sankinto my lower lip,

nearly drawing out blood as I strut to

Lillian's ragin, pushing the door open

gently tonot startle them. "Mom?

whispefed, my throat running dry

wher spot ner on Lillian’s srvall

bed; hugging her little fragile body as

Dad held the both of thea}:

My heart sank.

There are tears in the eyes of all three of them and I've never seen my dad look so beat up and in pain since the news of Lillian's diagnosis.

"What's happening?’ My throat feels

tight but thewords still came out,

even though it was low they still =>

picked th them up. "What's going Qn?"

My eyes 3s drop to my little sisterc

curled i in our parent's arms, ber little

teary eyes staring at me sadly.

I step into the room, my heart thudding against my chest. Mom is the first to speak, sniffling as she broke down the news that will haunt me forever.

"It's the cancer," she croaked out in a painful whisper. "It's back."