Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Hayes
I trudge down the stairs, every step excruciating because I don’t want to say goodbye.
I want to climb back up to Leighton, take her face in my hands, and press my lips to hers.
God, I wish we were in different spots in our lives.
I give her one last wave from the bottom of the stairs, then she says something about the Colts and goes inside and shuts the door.
“Oh, fuck. You got it bad,” Easton says after I climb into the Uber. “You couldn’t take your eyes off her the entire night.”
“Neither could you, asshole. It’s impolite to ogle the ass of your teammate’s—” I stop, because technically she isn’t anything to me. She’s not my girlfriend or even a woman who’s interested in me.
“Crush,” Decker finishes for me.
But it feels like more than that.
I pull out my phone and click on Callie’s name as we drive through the dark streets of Chicago back to our building. The abrupt change in Leighton’s demeanor is bothering me, and I want to get to the bottom of it.
What the hell’s going on? Why is Leighton so upset?
The three dots appear, disappear, then reappear. I grip my phone tighter, growing impatient.
New phone who dis?
Callie…
Maybe she’s just having a bad day? PMS? Work shit? Grieving? The fact that she’s the guardian to three kids and worried she’s never going to get laid again?
My dick twitches in my pants. I’d volunteer as tribute to fuck her. Jesus, there is something seriously wrong with me. Still, the image of Leighton beneath me, her hair spread across my pillow, flashes through my mind before I can stop it.
I’m serious.
And I’m not?
I’m about to throw my phone when it vibrates again. The frustration building in my chest is almost unbearable.
Fine… twist my arm why don’t you…
Still nothing. My thumbs are ready to hammer out another message, but hers comes before I send her the middle finger emoji.
That jackass Art and his annoying wife are contesting her guardianship. There’s a court hearing next week.
My stomach drops. Those kids are her life now. The thought of someone trying to take them away from her makes my blood boil.
“Calm down over there, you’re going to break your screen.” Decker looks over at Easton who’s looking at me, curious about what the problem is.
Give me the info. I want the date and time and where.
You’re being really bossy.
My jaw clenches. God, my little sister can be so fucking annoying, even as an adult.
I’m not supposed to tell you any of this.
And that has stopped you when?
True. But this is like BFF code. I was specifically told not to tell you and that you were not to go to the court. It was a big no-no, Hayes.
I get the point. She doesn’t want me.
The words hurt to type. More than they should for someone who’s just a friend. It only makes me want to be there more though.
Did I say that? I don’t remember saying that.
Give me the information.
The three dots appear and disappear, and I’m growing more annoyed by the second.
If Leighton asks, you DIDN’T hear it from me.
She sends me the details, and I check my scedule.
I think I can make it work—I have a practice that day, but no game.
I don’t care what I have to do—I’ll be there, whether she wants me there or not.
If I learned anything last year, it’s that sometimes you don’t know you need someone until they’re standing next to you.