45. Haelyn
FORTY-FIVE
HAELYN
“You stalker!” I heard Merielle scream behind me. I jumped on the couch, dropping my phone onto the floor with a loud bang.
“Jesus Christ.” I whooshed the air out of my lungs, my breathing erratic.
“I can’t believe you were stalking him from his brother’s Instagram,” she continued, rounding the sofa and taking a seat next to me.
I threw her a glance, then scooped up my phone. I wasn’t stalking him. I was simply… checking to see if he was still alive.
After he came to my apartment and suggested we work together again, he never texted or called. I knew it was because I was the one supposed to give him an answer, but for some reason, losing his interest for a while bothered me.
And I hated it.
If I wasn’t ready to forgive him, why was I so torn up on the fact that he didn’t text?
I was a stupid girl who never knew what she wanted and if I was to continue like that, I was bound to be forever alone.
“Kiaran is a model and he naturally posts his life online. Tristan never does. I was simply checking on a friend,” I explained.
She laughed. “Just say you miss him already.” Merielle rolled her eyes in her head. “David thinks the same.”
“What?” His scream came from the other room.
Merielle’s mouth parted as she slapped a hand on the pillow, her head turning toward where the noise came from. “David! Are you spying on our conversation?”
We were met with silence, and I couldn’t help but laugh. At first, David wore headphones around the house, but then Merielle spilled the tea anyway. So it became easier for him to listen when we talked, I guessed.
“I don’t miss him,” I told her, locking my phone. “He just gave me a job offer and I was thinking about it.”
“By thinking about it you mean zooming on a photo of him?” She arched her eyebrows at me, then slapped me on my shoulder. “You’re not good at lying. Maybe you can lie to someone else, but not me. I smell your lies from miles away.” Merielle made a cute rabbit move with her nose.
I pushed her face away, groaning. “I don’t miss him, okay? The only reason I looked him up on his brother’s account was because I wanted to make sure he could talk. I was going to text him that I’d like to work together.”
“Haelyn,” she urged. “Do you think I’m stupid? Or that I was born yesterday?”
I shook my head like a child caught by her mother doing something bad. “No. I’m telling the truth.”
“All right. Text him if he can talk, then call him on video.”
“Wait, what? Why would I do that? I can say what I have to say through a message just fine.”
“Give me that,” she spoke, then leaned over me and got a hold of my phone.
And that’s how I ended up texting him—actually, how Merielle texted him—and when he said he was available, she pressed the call button and threw the phone in my hands.
My heart stopped beating in my chest as the rings went on. I wasn’t ready to see him. Not like this. Not without preparing and?—
“Hi.” He popped up, wearing a hoodie. “Is everything okay?”
I bit my lip, his handsome face filling my screen. “Hi. Yeah. Yes.” I could feel my cheeks heating and I didn’t help that Merielle was standing two inches away from me, analyzing every reaction of mine. I knew I was screwed. “I called to let you know that I’ve thought about your suggestion and I’m down to give it a try. As long as we keep it professional, of course.” I smiled.
He nodded. “We’ll be a great team.”
I didn’t know what to say to that so I kept my mouth shut, simply watching him. He was so handsome with his hard jaw and deep eyes. Even his ravished hair was hot.
Tristan stole my breath without even trying.
I swallowed and it seemed like we watched each other for an eternity.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
Since Merielle caught me, I was aware for the first time of how I looked. I had a messy bun on the top of my head with rebellious strands brushing my cheeks and I was wearing one of my oldest and stained t-shirts.
By all means, I was a walking mess.
He was trying to be nice. That was all.
“Thank you.” The words barely made it out. I was too busy praying my cheeks weren’t as red as I thought. “Your hoodie is nice.”
Almost immediately I wanted to stuff a knife into my tongue, cut it out, and let it roll on the floor.
Your hoodie is nice?
What the fuck was wrong with me?
The corner of his mouth stretched. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”
“You are coming back already? I thought you were in New York.”
He arched a brow. “You’ve paid attention to what I do, I see.” A pleased smile formed on his face.
Think quick. Quick.
“Your brother posted a photo of you two and it appeared on the main page. It wasn’t intentional.”
Tristan pursed his lips, then moved his phone in his hand. The proud expression on his face was completely wiped off. My excuse upset him.
Shit .
“I’ll be there tomorrow morning. See you then.” It was the last thing he said before hanging up the call.
I threw the phone on the floor, banging my head on the headrest. I should’ve found something better instead and not something as insulting as basically saying ‘I don’t give a shit about you to search you on the internet’.
“Your hoodie is nice?” Merielle burst out laughing, hitting me with a pillow.
I rolled my head to the side, covering my face with my palms. “Shut up.”