Chapter 27 #3
I move a little closer this time, not quite touching, but closer than I’ve dared be all night. I stare at the box between my hands, then slowly place it on the counter between us.
“I always thought maybe one day I’d have the courage to give it to you, or even post this,” I begin, my voice trembling, “but it never happened. I carried it every single day… thinking maybe… maybe today would feel right. As you can see, I still have it.”
Hayden’s eyes don’t leave mine, but he reaches forward and gently pulls the box toward him. His fingers graze mine and it sends a zip of electricity straight to my chest.
“I know you hate me,” I whisper. “And there’s nothing in this world I can do to fix what I broke. But I got this for you before everything happened. Before we fell apart. Before I ruined everything.”
He opens the box slowly, like he’s scared of what’s inside. He lifts out the folded note first. His eyes scan the handwriting, my handwriting and I see his throat bob when he swallows.
“I knew you would finish top of your class, and by the time I give you this I’m hoping I’m your girlfriend. I just want to say your girlfriend is proud of her boyfriend. I love you.”
He folds it carefully, without a word, and slides it into his pocket.
Then he pulls out the keyring, a mosquito, a unicorn, and a small silver circle plate with the etched words: “My girl believes in unicorns. Don’t mess with her.”
A laugh slips from his chest, he shakes his head, that familiar smirk ghosting his lips, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
He gently places the keyring back in the box and closes it.
Silence settles over us, thick and tight.
“I’m going to head up,” I say, barely above a whisper, and I turn to walk away, my heart pounding.
But then his hand catches mine. Fingers curl gently around my wrist, and before I can even gasp, he pulls me toward him. Not hard, not forceful, but enough to make me stumble forward into his chest. One strong arm wraps around my waist, the other rises to cup the side of my face.
My breath stutters.
“Hayden—” I try to say, but then, his lips crush mine.
There’s no hesitation.
No slow build.
Just a thousand unsaid things colliding in a single moment.
His mouth is warm, demanding, hungry, not like the kiss in my dorm, not like the ghosts of our past. This one is something else entirely. It’s aching. It's desperate. It’s years of pain, and love, and longing, and rage, all tangled together in a kiss that breaks me in half.
My hands press to his chest, fingers curling against the scars I know are there even if I can’t see them through his shirt. He deepens the kiss, tilting my head, and I melt into him like I’ve never belonged anywhere else.
I shouldn’t kiss him back.
But I do.
Because in this moment, in this house full of people who probably don’t want me here, he’s kissing me like I’m the only thing in the world that makes sense.
And I kiss him like I’ve never stopped loving him, because I haven’t.
Not even for a second.
When he finally pulls away, he lingers for a breath, his forehead resting against mine.
Neither of us says a word.
Because that kiss?
That kiss said everything.
“Now I know you won’t fuck her here, so you want to come finish the game and give me my beer!” Mason shouts, and I feel my cheeks burning, and I hear Hayden laughing behind me as I turn to see everyone is watching us.
“You can read books with porn written in them, but this makes you blush.” He kisses the side of my neck, and I feel his lips curl into a smile. I hear his phone ringing behind me, I don’t look behind me at him but hear him speaking. “Lincoln…I’m on my way. Fuck.” I hear him whisper to himself.
He places his hand on my lower back, and we walk to the family, his parents both smiling, and I can feel Mason wants to say something, but keeps his mouth shut. “I need to get to the club, who wants to come with me?” Hayden asks, and his brothers all shake their heads.
“If Cain’s in a fucked up mood you’re on your own,” Miles says, but then Declan says he'll go with him.
“If the hospital calls Mason, Miles will you take her?” Hayden pulls away from me and takes his keys from the side.
“Sure, the amount Cain calls you, you know you have to tell her about him, and the family business.” Mason looks at me and smiles.
“You’re in now, welcome to the Crawford family again.
” He takes a step closer to me, and this time I do feel a little worried about it.
“If he forgives you, we forgive you. It’s the number one rule, and he should tell you, but he won’t not yet anyway, so I’m telling you.
Have faith in the family, no matter what's happening, have faith in us, in Hayden. That man won’t let you fall. ”
All I can do is nod, and he walks away from me, and I feel Hayden lean in closer to me, and whispers so no one can hear. “Have faith in me.” He kisses my cheek and nods to Declan. “See you later.”
I turn to watch him walk out, and for the first time in years I feel so much lighter, and the dark feeling inside is fading and light is coming through it.