“We should probably head home,” I state between breathless kisses. “We have to get up early to head to Mississippi.”
He groans, throwing his head back and running a hand through his tousled hair. He looks angelic under this moonlight. “I’m not ready for our night alone to end.”
A thrill shoots through me.There’s so much we can do…
But I need to get over my fear first. And I have to talk to him about my past.
“We can cuddle and watch a show together when we get back if you want.” I hope he says yes because, if he’s going to stay married to me for the long-haul, he will have to watch my favorite show with me at least once.
He eyes me warily. “What are we watching?”
“My favorite show.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hayden
Once again, I find myself awake at an unholy hour. And again, I’ll be running on a few hours of sleep. But this time it’s okay, because in less than ten hours, I will be face-to-face with my best friend.
And the reason for the immense lack of sleep?
Totally worth it.
We ended up devouring three episodes ofMy Hero Academiabecause Darcy kept asking me for details regarding what happens next. While he wasn’t a fan of me comparing him to the explosive, grouchy, hot-headed Bakugou, he still seemed to enjoy the setup of the show. Maybe I’ll get him to watch more.
It can become our show.
The thought consumes me: him and I rewatching the show for the umpteenth time, introducing it to our kids…
Oof. There’s an image I shove away as I reach for a pair of linen pants.
After getting dressed, chowing down a protein bar for breakfast, and double checking our luggage, Darcy and I head out the door, into the transport car, and toward the airport. Once we arrive, we are escorted to the private plane that will take us to Mississippi. The flight is uneventful. Darcy is nose-deep in contracts and paperwork while I’m going over the event schedule and collaborating on plans with the other heads of the departments on the campaign team via a video call platform.
Finally, we land at the airport in Jackson and are escorted through the airport by the security team and into another transport car. After only minutes of driving, we arrive at the hotel and go straight to our room.
I unlock the door while Darcy takes a phone call behind me, and when I open the room, a smell I’m all too familiar with from my days escaping to the streets penetrates my airways. With my gag reflex triggered, I bolt from the open doorway and run down the hallway to find fresh air.
“Hayden, where are you…” Darcy doesn’t finish his sentence, opting instead to join me at my gagging party down the hallway. “What the—”Cough.“Heck—”Cough. Cough.“Is that smell?”
“Weed.”
I wave my hand in front of my nose, trying to clear every molecule of the stench. Darcy side-eyes me and raises an eyebrow.
“And how are you familiar with that smell?”
“Orphan, remember? I spent time walking the streets to escape the group home and the awful foster homes I ended up in. I tried weed once, but I swear I never did it again. I didn’t like the effects, and I honestly couldn’t stand the smell. It reminded meof people peeing on the streets and injecting themselves with harder drugs.” I shudder, rememberingthatnight when a needle fell into the wrong hands.
But see? I’m opening up. Little by little.
Waiting for him to realize I might not be First Lady material.
Darcy doesn’t respond, but his expression softens, almost as if he understands. But how could he? He’s been rich and protected his entire life, which is why my status does not belong in the same category as his, regardless of how I try to trick myself into believing it does.
No, Hayden. No human is better than another. Especially not because of pasts.It’s as if I can hear the Lord’s voice in my soul, reminding me of that simple truth. I try my best to believe it.
“We will get a new room.” He walks away, bringing his phone back to his ear.
I slap my face. I really hope whoever was on the other end of that call didn’t hear a word I just said. It’s not that I’m ashamed of my past. In fact, I want to learn how to use it better, to advocate for change and reform. I want to learn how to tell my story like so many others do. I have to be ready, though.
