Chapter 30 #2
“No, she can’t go there, and I’ve put her name on the no entry list so don’t try it,” Cain warns Hayden, who laughs.
“Like I was going to let her up there.” Hayden walks over to the desk and puts his hand out. “Hand them over.”
“Fuck off,” Cain snaps at him, and sits down. “You see what you have to do?” Now I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I stay where I am for a moment.
“Yes, I’ll get it done. Now, hand the pills over. I want to see if you’ve been taking them.” Hayden seems to be the only one who isn’t scared of him.
Cain throws the pills over to him and continues to talk about whatever it is that Hayden has to do, which is a different language for me. So I walk over to Hayden and tell him I’m starting my shift, and I’ll see him tomorrow.
“I’ll pick you up, I don’t trust Leo wanting to be an asshole.”
“Okay.” Giving him a quick kiss, I leave them both to talk about who knows what they are talking about, and I get ready for a busy night.
My shift finishes, and I’m tired. All I want to do is sleep, but I know that's not happening because Hayden came down and told me we’re having dinner at his parents’ house, as I finish work at eight.
Even though the whole family has forgiven me, I still feel I shouldn’t be there after what I did.
The house is already loud, and Hayden has only opened the door slightly.
I can hear Mason's voice above everyone else, something about someone cheating at something, and then what sounds like Lileah telling him to shut up. It sounds like she’s been telling him that for a while.
The smell hits me immediately; something rich and warm, with garlic and herbs. “That smells so good.”
Hayden raises an eyebrow. "When did you last eat?" He jokes.
"I had half a granola bar at nine."
"Jesus, Olivia." He steers me by the shoulders straight into the kitchen, where his mom turns from the stove, takes one look at me. “Seriously, do I need to monitor your food intake? For my night activities, you need to be eating.”
I snap my head toward him in shock. I can’t believe he just said it in front of everyone. I don’t think anyone heard it but still. Hayden starts laughing, leans down, and gives me a kiss.
I sit down next to Hayden and look at everyone around the table.
Declan and Trixie are across from us, Mason and Miles taking up more space than two people should ever need, and Lileah is wedged between Mason and their dad, already looking like she regrets every decision that led her to this seat, and it makes me smile.
"Right," Mason says, pointing his fork at Miles. "Tell them what you did."
"I didn't do anything." Miles doesn't even look up from his plate.
"Miles told a girl in his lecture that he was a doctor."
"I said I was pre-med adjacent."
"You're studying finance," Declan answers with a laugh.
"Finance of the healthcare sector. It's adjacent."
Lileah buries her face in her hands. "I share DNA with you. It actually horrifies me."
Hayden's dad laughs quietly from the end of the table, shaking his head. Trixie signs something quickly to Declan, eyes bright with amusement.
Declan glances at her, then points at Miles. "She says you're an idiot."
Miles puts a hand to his chest, genuinely wounded. "Trixie, I thought I was your favorite."
She shrugs one shoulder.
"She's my favorite," Mason announces. "Has been since day one."
Hayden's mum sets food in the middle of the table, swatting Mason's hand away before he can grab it first. "You wait until everyone has some."
"Mom, I'm literally dying of hunger—"
"You’re not dying, you had three bread rolls before dinner."
"That was pre-dinner. That doesn't count."
Hayden's not saying much tonight. He’s just watching. But every now and then he glances at me with this small, quiet look that makes my chest ache in the best way. It’s like he's checking I'm still here. Like he's still getting used to it.
"Olivia." Lileah leans forward slightly. "Is it true you used to read Hayden stories from your books when you were kids?"
I blink. "Who told you that?"
"Mom."
I turn to Hayden's mum, who’s very busy suddenly serving food and definitely not making eye contact with anyone.
"He used to pretend he wasn't listening," I say.
"I wasn't listening," Hayden says flatly.
"You remembered every plot point."
"I have good passive retention."
Mason chokes on his drink. Miles slaps him on the back, hard. I’m not sure if it’s to help, or just for the opportunity to hit him.
"He told me the ending of a book once," I continue, warming up now because the look on Hayden's face is absolutely priceless. "A book he claimed he hadn't read. In detail."
Lileah gasps, "Hayden."
"I skimmed it."
"You quoted the last chapter."
The table erupts.
Hayden points a finger at me, but he's fighting a smile. "Traitor."
"You started it."
"When did I start it?"
"Fifteen years ago. You were very annoying."
"I was charming."
"You stole my cookies."
"You offered them."
"I offered you one."
His dad is laughing properly now, his shoulders shaking. Even Trixie's smiling, watching the exchange with something that looks a lot like warmth.
Declan leans over to her and signs something. She glances at me and then, very slowly, gives me a small nod.
I don't know exactly what he said, but something about it makes my throat tighten.
After dinner, Hayden and I are the last ones in the kitchen. Everyone else has drifted off. Mason and Miles are arguing about something on the TV, Declan and Trixie disappear upstairs, and Lileah is asleep on the sofa with her phone on her chest.
Hayden’s leaning against the counter. I'm sitting on it.
"You good?" he asks.
"Yeah." I look at him. "Really good, actually."
He reaches out and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Stop looking at me like that," I say softly.
"Like what?"
"Like I'm going to disappear." I reach for his hand, threading my fingers through his. "I'm not going anywhere," I tell him. "I promised."
He squeezes my hand once, then leans down and kisses my forehead, resting his lips there for a moment longer than he needs to.
"Come on," he murmurs. "You're exhausted. Let's go."
I hop down off the counter, and he keeps hold of my hand all the way to the door.