“Does he treat you good, Hayes?”
He scrunches his mouth up, trying to stop the smile getting even bigger. There’s no way to misinterpret the signs he’s giving off; he’s totally in love.
“Like that, huh?” I flick up my eyebrow.
“Yeah. It is. I don’t think we hid it from you, but for the sake of being clear as day, you pushed us together in a lot of ways because…”
“I just saw how perfect you were for each other before you did. You’re made for each other!”
He looks away, his fingers playing with his ripped jeans. “We were made for each other too, Raney. I’m so sorry about what happened.”
“Me too.”
“I can’t forgive myself that I never got the chance to apologise to you. Or even fucking call you.”
I huff an incredulous laugh because I can’t believe it either.
“Why didn’t you ever get in touch with me? Not even a text after Jenn died. I mean, Reid and Puck, I get. Talon a bit too, but you and me, Hayes…”
His knee starts jostling up and down as his fingers tap and fidget at a furious pace.
“I’m not having a go,” I offer. His turmoil makes his hot cinnamon donut smell go cold, nearly stale. And I can feel his sadness. “Hayes, I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, but I think I deserve an explanation, don’t you?”
His face turns to me, and like I knew, he has tears pooling in his eyes. “I wrote you so often, nearly every day. I had to, Raney, it was like a huge part of me was missing. But I never sent one of them.”
“Why?”
“Because,” he starts but then stops, you can see his thoughts swirling around in his brown eyes. “Can we talk privately?”
I get it, but after being around bodyguards whose job is to guard your body, you get used to talking in front of them.
“What time did Puck say the game starts, Rhodes?” I ask.
He nods at me without looking at me directly. “Let me check.”
No one talks while he does. And once I know we’ve got at least an hour and a half before I need to be there, I flick off a quick text to Puck before I get Rhodes to coordinate with Frank to stop down by the local lake.
I spent a lot of time at the lake when I was recovering. It always made me feel peaceful. If we’re having what looks like a hard discussion, at least we can both get a bit of comfort from the surroundings.
Leaning against the window while we make our way there, I leave Hayes to sort out whatever is brewing in his thoughts. Frank pulls over and parks sideways, reversing back so we can get away quickly if needs be. I don’t expect drama, but it feels like I’ve been cursed with bad luck since Koz and I arrived.
Rhodes climbs out and completes his customary check before coming back around. “I can’t leave you alone with him. It would cost me my job.”
“Yeah, I know,” I offer simply. “Watching from outside the car will be what you’re working with though, so let’s not argue the detail. Besides, if he attacks, I’ll give the signal or scream. Okay?”
I think I’m being funny, but he scowls at me. “It is what it is, Rhodes. We don’t have a lot of time, hang close, but I’m shutting the door.”
His scowl deepens into a glare, but I hold his stare with my own before I get the customary head nod.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
HAYES
Her security walks off without a backwards glance, and I wish I could walk off too. Not from her, but given half the chance, I’d be sprinting away from this fucking discussion.
That’s half the problem—I can’t be seen with her in public, well I can, but the result if I’m seen isn’t worth the risk. And that’s pretty fucking humiliating. I guess, one thing I’m grateful for is being able to do this in the car, at least I won’t have to watch her walk away.
She switches sides and sits on the seat opposite—her face screws up when she twists around. “Raney, you’re in pain.”
