23. HAYLEY
Chapter twenty-three
HAYLEY
I groan, blinking the last remnants of sleep from my eyes. A frown creases my brow as I realize how bright the room is. Wait a minute - I didn't turn on any lights last night. My heart races as I bolt upright, suddenly wide awake. Sunlight is streaming through the windows, far too bright for early morning.
"No, no, no," I mutter, scrambling for my phone.
The screen illuminates, confirming my worst fears. I've completely slept through my alarm. I'm beyond late.
"Drats!" I exclaim, leaping out of bed.
I dash around the cottage in a frenzy, nearly slipping as I hop into the shower. The water's barely warmed before I'm out again, hastily toweling off and throwing on the first clothes I grab.
As I snatch a piece of bread from the kitchen, I catch a glimpse of my wild hair in the mirror. No time to deal with that now. I'm out the door in minutes, bread clenched between my teeth as I fumble with my keys.
Once in the car, some of the adrenaline fades. My hands grip the steering wheel as I face the path leading to the main house. Suddenly, memories of yesterday come rushing back. Austin's face, so close to mine. The warmth of his lips...
"Oh no," I whisper, resting my forehead against the wheel. My face feels hot. "It wasn't a dream." I move my head slightly, only to hear –
HONK !
I jolt upright with a squeal, accidentally hitting the horn again. Looking around frantically to see if anyone heard, I groan in embarrassment.
"Get it together, Hayley," I mutter.
Starting the car, I opt for the coward's route and reverse, heading for the second gate instead. Little do I know, everything today is determined to work against me.
As I reach town, nervousness gnaws at my stomach. Part of me expects a crowd to surround my car, demanding details about last night.
“I heard you kissed Austin Johnson! – Mrs. Beatrice
“We are from the local channel! It will definitely not happen
“I saw it happen! – probably Mrs. Jenkins
I groan, shaking my head to remove the mental image. Fortunately, the streets are nearly empty. It seems most people have sought shelter from the intense heat.
Almost squatting, I duck through the parking lot and head straight into the building. I finally let out a sigh when there is no one inside too. Back at work, I dive into a backlog of case documents, hoping to lose myself in the task. As I pull a stack onto my desk, my elbow catches the sharp edge.
"Ow!" I wince, rubbing the sore spot.
Little did I know that today is only the beginning.
I've barely settled in when my pen decides to explode, ink pouring over the first page and seeping into others.
"No, no, no," I mutter, trying to blot it up. My efforts only smear the mess further. With this mess - I'll have to reprint everything and start from scratch, losing all the case notes I wrote on the pages.
Normally, I write it separately. But now, it was too late for what-ifs.
I decide a coffee break is in order, but of course, I used the last pod yesterday. Instant coffee it is, then. I grab a packet, tearing it open with more force than necessary. Coffee grounds explode everywhere, dusting my desk and clothes.
I freeze, staring at the mess in disbelief. I can't even bring myself to laugh - it's that kind of day.
Irritated, I head to the bathroom to clean up. Fate, apparently not satisfied with my suffering, delivers another blow. The faucet decides to spray all over me.
"You've got to be kidding me," I groan, leaning against the sink.
Throughout the rest of the day, I navigate a minefield of minor disasters. My thoughts keep drifting to Austin. I find myself checking my phone, half-expecting (hoping for) a text from him. Then I remember our agreement to take some time apart.
The urge to call him is almost overwhelming. Tears prick at my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. Instead, I scrape my hair into a messy bun and throw myself back into work.
By the time I return to the ranch, I'm beyond starving. I realize I haven't eaten all day beyond that single piece of bread this morning. Once again, I'm tempted to go to the main house. Maybe Austin will be there. Maybe we can talk...
But in the end, I don't. I retreat to my cottage, trying to ignore the gnawing ache in my chest that has nothing to do with hunger.
I also can’t sleep. And so, I was left with tossing and turning, replaying every moment with Austin in my mind. His smile, his laugh, the kiss, the moment at the garden, the kiss, swimming together, the kiss. The meals we've shared, the stolen moments of laughter. The way his texts always seem to arrive when I need them most. His voice on the phone, a lifeline when I'm feeling lost.
It's only as dawn breaks that I finally drift off into a fitful doze. And as my body slips into rest, the blasted alarm rings.
I silence it immediately, but the damage is done. Feeling exhausted, I decide to take a much-needed day off. I cocoon myself in blankets, trying to find a position that doesn't hurt.
As evening falls, I finally manage to eat - a bowl of warm tomato soup that soothes both body and soul. Curled up on the couch, I let my mind wander back to Austin. Putting it all in perspective, I realize how deeply he's woven into the strings of my life here. And how much I miss him, even after such a short time apart.
"Enough," I mutter, setting down my empty bowl. "This is ridiculous."
I need to see him. To clear the air, to figure out where we stand. Before I can talk myself out of it, I'm grabbing my keys and heading for the main house.
As I approach, I hear voices. Charles and Antonio are at the barn, engrossed in conversation. I slow my steps, not wanting to interrupt.
"...should be back soon," Charles is saying. "With the boss not around, everything slows down."
Antonio nods. "Austin hates leaving on such short notice, but you know how it is with these business emergencies."
My heart sinks. Austin's not even here? I retreat quietly, not wanting to bother them. For a moment, I consider calling Austin but decide against it. This is a conversation we need to have face-to-face.
"Tomorrow," I whisper to myself. "I'll come back tomorrow."
The next day, I find myself once again standing in front of the main house door. My palms are sweaty as I knock, my heart racing with anticipation.
It feels like my heart will jump out, my breath becomes ragged.
One.
Two.
The door swings open, but it's not Austin. Instead, I'm greeted by the same woman from that night – Sarah.
"Hi there!" she says brightly. "Can I help you?"
"Oh, um..." I stammer, thrown off guard. "I'm looking for Austin?"
Her face lights up even more, and for the first time I could see the resemblance. "Come on in!"
Before I can protest, she's ushering me inside. I feel awkward and out of place as she leads me to the living room. It’s been a while since I’ve been inside, and strangely enough, this place doesn’t feel the same with Austin not here.
"So," Sarah says, plopping down on the couch. "You're here to see Austin?"
I nod, twisting my hands in my lap. "Is he... around?"
Sarah's frowns slightly. "Oh, I'm sorry. He's actually out of the country right now. Some last-minute business thing came up."
My heart sinks. "Oh," I say, trying to hide my disappointment.
Out of the country?
I thought he went to town. Since when?
"I should probably go then-"
"Nonsense!" Sarah interrupts. "Stay and chat for a bit. I've been dying to meet you!"
Reluctantly, I settle back onto the couch. To my surprise, Sarah's easy-going nature soon has me relaxing. We trade stories, and I find myself laughing at tales of Austin's childhood misadventures.
"You should have seen him," Sarah giggles. "covered head to toe in mud, trying to convince Aunt Maggie it wasn't his fault!"
As our laughter fades, Sarah's expression grows more serious. "You know, Austin's been through a lot. When Uncle James - his dad - passed away, Austin really stepped up. He became the protector for Jenny and Aunt Maggie."
"Jenny?" I ask, surprised.
Sarah nods. "His little sister. She's away at college now, but Austin's always looking out for her."
Suddenly, so many of Austin's actions make more sense. His protective nature, his gentleness, his sense of responsibility.
As Sarah continues sharing stories, I feel a bittersweet ache in my chest. Everything I learn just makes me miss Austin more. I long to see his smile, to feel the warmth of his embrace.
"Hey," Sarah says gently, noticing my faraway look. "He'll be back soon. And between you and me? I've never seen him this happy."
I manage a small smile, but inside, my heart is racing. I can only hope she's right.
As I slowly drive back to the cottage, my mind goes to my parents. It’s been a while since we chatted. I try to video call them, but it's not connecting. As usual, they must be out of coverage. With a sigh, I switch to email instead, quickly typing out a message:
“Hey, mom and dad,
Just checking in on you. What country are you in now? I’m excited and worried about you both. If you get this message, please call me back. I miss you, and I love you both.
I have so many things to tell you.
Ps: I’m still in Redstone, and I still live in the cottage.
Pss: Video Call me, really.
As I stare at the screen, I feel a little bit better even though I haven’t actually spoken to them.
Looking around, I decide that I might as well go to bed early. Hopefully this time, I will be able to sleep and wake up on time.
“Let tomorrow be a better day, please,” I whisper.
And sometimes, wishes work – I slept after that.
If I had known, I would have wished for something more – something like… seeing him sooner.
Heck, I miss him.
I really do.