Page 195 of Risking the Pucking Defense

“The one and only. Turns out, Brandon was friends with Bea’s eldest brother, although we don’t have any memories of ever meeting.”

“Wow. Okay.”

“Brandon was the youngest and didn’t have a seat at the top of the firm waiting for him like his older brother, so his parents looked elsewhere to build their empire.

“And they decided that with Spencer gone and no one to hand the company down to, Caldwell PR was where Brandon should be, and there was only one way to make it happen.

“Long story short, his parents spoke to mine, they agreed, and the next thing I knew, I was getting married.”

“Jesus, Hails.”

“I was in a bad place after the accident. I often look back and wonder why I didn’t stand my ground. But I didn’t have the strength. As far as I could see, I’d lost everything. My brother, my shot at a future, my confidence, and self-worth. I went along with it because I was craving connection and support, and I naively thought that Brandon would give it to me.

“Turns out he was an even bigger asshole than I ever could have imagined.”

I squeeze my eyes closed, desperate to keep the tears in as memories of my time with him flicker through my head like a movie.

I don’t startle when Hayden’s warm hands land on me; I knew he was moving closer.

And instead of fighting him when he lifts me and slips beneath me, gathering me against his chest and holding me tight, I embrace his warmth, his strength, his understanding.

“They were the worst years of my life. He was controlling, abusive, aggressive, and angry. Everything girls are warned about growing up. But my parents didn’t care about all the obvious red flags. They just had dollar signs in their eyes because, for how awful he was at home, he was a fantastic businessman. Caldwell PR thrived under his leadership. They got what they wanted. But at the cost of their daughter.”

Hayden’s grip on me tightens, his lips pressing against the top of my head as silent tears finally spill free.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I’m sorry they didn’t see your worth.”

“Me too,” I agree. “Walking away was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I left everything behind, and on a whim.”

“You’re incredible.”

I shrug. “I couldn’t stay there any longer. I didn’t care if I ended up in a shelter with nothing. I just couldn’t stay.”

He wants to ask what the final straw was. I can practically hear him thinking it, and while I have every intention of telling him every detail of my time as Brandon Jefferson’s wife, I can’t do it right now.

“You might have left with nothing, but look what you’ve built, Hails. You don’t need them. You don’t need anyone.”

“But what if I want someone?” I whisper. I’ve always refused to believe that would be true, but being with him is forcing me to think about everything differently.

“Then you’ve got him for as long as you want him.”

I snuggle deeper into his chest and breathe him in.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I’m yours, Hails. I’m in this for the long haul if that’s what you want. I…I…I really like you.”

A smile twitches at my lips, and I pull my face free so I can look into his eyes. My breath catches when I find that they’re full of emotion.

“I really like you too,” I confess.

“Yeah?” he asks, his face lighting up.

“Yeah. More than I ever knew possible.”

“It’s possible, baby. People find their happily ever after every day. You can, too.”

I wake feeling lighter and more hopeful. I don’t think I realized how much that secret was weighing me down. I still have so much to tell Hayden, but now he knows the worst of it. And he didn’t run—that’s the most important thing.

“Noooo,” Hayden complains when I attempt to roll out of bed.