I’m standing at his back now, wishing I could see his face when I tell him, “It’s not your fault your mom died, Hayes. You have to know that.”
His shoulders are hunched, his gaze directed at the floor with one hand pressed against the wall like it’s all that’s keeping him upright. “I know,” he mutters quietly and the despair lacing his tone has me wishing I could help him more than I am. “Most of the time, I know that. I moved out at seventeen and moved in with Ryker. His parents made me see a therapist for a little while. I learned some ways to keep his voice out of my head so I could move forward. But that night… it all came flooding back. Louder than ever.”
I dip under his extended arm and slide in front of his chest between him and the wall. Thankfully, I’m shorter than he is, so he doesn’t have to adjust his gaze much to meet mine.
His expression is pained. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
Both hands land against his freshly pressed black dress shirt. “Hayes, you have to tell her.”
“What difference does it make now? We’re getting divorced. I have the papers over there to prove it. It’s too late, Demi.”
“It’s not too late until they’re signed. And even then, you could still be together.” I close my eyes and let out a slow breath. “She has a right to know why you left. Let her make a decision… with all the information this time.”
“What about you?” he asks. His face is so close to mine now, it wouldn’t take much movement on my part to kiss him. “You said you’re still in love with her.”
I clear my throat and avert my eyes to avoid the rejection I’m sure is coming. “I believe what I said was that I have feelings for you both.”
His free hand moves to my chin and he directs my gaze slowly back to his with his thumb and forefinger. “What am I supposed to do with that information, Demi?”
“I don’t matter. I won’t get in the way of you two having what you both really want.”
22
Hayes
She doesn’t fucking matter? What the actual fuck? I know something happened that caused her to run to Chicago with her best friend, but I didn’t know she felt likethis. “Where the fuck did you get the idea that you don’t matter? Did your parents tell you that?”
“No… not exactly… at least, I don’t think so.” She pulls her lower lip between her teeth, before her gaze turns sharp again. “Wait, don’t change the subject. We were talking about you.”
I push off the wall, separating myself from her before I do something I can’t take back. Like kiss her and show her exactly how much she matters. But she came here for a reason and it wasn’t to talk about me.
“I’ll think about it. I’m not convinced you’re right about Raegan. I’m pretty sure she hates me and she always will.”
She makes a loud noise, that’s half chuckle, half scoff. “You’re so dumb. She wouldn’t bother hating you after twenty years if she wasn’t still in love with you.
“Ask her why she never signed the papers… and why she even fucking cares enough to stop you from buying the land behind the club.”
Fuck. I’ve been so caught up in the chaos, I almost forgot about the land contract and how this all got fucked up to begin with. I told Demi about itshortly after she started working here… after we determined we were going to just be friends. I’m surprised she even remembers.
“Okay.” I nod. “I’ll ask her if it’ll make you feel better.”
“It will.”
“Now, it’s your turn.” I cross my arms and stand firm in front of her so she knows I’m not letting her out of this. “I know there’s more you need to talk about. Spill it.”
“You don’t know me.” She cracks the tiniest of sly grins, her inner brat taunting me. But I don’t bite. Instead, I let the discomfort of my silence stretch slowly between us until she finally cracks, huffing and aggressively stepping back to the couch and plopping her ass onto the leather. “Fine, maybe you know me a little bit.”
She’s really fucking cute when she’s frustrated.
“I’m going to step out of the way and leave you and Raegan to figure things out.”
“What do you mean bystepping out of the way?”
“I mean… I’m moving back to Kansas.”
There’s no fucking way that’s happening.I don’t say the words but I want to.
“I need something before I go, though.”
