A couple of nights later, I was sitting inside The Sandbar with Gabe, Lucas, Callie, Wes, Morgan, and Haley for Tuesday trivia. Haley didn’t typically show up for trivia nights, but tonight’s was to raise money for a local women’s shelter, so she wanted to join in. We both came after work, but we made sure to arrive separately. She sat between Callie and Morgan on one side of the table, while I was between Gabe and Wes, directly across from her.
“Hey, I was going to ask,” Wes began as he looked at me. “How was your weekend trip to the cabin?”
My mind immediately flashed to what I’d beendoingin that cabin…with his sister.
I managed to keep my expression neutral despite fighting for my life not to look across the table at Haley. “It was, uh…it was good. Relaxing.”
Wes smiled. “That’s good.”
“God, we haven’t been up there in forever,” Lucas added. “We should all make plans to go.”
“The cabin only has two bedrooms,” Gabe said. “We wouldn’t all fit, unless some of you are good with sleeping on the floor. Even so, it’ll be a tight fit with all of us. Blake here takes up a fucking doorway by himself.”
“That he does.” Wes snorted, clapping my shoulder. “Okay, so what we need is for Luke’s billionaire ass to just buy a four to five-bedroom cabin in the mountains that we can all invite ourselves to.”
“Oh, yeah,” Lucas said sarcastically with a nod. “I’ll getrighton that.”
“I’m just making suggestions, my guy,” Wes quipped.
“So, what did you do up in the mountains all by yourself?” Callie asked me.
“Oh, uh…just hung out. With Mav. Did some hiking. Nothing crazy.”
“Nice.” Callie smiled. “I’m still bummed you couldn’t come with us Saturday to Charleston,” she said as she looked at Haley.
We’d been lying in bed together, just coming down from the high of our Saturday morning activities, when Callie had texted her, asking if she wanted to go with her and Morgan.
“Yeah,” Haley said. “Sorry. I had plans.”
“What were you doing?” Morgan questioned.
“O-Oh, I was, uh…with Marie from work. Girls’ day.” She sipped her drink, not making direct eye contact with anyone.
“Ah…” Morgan nodded, her gaze subtly shifting between Haley and me.
Morgan was perceptive as hell, and while she said nothing, I couldn’t help but wonder if she suspected something.
Later that week, on a Thursday night, I was standing in my kitchen, cleaning up after dinner. It was early March, and storm and tornado season had officially started. It rained all damn day, so I spent the entire day cooped up inside with Haley and Maverick, watching movies and lounging.
I heard Haley laugh and glanced over to see her giggling at Maverick snapping at soap bubbles. Leaning my sweatpants-clad hip against the counter, I watched her for a moment. She was wearing my T-shirt, which she had slipped on after we decidedto have dessertbeforedinner, and her hair was down and slightly tousled from our fun. She looked fucking gorgeous, her laughter filling the air like a tune I could listen to on repeat. Despite the gloomy weather, she’d made the day better just by being there with me.
That’s how it always was with Haley around.
Warmer.
Lighter.
Brighter.
No matter how dreary everything else seemed, she felt like the sun. Even on cloudy days, the sun was still there.
I was snapped from my momentary daze when I felt water and bubbles splatter against my bare chest, and she laughed as Maverick bound over to me, trying to catch the droplets as they fell. She yelped through a laugh when I feigned a step forward, and Maverick jumped with a bark, wanting to join in on the play before running back toward her.
I smiled to myself as I watched her laughing before she flicked more bubbles at Maverick.
The image of her inmykitchen, wearingmyshirt, playing withmydog, so carefree and comfortable—it felt so…natural.So right. I felt a deep sense of belonging at seeing her this way, like she was a part of my life. Like she was mine. Likethiswas how my story was always meant to look—with her at its heart.
That thought jolted me. Because there were still outside factors at play when it came tous. Wes. Work. It was getting harder to push things aside, though. It was almost impossible to ignore the way she lit me up, especially as my feelings outgrew any walls I’d tried to keep up to ward them off.
