Chapter 21
Nate
Ihave to be sure, without a shadow of a doubt, a kernel of hesitation that Hayleigh is back for good. I have to know because there is no way I’m going any further with her if she isn’t sure about what she wants.
I carry her up the stairs to the next floor, the whole way her laugh rings loud, unleashed and free.
I get to her bedroom door and place her down.
Her chest heaves as she stares up at me.
Dropping her bags, I bring my hand to her face and cup it gently.
I need to know. My stomach does somersaults, and my heart gallops in my chest.
Her eyes fall closed. “Hayleigh.” She responds with a smile as I say her name. “I need to know what this is, between us, I mean. I need you to make it clear for me because I know what I want, but I need to know that you’re sure.”
She opens her eyes, and I hold my breath. Her hand covers my own. “I realised something, after you left, Bennington came into my room and–”
Record scratch.
I step forward as Hayleigh moves back, the wall hitting her from behind, her breath hitches, and her eyes widen as I lean in close, my arm leaning against the wall above her head. “You’re not scared, are you, Shortcake?” I don’t think she is, but I want to make sure.
She takes a deep breath, biting her lip, and she shakes her head. “No, not of you.”
“Good, because I will never do anything to hurt you. I’d rather rip out my own heart than shatter yours.”
At my words, she closes her eyes for a moment, and when she opens them again, they’re shining. “He wasn’t in my room for any other reason than to gloat and throw his weight around, but I made sure he knew who was boss.”
I smile at that, my feisty, sassy Shortcake. “You can tell me all about it later, but I’m glad you stood up to him.”
“My mother told me if I walked out, then I wouldn’t be welcome anymore–I’m also uninvited to Thea’s wedding.” She huffs out a laugh, even with the pain in her eyes.
“She’ll come around. Are you okay?” I tilt my head, my brow furrowing as I try to read her expression.
“I’m better than okay, do you want to know why?”
“I really do.” I wait with bated breath to see what she says next.
She rises on her toes and wraps her arms around my neck as she whispers. “Because you see me, Nate. You see all of me, and you haven’t run away, and somehow, I know that you never will. I choose you, Nate, I will always choose you.”
I bend my knees and wrap my arms around the backs of her thighs as I lift her in one swoop.
Her back hits the wall again as I push into her, trying to get as close as I possibly can.
My lips crash against hers, she opens for me immediately, our tongues tangling together, and for some reason, this isn’t enough.
I need more. More of her, more of her moans, more of her everything.
Spinning us around, I head for the direction of my room before kicking the door open. Hayleigh breaks the kiss and looks at me with her brows raised and a wry smile on her lips. “Nate Peterson, please tell me you didn’t damage your handcrafted wooden doors?”
I let out a chuckle. “Worth it.” I walk us into my bedroom, kicking the door closed behind me.
Hayleigh rolls her eyes, but she soon gasps when my mouth is on her neck, gently biting down on where it meets her shoulder. She moans out my name, and all sense disappears out of the window.
Setting her down on the bed, I kneel before her and hold her hands in mine. “Are you sure you’re ready for this? If you’re not, Hayleigh, then I promise you that’s okay. We can cuddle all night or talk or…”
She leans forward and captures my lips in a searing kiss before breaking it off and looking deep into my eyes.
“Nate, I have never been more sure of anything in my life. Pete and my family took up too much space inside my head, and I let everything that happened fester until I couldn’t breathe anymore.
Yet through all of that, you, Emmy, Lacey and the rest of your family were the ones who stayed. You saved me from myself, Nate.”
My heart beats too fast inside my chest as I tell her. “That doesn’t mean you owe any of us anything.” Her breath hitches as tears track down her cheeks. My hand moves to cup the side of her face, my thumb wiping those tears away, and I whisper. “It’s okay, let it all out.”
“Can you hold me?” Her voice is barely a whisper.
I nod and climb onto the bed, pulling her into me before covering us over with the blanket. She cries softly into my chest as I hold her tight. I want her to know that I’m here and I’m not going anywhere for as long as she will have me.
**********
My eyes fly open when someone starts knocking on my bedroom door as they open it, and I breathe a sigh of relief when I notice it’s Archie. Hayleigh is still burrowed into my chest, hidden by the blanket.
Archie strides in as loud as ever. “Good morning, brother. Hey, who are those bags outside?” He throws his thumb behind him towards where Hayleigh’s bags sit from the night before.
I widen my eyes at him. “Keep your voice down, Archie.”
He plops down on the edge of my bed, burping loudly as he does, his brows creasing. “Why are you so grumpy this morning?”
I nod my head down towards my chest as I say pointedly. “Those are Hayleigh’s bags, she’s come back home.”
He lifts his arm up, bringing his fist down. “Yes! I knew she would. Is she awake? Can I go see her? Should I make her breakfast?” He fires the questions out rapidly.
I lift my arm from around the back of Hayleigh and pull back the blanket ever so slightly. “She’s still asleep; it was a rough night for her. So, keep quiet.”
Archie’s eyes soften. “Shit, sorry. I’ll go make breakfast and leave you both alone.” He gets up, and as he reaches the door, turns around. “I’m glad she has you, Nate.
His words hit me in the centre of my chest, a lump forms in my throat, and I struggle to swallow it down. “Thanks, Arch.”
I must have drifted back off to sleep because the next time I open my eyes, I’m alone, and Hayleigh’s laugh sounds through the house.
I lay here for a moment longer listening to her; it’s the kind of laugh that’s infectious.
The laugh that has you slapping your knee in silence because you can’t breathe properly.
I find myself laughing along with her even though I know she can’t hear me.
I think about what it took for her to come back last night and what must have happened for her to do that. I hope she doesn’t regret her decision. My phone vibrates on the bedside cabinet, and when I scoop it up, Ethan’s name flashes across the screen.
Ethan
How’s Hayleigh this morning?
Cas
Why?! What happened to Hayleigh? What do you mean????
Ethan
Calm your tits, Cas. She’s fine. I dropped her off at Nate’s last night.
Cas
I’ll ask AGAIN! Why?? *huffing emoji*
Rafe
What’s crawled up your butt? Her car broke down on the way home, and Ethan was the closest
Archie
Cas, you’re being rather mother hen-y…*suspicious emoji* anyhoo, Hayleigh said stop faffing and speak to Emmy, she texted her this morning
Archie sends a selfie of himself and Hayleigh, stuffing their faces with pancakes. The sound of their laughter carries upstairs.
Cas
Just making sure she’s okay, that’s all…and I am not mother hen-y! That’s not even a word *sticking tongue out gif*
Cole
Maybe you should come along to our antenatal classes, Cas
Cas
*homer hiding in bushes gif* I know nothing. Don’t ask me! *covering eyes emoji*
Me
You’re a little touchy this morning, Cas. Tell Emmy to give you a back rub *winking emoji*
Hayleigh’s voice shouts out. “Pig.”
Me
Archibold, are you showing Hayleigh the sacred group chat?
Hayleigh’s laughter sounds out at whatever Archie has said.
Ethan
Archie! The first rule about the brothers' group chat is that you don’t speak about it or show it to anyone! *angry emoji*
Rafe
Wow, I feel violated *shocked emoji*
Cole
Archie, I’m not mad, I’m disappointed. *sad face emoji*
Cas
Cole brought his new dad voice…someone’s in trouble *laughing emoji*
I close off my phone and put it back on the side. I don’t need to waste the next hour or so going back and forth. I have work to do today, it’s time to show Hayleigh her new home and the work we’ve been doing in there, but first, I need to shower.
I strip off and throw the clothes I wore yesterday and slept in straight into the washing basket, then grab a towel from the wardrobe and head to my bathroom. The hot spray from the water soon steams the room, so I crack open a window to let some of it out before climbing in.
The water hisses against my skin, burning it with every touch, but the feeling is nice, especially when I turn my face toward the streams pouring from the showerhead and let them cascade down me.
The bathroom door shuts, so I call out. “Archie, I’ll be ten minutes tops.” I turn around as the shower door opens.
Only it isn’t Archie, dipping in to borrow something.
Hayleigh steps into the shower with me, closing the door behind her, completely naked and so beautiful it makes me stop breathing for a moment.
She’s naked, in here, with me, and somehow my brains misfiring.
Don’t fuck this up, don’t misfire something else and embarrass yourself, Nate.
She steps towards me and wraps her hands around my neck.
She presses the back of my head down towards her waiting lips and moans into my mouth as her fingers run through the strands in my hair.
I flip us around so she’s standing under the hot water, a gasp falls from her lips, and then we’re both laughing.
It isn’t long before the laughter dies as we stare at one another. There’s a hunger in her eyes, while lust is written all over her beautiful face.
A face I could stare at for hours, memorising every single thing about it.