“Drive safe,” he calls out softly.
“Will do.”
That was that.
Why do I feel disappointed? Is it the situation, or Hayes respecting space and not lunging forward to hold me in his arms and tell me it will all be alright?
Deep down, I know the answer.
25
HAYES
Iabsently peel the label off my beer bottle as I lounge on the new couch in Julian and Savannah’s weekend home in Everhope. Tonight is supposed to be a guys' night with Foster, Easton, and Julian, but it’s clear this has turned into our impromptu support group. Savannah has gone to dinner with Sutton, and I assume they’ve both already visited Elodie today.
“She has no idea you’re in Everhope right now?” Easton comments more than he asks.
Faintly, I shake my head side to side. “I want to give her space.”
Foster, sitting next to me, bumps my arm. "And wanted to be close, so you pushed for Everhope as our hangout spot tonight," he says, calling me out.
Easton raises his bottle. “Hey, great move. There is a wholesomeness to the women out here that just grabs ya.”
“Is that why you’re volunteering to go to the store and pick up more beer?” Julian suggests.
Easton is fun, sometimes goofy, and we know underneath it all that there has got to be some piece of him thatwill surprise us all. But until that’s unveiled, then serious conversations not business-related with him are not his forte.
He’s already standing and pulling his car fob out of his pocket. “Yep, I’m going. I can take a hint. Enjoy whatever the hell you are going to say to this guy.”He hikes his thumb at me.
When he’s out of the room, the guys turn quiet.We’re all waiting for another one of us to talk, and when it doesn’t happen, I growl, frustrated, and begin. “It was a fucking mistake.”
“Oh, that is clear. I heard you yelling at the lawyer on the phone before our 9 o’clock meeting this morning,” Julian states.
“I’m confident we’ll be okay, but this is hard. I’m giving her space and hoping she solves whatever is bothering her.”
“Solid approach,” Foster supports.
Briefly, I look around my surroundings and notice how Julian and Savannah, who have only been together for not even a year, have made this place their weekend oasis. The living room feels as though they’ve made this their home, even if they’re not here too often.
“You’re happy with your weekend investment?” I wonder.
Julian instantly breaks out in a grin. “Yeah, Everhope grows on you. Nice to be away from the grind of the city, and the charm of the town grew on me fast. Why? Thinking of buying something?”
“Nah,I mean, unless Elodie wants to, then I would for her. But I think her parents would lose it if we came to Everhope for the weekend and their grandchild was staying somewhere else.”
The room fills with the sound of a cap popping off abottle as Foster opens the whiskey. “I’ll have to explore this town tomorrow. Thanks for letting us crash here.”
Julian chuckles as he throws his feet up on the coffee table. “We have like four extra bedrooms.”
Foster slides three tumblers on the table and begins to pour, glancing at me as a form of question.
“Go on.Beer seems too subdued for my mood, anyhow.”
Foster pours a decent amount and hands me the glass. “Remember when we were in college, and you both said that you would never be the type of guy who fights for a woman? Well, look at you two now.”Foster lifts his glass to toast.
I chuff a sad laugh. “Well, now I’m the guy who accidentally hasto argue over custody papers that I don’t need.”
“But… should things really not work out between you both on a romantic level, would you need them? Playing devil’s advocate here,” Julian challenges.
