HAYDEN
The studio doorclicks shut behind me, and I head down the stairs, my thoughts in total disarray. A small group of girls chat excitedly on their way upstairs, but all I hear is white noise.
What the hell was I thinking? Thank fuck I’m good at hiding my emotions. The last thing I wanted was for Riley to see how shocked I was by what I’d said.
Why did I do that?
The plan was simple: bring her coffee, thank her for checking on me, maybe stay for a few minutes to banter because our interactions are always energizing.
Oh, and vow not to get her involved in my plan to dig myself out of this depression hole. But I guess I fucking flushed that down the drain.
Because inviting myself out with her so I can “filter out her dates” definitely makes her involved.
Ugh, what was that?
At least she didn’t say yes. She just gave me that wide-eyedare you serious?look. Now I have to pray Nastya will tell Ry hell no. After today’s interaction, it’s clear she isn’t my biggest fan, so there’s a chance.
On the street, I walk to my black Land RoverDefender and quickly slide inside. I don’t typically drive myself, but while I’m on hiatus and spending most of my days navigating between my apartment and Ines’, the label agreed that I don’t need my driver, Wyatt, around all the time.
“Well, Hayden Hale, today you reached a new level of stupidity. Congratulations.” I look at myself in the rearview mirror and shake my head. “If Piper finds out about this, she’ll eat me alive. Or maybe not, since I’d kinda be keeping an eye on Riley at the club.” I drum my fingers on the steering wheel. “Dammit, I hope she says no. And that she doesn’t mention anything to her sister.”
With a deep breath in, I shift into gear and head for the café near Ines’ place. As I slowly roll away from the dance studio, I let the cacophony of New York distract me from my disastrous visit with Riley.
By the timeI get to Ines’ apartment, my nerves have settled a bit. I’m still kicking myself for my blunder, but since there’s nothing I can do now, I focus my attention on things that actually matter—and Ines and Santi matter a ton.
When Ines opens the door, she wears a gentle smile, her dark brown eyes sparkling. “You’re right on time, as always.”
“I came bearing gifts.” I hold the bag of croissants and a caramel latte in one hand, the LEGO DUPLO set under my arm.
She steps aside, gesturing for me to come in. “Santi’s been asking about you since breakfast.”
Warm affection unfurls in my chest. He’s the cutest kid. “Aw, I missed my little man too.”
She takes the coffee and croissants so I can slip off my shoes, but rather than head to the table, she watches me. Her curly black hair is in a messy bun, with several loose pieces framing her face. She’s in a loose red Sabotage T-shirt and tiny black shorts. Her golden-brown skin is warm in the sunlight filtering in through the living room windows.
As I catalog her, Owen’s voice is loud in my head, willing the memories to return. God, he loved his wife so much. He called her “mi reina.” The guy was never afraid to show his affection, and since she was the band’s official photographer before her pregnancy, there were lots of opportunities to do so.
After Santi was born, Owen changed drastically, and I still don’t understand why.
“You okay?”
I blink, banishing the dark thoughts to the recesses of my brain. I’m here for my friend, not to get lost in all the whys and what-ifs. I have plenty of time to do that on my own.
“Sorry, I just spaced out.”
“I noticed.” Chuckling, she heads to the living room.
I follow her quietly. Two steps into the living room, Santi appears, running at full speed and launching himself at my legs like a mini linebacker.
“Tío!” he squeals. He’s been calling me “uncle” since he started talking, and it makes my chest swell with love every time. We might not be related by blood, but he is my family now, along with his mom.
I kneel so we’re eye to eye. “Hey, champ. I have something for you.” I hold out the LEGO box. “Your mommy told me you wanted this truck.”
“Trucks!” He grabs the box and presses it to his chest. His eyes are the same color as his mom’s, but his chestnut hair and his little upturned nose remind me so much of Owen. My friend will live on through his son, and that’s the most precious thing in the world.
“Santi,” Ines says as she settles on the couch, “what do you say to Hayden?”
“Thank you!” He grabs my hand and drags me to the corner, where several toys are scattered on the floor. The T-Rex is riding in a dump truck decorated with stickers and one googly eye that definitely wasn’t there last week. This boy is chaos, I swear. “I wanna play,” he tells me, pointing at his new LEGO set and then at me.
