Chapter 27 #2
“Get over it. Your shot sucked anyway,” Miles grins, sinking another ball like he planned it. He looks way too smug for someone cheating so shamelessly.
Declan groans, his cue stick resting on his shoulder. “You’re both idiots. I should’ve stayed with the girls and stolen more cookies.” He looks at his mom with a smile as she puts out the plate of cookies in front of him.
I smile into my cup, then I feel someone at my side, and when I glance over, Lileah is there, arms folded, one brow arched. “You’re braver than I thought,” she says, tone light.
I blink. “What?”
“Standing here, in this lion’s den of testosterone, knowing full well that they’re all basically Hayden’s clones.”
I choke on a laugh. “I… yeah. I guess I am.”
She smirks, nudging her shoulder into mine. “You don’t have to hover in corners, you know. You belong here more than you think.”
I’m not sure what to say to that, the kindness in her voice makes my chest ache.
Before I can respond, Mason’s voice cuts through the noise, loud and shameless. “So, Hayden… Is she staying in your room tonight?”
A pool ball clinks off the table and rolls across the floor.
Hayden doesn’t say anything, doesn’t even look at Mason. He calmly picks up the ball and tosses it back on the table with a sharp clack.
Miles grins, eyes flashing with amusement. “Bet he gave her a good pillow too.”
“Shut up,” Hayden mutters, deadpan, but I catch the flush in his ears. His back is to me, but I swear I can feel him. The tension in his shoulders, the subtle shift when I glance his way.
I shrink a little into the corner, cheeks burning, heartbeat uneven. Lileah, ever the mischief-maker, leans in and whispers, “They only tease when it matters.”
I stare at her. “What do you mean?”
She shrugs innocently. “They don’t tease about any of the other girls.” I can’t tell if my stomach drops or flips. How many girls have there been? Did any of them mean anything to him?
When I glance over again, Hayden is watching me. Not smirking. Not glaring. Just… watching. The room fades, the clatter of the game, the laughter, even Lileah’s amused side-glances. It all goes quiet, like that moment before a storm hits. His eyes don’t move, and mine don’t look away.
There’s no smile, but there’s no hate in his eyes either, and right now, that feels like something.
Then… clack. Declan knocks the 8-ball into the wrong pocket and curses loud enough to shake the windows. Everyone breaks into laughter again.
Hayden’s eyes flick away.
The moment’s gone.
Hayden walks out, telling everyone he's getting more drinks, and I shift around the room, finally taking a few slow steps closer to the table, not part of the game, but not in the shadows anymore either.
“Wanna play?” Mason offers, spinning his cue toward me.
I shake my head, smile small. “No, but thanks.”
“Scared we’ll beat you?” Miles teases.
“Scared you’ll cry when I do,” I say before I can stop myself and for a split second, it feels like it used to. “I’m…I’m going to bed.” I smile and walk out the room and make my way to the stairs but stop when I hear him.
“The night is still young.” I turn to face Hayden in the kitchen getting the beers. “You want something stronger than hot chocolate?"
He’s standing at the counter, pulling a few beers from the fridge.
His sleeves are rolled to his elbows, the veins in his forearms prominent, and that calm but unreadable look on his face makes my pulse falter.
I see a few tattoos on his arms, I never knew he wanted tattoos, but I would love to get a better look at them.
“You want something stronger than hot chocolate?” he asks again, barely glancing at me as he sets the bottles down.
I hesitate, then push away from the wall and walk over, leaning against the opposite side of the counter. “No… not tonight,” I say quietly. “Just in case the hospital calls.”
That gets his attention. Hayden looks up, eyes flickering with something I can't place, concern maybe, or softness, or maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see when it comes to him.
He nods. “I’ll take you if they call.”
I want to thank him, but the words feel too small for the weight in my chest. I open my mouth to speak, then stop again. The truth catches like a splinter in my throat. My fingers drum once on the counter, and I shake my head, pressing my lips together.
“Say it,” he says, voice low. “Whatever it is. Just say it.”
My eyes flicker up to his. The heat of his stare almost makes me turn around and run, but I fight it, forcing myself to breathe through the thudding in my chest. This is Hayden, the guy who was so easy to talk to, he’s giving me something to hold on to.
“Will you… stay here? Just for a second.” My voice is soft. “I need to get something.”
He nods once, no questions asked.
I leave before I lose the nerve, but I know I will.
Upstairs, I move to my bag with shaky hands, my fingers dig through clothes until I find it.
A small, square box, edges worn from being moved from purse to drawer to backpack over the years.
I stare at it for a second. There were so many moments I almost gave it to him… but I never did. Fear always won.
Not tonight, something feels right inside me.
I walk back downstairs; the box clutched in both hands like something sacred. When I enter the kitchen, Hayden is still there, standing exactly as I left him.
He looks up the moment I step in.