23. Chapter 23
Chapter 23
M onday morning came too fast. For the past few days, Hayley had been living in two different worlds.
One, wrapped up in Jesse. Waking up in his bed, his arms draped over her like he was afraid to let go. Drinking tea that he made her, because he noticed she wasn’t feeling well before she even admitted it to herself. Wearing his old, soft, faded band t-shirts and barely moving from his couch while he hovered, doting in that quiet, intense way of his.
And the other world?
The one where she was Hayley Fox, frontwoman of Dead Run Riot. Where she had a label pushing her, a band relying on her, a career hurtling forward at a speed that made her dizzy.
And in that world, no one could know about Jesse.
Or the fact that she was pregnant.
For a man who was sharp edges and fire, Jesse had a way of making her feel safe. Cared for. Held. Hayley had noticed big changes in him, compared to the last time she crashed at his place, years ago. And maybe that was why it was so hard to get out of his bed that morning.
But it was time.
Time to sort her shit out.
Jesse was already dressed in his gear, all black, sharp, professional, the SEAL version of him fully engaged. He kissed her slow, deep, said something about seeing her later, and then he was out the door.
And now it was her turn.
She sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair before heading into the bathroom.
A quick shower, plain toast, clothes that weren’t just Jesse’s t-shirt.
Her stomach was still queasy, but she shoved through it, downing some crackers and ginger ale before heading out. Then she took a cab into the city, alone.
By the time she met Zoe outside their usual spot, a small indie café on the edge of downtown, she had smoothed out all her edges.
Hair brushed, makeup flawless, outfit that looked the part.
Everything tucked away. Hidden.
Zoe was already there, waiting beside her sleek black Tesla, latte in one hand, phone in the other.
“You are alive,” Zoe mused as Hayley slid into the passenger seat. “I was beginning to worry with how quick you disappeared last night.”
Hayley snorted, grabbing her own iced coffee from the center console. “I just needed sleep. I’m not getting any younger.”
“Well, I hope you enjoyed the early night.”
“Of course.” Hayley grinned, remembering Jesse’s lips on hers.
Zoe pulled out onto the freeway, merging into traffic, music humming low from the speakers. “You good for this? Big meeting today. Execs. Decisions. Future of the band. No pressure.”
Hayley swallowed, forcing a casual nod.
Epitaph Records. Their label.
A meeting with Caiden, Kilgor, Billy, the managers, the people who held her career in their hands.
The next step.
The biggest moment of her career.
And here she was, carrying Jesse Navarro’s baby. At some point, this baby would be here, in her arms, and she wasn’t going to want to do anything but nest.
The thought lodged deep in her chest, a pressure she couldn’t escape.
She forced a smile, lifting her coffee to her lips, masking everything.
“Yeah,” she said, clearing her throat. “I’m excited.”
She didn’t know if that was a lie.
But she sure as hell hoped not.
The drive from San Diego to Los Angeles had been long enough for Hayley to zone out, watching the coastline blur past the window, the hum of music filling the car as Zoe weaved through traffic like she was born to do it.
By the time they pulled up outside Epitaph Records’ headquarters, the morning haze had burned off, leaving the city baking under a clear, blue sky.
The building itself wasn’t flashy like the major labels up in Hollywood—no corporate skyscrapers, no polished, soulless offices. Instead, Epitaph had that old-school punk ethos woven into its bones. A low, industrial-style building, tucked into a side street off Sunset Boulevard, with murals and stickers slapped all over the entryway.
The second they stepped inside, it smelled like old vinyl and burnt coffee.
A wall of platinum and gold records lined the entrance, framed posters of legendary bands who’d walked through these halls before them. Rancid, The Offspring, Bad Religion. The names that built this place.
The reception area was controlled chaos.
Phones ringing off the hook, interns and assistants darting between desks, piles of promo CDs, press kits, and band merch stacked haphazardly along the counters. A guy in a denim vest covered in patches strolled past them, talking animatedly to someone on the phone about vinyl pressings for an upcoming album.
And just beyond that—
Their people.
Kilgor, Billy, and Caiden were already there, leaning near the entrance to the core offices, chatting with one of the execs. Caiden was very unfortunately sporting a fresh black eye.
Kilgor spotted them first, his wild-ass grin splitting across his face. “Look who finally showed up.”
“Hey girl.” Billy gave Hayley a nod, casual but warm. “Long drive?”
“Nothing some caffeine and singing in the car couldn’t fix,” Hayley deadpanned, lifting her iced coffee as proof.
Zoe smirked. “You mean your entire personality?”
“Exactly.”
They all moved toward the inner offices together, past walls covered in framed magazine covers, signed memorabilia, and black-and-white candids of bands who had called Epitaph home.
And that was when Caiden pulled her aside.
His fingers wrapped around her wrist, a firm but not forceful tug.
“Hey. Hold up.”
Hayley’s stomach tightened.
She shot a glance at the others, but they were still walking, talking amongst themselves, oblivious.
She turned back to Caiden, trying not to stare at his black eye. “What?”
He searched her face, his usual cocky ease missing.
“Where the fuck did you disappear to last night?” His voice was low, edged with something that sounded too much like concern.
Hayley’s pulse kicked up.
“I—”
“Look, I went over to your place after the gig,” he pressed. “I texted. You weren’t at home.” His brows pulled together. “Are you okay?”
Hayley exhaled, rubbing a hand over her neck.
She hadn’t told anyone she’d been holed up at Jesse’s.
And Caiden—Caiden knew her better than most.
Knew her patterns, her tells.
She forced a smirk. “Damn, Galway. You getting clingy on me?”
His jaw tightened. “Don’t. Just tell me the truth.”
She hated how well he could read her.
And maybe it was the weight of everything, the exhaustion, the fact that she was standing here pregnant with Jesse’s kid and she hadn’t told a soul—
But she snapped.
“I’ve been taking care of myself, okay? Not that I need to report to you.”
Caiden’s expression darkened. “That’s not what this is about, Hayley.”
“Then what is it?”
For a second, he just looked at her.
Then, softer, lower— “You know what it is.”
The words hit, hard and unresolved.
The way they had left things—the night at The Holding Company, the way they made out on the dance floor, the way he looked at her like he was claiming something he never had the right to claim.
And they had never talked about it.
Because she didn’t want to.
Because she didn’t feel the way he wanted her to.
But now?
Now she had bigger fucking problems.
So she steeled herself, meeting his gaze. “Caiden, we can talk about this later.”
Something flickered in his eyes. Hurt. Then—his mask went on. He let out a rough exhale, shaking his head with a small, bitter laugh.
“Right. Okay. Sure.”
And before she could say anything else—
Kilgor called back to them. “Yo, lovebirds! Meeting time. Move your asses.”
Caiden’s lips pressed into a thin line, then—without another word—he turned and walked toward the boardroom.
Hayley sucked in a sharp breath, steadying herself, before forcing her best stage-ready smile and following after him.
* * * * *
The meeting had gone long—over two hours of decisions, negotiations, plans.
Writing, recording, touring.
What came next.
Everything was laid out, set in motion, moving full steam ahead.
And everyone was buzzing.
Kilgor was already hyping up the tour, Billy was nodding along, quietly taking it all in, and Zoe had a full spreadsheet pulled up on her phone, already sending emails.
Even Hayley had smiled, nodded, answered all the right questions.
Because this was the dream.
It was everything she had worked for, everything she had built her entire life around.
So why did it feel like she couldn’t breathe?
While the others followed the execs back inside to grab some promo merch and finalize logistics, Hayley slipped away.
Out the front doors.
Onto Sunset Boulevard.
The second she stepped outside, the heat hit her—dry, bright, relentless. The smell of asphalt and car exhaust, mixed with the occasional whiff of street food from a taco stand a block down.
The boulevard was alive, like it always was.
Billboards towering above her, neon signs flashing, the constant hum of voices, music, car horns, the occasional street musician playing for cash.
It was LA in the afternoon—chaotic, gritty, buzzing with energy.
Hayley inhaled deeply, steadying herself.
She needed a second. Just a second.
Her hand went to her stomach, a subconscious, fleeting touch.
Six weeks.
Jesse’s baby.
And no one knew.
Her head was spinning, the world moving too fast, her heart hammering in her chest, when—
A voice behind her.
Low, familiar. Firm.
“Hayley.”
She turned, already knowing who it was.
Caiden stood a few feet away, hands in his pockets, his usual cocky ease missing.
He looked… serious.
Too serious.
“Leaving already?”
Hayley forced a small smile, brushing hair from her face. “No. Just needed air.”
Caiden nodded, stepping closer, his blue eyes searching hers.
Then—soft, careful, deliberate.
“Look, I haven’t seen you much lately, but I’ve been wanting to tell you. That month on tour was amazing. We were amazing. Together.”
Hayley’s stomach tightened.
She knew where this was going.
Caiden exhaled, shaking his head slightly, like he was working through something.
His gaze was heavy, intent, pinning her in place.
“Having you locked in, no distractions, no running? It was different. It was real.”
Hayley swallowed.
“We nailed it out there, Hayley.” He tilted his head, watching her carefully. “The chemistry. You know what I mean. You felt it too. Right?”
Her chest went tight.
Because she had felt something.
But not what he thought.
Caiden stepped closer, his voice dropping. “I feel a lot for you. More than I ever thought I would.” His jaw clenched. “After that month we spent together, every night on stage, every day messing around and having fun… you are my best friend. More than that. I’m falling for you.”
Hayley’s breath stalled.
This was it.
She had to shut it down.
“Caiden… we shouldn’t do this.”
His expression flickered, something hardening behind his eyes.
“Why not?”
“Because we work together. Because the band is everything right now. Because it’ll get messy and complicated.”
Caiden let out a sharp breath, almost a laugh.
“Come on, Fox. Name one great band that didn’t have a couple in it. The passion, the fire—it makes the music better. Look at Fleetwood Mac. Look at Paramore. Look at—”
“Caiden.”
Her voice was soft but firm.
She met his gaze head-on.
“I can’t date you.”
It was gentle, careful.
But final.
For a second, she thought he was going to laugh it off.
Then—his jaw clenched.
His hands fisted at his sides.
His voice was quieter now, but sharper. “Is this about him?”
Hayley’s heart skipped.
Her stomach turned.
“What?”
Caiden took a step back, exhaling sharply, shaking his head. “Your ex. He’s back in your life, isn’t he?”
Hayley felt the weight of his words drop on her chest like a stone.
She had to lie.
She couldn’t tell him.
Not now.
“No.” Her voice was steady. “No, he’s not.”
Caiden’s lips pressed into a thin line.
Then—a scoff.
“Bullshit. He was at the show last night. You know that, right?”
She swallowed.
“Caiden—”
“Be real. That guy is toxic for you. Every fucking song you wrote… all that pain and agony. He cheated on you a thousand times. He’s a junkie. He couldn’t give a fuck less about you.”
His voice was cutting.
“Hayley, he destroyed you once, and he’s gonna do it again. You know that, right?”
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
This was too much.
Too fast, too raw, too close to the truth.
But she wasn’t giving Jesse up.
Not yet.
Maybe not ever.
She lifted her chin, steeling herself.
“Caiden, please. Don’t do this.”
“Why not?” His voice cracked, the anger underneath finally breaking through.
His eyes burned into hers.
“Someone needs to tell you—you are fucking gorgeous, cool, fun, talented, amazing as hell. You’ll always have a stream of guys wanting to take from you, just like him. That’s the way junkies are—full of problems and you’ll just get sucked into their bullshit. But don’t give into those shitty, toxic dudes.”
Hayley stiffened.
“I appreciate it, but I didn’t ask you to be my protector.”
Caiden exhaled hard, running a hand through his messy black hair. Then—he laughed, but it wasn’t light.
It was bitter. Cold. Final.
“If you’re back with him, I’m out.”
Hayley’s breath caught.
Her stomach twisted.
“What?”
Caiden met her gaze, dead serious.
“I’ll quit the band.”
His voice was even. Unshaking.
“I won’t watch you self-destruct again. Not when I feel this way for you.”
The weight of his words slammed into her.
Hayley’s pulse thundered in her ears, the Los Angeles sun beating down, too hot, too bright.
She forced herself to stay still.
Not to react.
“Caiden, you don’t mean that.”
His mouth set in a hard line.
“Try me.”
The Caiden she knew—the reckless, wild, ride-or-die friend she’d built this band with—was gone.
This was someone else.
Someone serious.
Someone hurt.
And she had put that look on his face.
“Caid…” She swallowed, the lump in her throat unbearable. “We’re a band. We’ve been in this together since day one. Don’t throw that away because of me.”
His jaw flexed.
“I’m not throwing anything away. I’m protecting myself. Because I can’t fucking stand by and watch you wreck yourself again.”
Her stomach twisted.
She hated that he thought this was about Jesse.
Because it wasn’t.
Not really.
It was about her.
About what she wanted.
And for the first time in her life, she wasn’t letting anyone else decide that for her.
She squared her shoulders, meeting his stare head-on.
“I’m not wrecking myself, Caiden.”
His eyes flashed.
“You sure about that?”
Silence stretched between them, thick, heavy, suffocating.
The world around them kept moving—
Cars flying past.
A busker playing some old Nirvana song across the street.
A woman in heels shouting into her phone as she stormed down the sidewalk.
And yet, here they were.
Stuck in this moment.
Until Caiden exhaled, a slow, bitter laugh slipping through his teeth.
“You know what? Do whatever the fuck you want.”
He shook his head, stepping back.
“But I meant what I said. If he’s in, I’m out.”
And then—
He walked away.
Hayley’s stomach dropped, her heart aching in a way she didn’t know how to process.
She didn’t know what to do.