Page 1 of Riding the Curve

CHAPTER 1

Henley

“Attention all passengers, Flight 744 to Sacramento will be boarding shortly.”

Sitting curled up in a ball in JFK airport with a one-way ticket home to California wasn’t how I expected today to unfold. Hundreds of people surround me, yet I’ve never felt more alone. Who knew the carefully stitched life I had put together could shred apart so easily? Unfortunately, no amount of thread is strong enough to repair what is torn. I’m not even sure I would want it even if there was.

Tears burn behind my swollen eyes, threatening to unleash another torrential downfall if I don’t pull myself together soon. One catastrophic breakdown in the cab on the way here was more than enough. I think I may have traumatized the poor cab driver. All I need to do is hold it together long enough to make it through this flight.

Push it down, babe.

Glancing down at my phone screen to check the time, I notice all the messages and calls I missed yesterday while trying to survive the whirlwind my life threw at me.

DAD: Love you sweetheart, but if you don’t start picking up phone calls from your father or pick up a damn FaceTime to show us proof of existence, I’m going to send in the National Guard.

MOM: Tripp Leighton Cole!

DAD: Your mother just smacked me over the head with a whisk! See, this is why I need you to come back home. I need protection. SOS!

MOM: Ignore your father, I’ll deal with him later. Henny-Penny, we miss you so much.

MOM: Have you given any more thought to finally coming back home for a visit? It’s been so long, honey. Three years without being able to hug my little girl is killing me.

RYLEIGH: Hey, lil sis. Just giving you a warning I can’t hold off the parentals any longer. It might be wise to give them a call before Dad has a heart attack. Also, Lyla wanted me to tell you that she “Wuvs awntie Hen-Hen.”

HARPER: Girl!!!! Pick up your phone!

HARPER: You can’t leave me on read after that text! What did that dick of a boyfriend do now?

HARPER: . . .

HARPER: Fine, ghost your best friend. I’ll get answers out of you, one way or another. Even if I have to fly my ass across the country to do so!

HARPER: PS I love you, bestie! Our famous cinnamon rolls are rising in the oven, and they smell divine. Wish we were doing it together like the old days.

Little does she know, Harper is finally going to get her wish.

Clicking the call button, I inhale a deep breath, awaiting the much-needed voice on the other end.

“H-hello—Hen, are you alright?” My mother’s groggy voice spills through the phone.

Shit! I quickly glance at the time on my phone. It’s 6 am here, which means it’s 3 am in California.

“Henley? Baby girl, what’s wrong?” Dad’s voice booms in the background.

The tears I’ve been fighting so hard to hold back break free. Hearing their voices gives me all the comfort in the world, but it’s also a blaring reminder that they’re about to discover I’ve failed. Combusted my life into a million pieces is probably more accurate.

“C-can I—” I sniffle, swallowing down the lump of shame inside my throat. “Can I come home?” The voices on the other end go still. Only my muffled sobs linger.

“Of course, sweetheart. This will always be your home. You don’t ever have to ask permission.”

Relief floods through my entire body, lessening the pressure that had been building in my chest.

“Where are you right now, sweetheart?”

“At the airport. My flight’s about to board s-soon.”

“Would you like to talk to us while you wait?”