She didn’t look convinced, but she was too exhausted to argue. Eventually her breathing evened out, and she fell asleep in my arms.
I stayed awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I’d just cost us both everything that mattered.
Finally, gray light filtered through the windows.
Haley’s phone buzzed on the nightstand.
She didn’t move.
I reached over her to check it, in case it was important.
The text from Jim made my stomach drop.Practice at 10. We need to talk after. All three of us.
Haley stirred. “What is it?”
I handed her the phone.
Her sigh rang out as she read. “Here we go.”
Sitting up, she pushed her hair out of her face.
“Well.” Her voice came out flat. “We can cross telling my dad off the list.”
Beau jumped onto the bed. He climbed into Haley’s lap and licked her chin.
“At least someone’s having a good morning,” she said, scratching behind his ears.
“Plundering John never caused this much trouble,” I said.
That got a real laugh out of her. “Pretty sure John would’ve been easier to explain.”
“Less satisfying though.”
“Significantly less.”
We sat together, Beau making happy sounds as Haley petted him.
“Shower?” I asked.
“Together?”
“If you want.”
“I do.”
We showered without speaking, the water too hot and the space too small. I washed her hair, working my fingers through the tangles gently. After we dried off and dressed, I made coffee while she stood at the window looking out at the city waking up.
“Ready?” I asked when it was time to leave.
“Not even a little bit.”
“Me neither.”
We were going to do it anyway.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
HALEY
