Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Leighton
Lake and I head to the kitchen, but Hayes’s hand runs down my forearm, giving it a tight squeeze when we cross paths as he walks to the front door. My breath hitches in my throat at the gesture of affection. Monroe is on his heels, hoping to God it’s not the pizza man but her bubble tea delivery.
Lake and I go into the kitchen, where surprisingly, Lincoln is doing his homework instead of being distracted by the chaos. Although I see his pencil furiously sketching over the page, which tells me he may or may not be concentrating as much as he should.
“So, like… he’s a big deal,” Lake whispers to me as she grabs the paper plates, and I get the napkins.
I look at her. “What do you mean?”
She shrugs. “You know… like, he’s a good player. I looked him up the other night.”
“Well, he’s a professional, so yeah, he’s a good player.”
“But, like, from what I saw, he had a rough year last year.” She cringes, and I chuckle under my breath.
Thankfully, Monroe’s squeal of excitement interrupts us because it doesn’t feel fair to have this conversation with Hayes only ten steps away from me.
He comes in with two pizza boxes, and Monroe has already stuck her straw in her bubble tea and is drinking it as if she’s in a race. Lake goes over to clean the table, clearing all the crayons and papers and answering one of Lincoln’s questions about a math problem.
It’s like a completely different house from the one I walked into earlier. I’m really hoping we’re done with the chaos, if just for tonight.
Hayes opens the pizza boxes on the counter. “So, everything go okay upstairs?” he asks under his breath, and I hear that hesitancy in his voice. He’s trying not to overstep, but he still wants to know. I’m not sure whether it’s concern or curiosity.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. She wants to go to a sleepover, and because I have to work, I originally told her she couldn’t, and it just… devolved from there. But things are good now.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“So, I heard Monroe explain her obsession with bubble tea today?”
“National Days calendar, huh? What on earth was Sky thinking?”
I give Lincoln and Monroe slices of cheese pizza. “I don’t know if it was her or Patrick, or if Monroe got her in some mommy guilt moment, but it’s a thing now. She’s put a check mark on every day they’ve already done.” I gesture toward the fridge.
He stares at the laminated list. “I mean, there’s something every single day.”
“That is the point of National Day.”
He pokes me in the side. “Smartass.”
I look at the list and the long way we have to go until it’s complete. “It’s not going to be easy.” I can’t hide my irritation or my weariness at the idea.
“No way she wants to do all of them. I mean, there are some things—like what is this one?” He points. “What could she have possibly done for World Stationery Day?”
“Well, Hayes, we made our own stationery with stamps. My fingers were blue for two days.”
He laughs, and the sound of it loosens something inside my chest. “At least you got some easy ones. High five day.”
“Except she high-fived literally every single person we passed on the street, on the way to school, on the way back, and during her dance class.”
He laughs again, and it’s so genuine that it warms that piece of my heart that will always be drawn to him.
“What kind of sadist comes up with this? Was their goal to drive parents insane?”
“Believe me, I was ready to hunt down whoever it was by my second week in, but it’s mine until the end of the year now, so I might as well accept it. Remind me, what do I have to worry about for tomorrow?”
He laughs and bites his lip, then looks back at the fridge before meeting my gaze again. “Space Day.”
“Awesome, good thing it’s an easy one.” I shake my head. “What am I supposed to do for that?”
“Get her some of that dried ice cream. I remember always loving that from the museum as a kid.”
“Sure, I’ll just swing by the museum and grab some dried ice cream for her.” I roll my eyes.
Hayes smiles. “The next one’s pretty easy—Brother and Sister Day. And World Laughter Day.”
“Thankfully, some are easier than others.” I look at Monroe sitting at the table, happily sucking down her bubble tea and ignoring her pizza. The resentment I feel toward this whole endeavor melts like ice in the desert. “She looks so happy though.”
Tears spring to my eyes because Monroe is happy, and that’s all I want—for these kids to be happy.
Hayes must follow my gaze because he says softly, “Yeah, she really is.”
We take our plates and join the kids at the table. Hayes sits next to me, and his thigh brushes mine. Shouldn’t I be too bone tired to feel something spark inside me at being so near to him?
Lincoln puts away his papers, and I tell him I’ll check them afterward.
As we eat, Lincoln doesn’t stop asking Hayes about the game.
Hayes gives him the play-by-play, and god, my crush gets a little deeper when Hayes tells Lincoln how nervous he was stepping into the batter’s box in the ninth inning, worried he wouldn’t get Decker home, and they wouldn’t win the game.
“You won though, right?” Lake asks.
Hayes nods. “We did. It was our day, which made it a good one. But not all days go like that. There’ve been plenty of times the game doesn’t go our way—when I’m the one who strikes out.”
“Go Colts!” Monroe says, raising her bubble tea.
“Yeah, Hayes, be happy. It’s a great day for you.” I place my hand on his arm.
He turns his head toward me. Our eyes lock, and for a heartbeat, I see the college version of him with his hat on backward. The one I couldn’t stop wanting, the one who kissed me in a dark corner and made me forget everything else.
“Thanks.” His voice sounds strained.
“You’re going to have so many more great days because you’re the best player in the league.” I try to give him an unaffected smile.
Lincoln raises his glass, but I think he only does it because Hayes is the only professional player he knows. I know there are other players on the Colts that Lincoln is obsessed with.
We continue talking about everyone’s day, then Lake brings up the sleepover—how it’s themed, and she needs to find some Fancy Nancy stuff to wear, with costume jewelry and a boa.
She says she has to get a birthday gift too, and I make a mental note, knowing I’ll need to write it down later, so I don’t forget.
My mind has been at max capacity, and I keep forgetting things.
“So, you’re letting her go?” Lincoln asks me.
“Yep, she’s going to go.” Lake and I smile at one another.
“But then who’s going to watch us?” Monroe asks with a frown. “It will be Nail Day! Who’s going to do my nails? Lake was going to do my nails!”
Oh god, Nail Day. Geez. I want to find whoever made up that list and shove it down their throat.
Hayes intently watches our interaction.
“I’ll figure it out. Right now, eat your pizza and enjoy the night. I have four days to work it out.” I give Monroe a wan smile.
Hayes wipes his mouth with a napkin. “Friday? I’ll do it.”
This is exactly why I didn’t want this brought up in front of him.
“You do nails?” Monroe asks, bright-eyed.
“She likes the fancy stuff,” Lincoln says, giving Hayes a look that reads, you should know what you’re getting into. “She likes to get the jewels and stuff like that.”
“I can do it,” Hayes says. “I mean, I could take you somewhere. We have an afternoon game, but I should be done by dinnertime. What time is the sleepover?”
He’s mentally doing the math as though this is his responsibility, and I need to stop him. “Really, Hayes, I’ll get this handled. You keep living your life. Don’t worry about us.”
His jaw clenches for a second, but it loosens so fast it’s as if I was seeing things. “No, I’ll do it. Nail Day sounds like fun. Maybe I’ll get my nails done too.” He winks at Monroe.
Monroe gasps and leans forward. “They massage your hands!” She raises her hands and widens each finger.
I could use a manicure. And a little massaging. Preferably by Hayes’s hands.
No. No, no, no. Do not go there.
Thankfully, the conversation drifts off onto other topics while we all finish our pizza.
Lake saves me by saying she’ll get Monroe bathed so I can check Lincoln’s homework.
Hayes cleans up the pizza boxes, putting leftovers in the fridge and taking out the garbage I meant to take out this morning.
We’re like a little machine, and I have to admit that it feels nice to share this with someone.
It won’t be the norm, but I’ll enjoy it for tonight.
After I check Lincoln’s homework, I tell him to head upstairs. He’s up next to shower. By the time everything’s cleaned up, and I’m ready to say goodbye to Hayes, Monroe comes downstairs with her pajamas on, wet hair combed through.
Thank you, Lake.
She goes right over to Hayes. “Will you read me a story?”
“Oh, Monroe, sweetie.” I walk over before Hayes can answer and run my hand through her wet hair. “Hayes has to go now, but I’ll read you a story.”
Hayes looks at the clock. I’m sure he’s thinking to himself, how many more minutes do I have to endure before I’m out of here? But he surprises me when he says, “I’ve got time. Let’s go.”
They walk up the stairs, his big hand holding her small one, Monroe chattering about the National Days calendar and how excited she is for Friday and what color she wants for her nails.
I see them together, and for a moment, I let myself dream.
In another world—another lifetime—maybe that could’ve been us.
Hayes and me and a family. The kind of life I used to picture.
But then reality settles in. I’ve stumbled into some distorted version of that life, standing in front of a futuristic Hayes who isn’t really mine. Because as soon as Callie comes back, he’ll go on living the life he’s meant to have.
This isn’t what he wants—and why would it be? He deserves someone who fits easily into his world. Someone gorgeous and free of complications.
Still, part of me can’t stop wondering if he felt what I did that night.
If that kiss meant anything to him at all.
He never came after me. Never asked why I ran. And I’ve learned the hard way—if someone wants you, you don’t have to guess.