“It’s totally okay.” I smile. “In fact, he didn’t even know I would be in town.”
Her eyebrows rise. “He doesn’t know you’re here?”
“Well, he does, but...” I shrug. “We’re kind of pretending I’m not at the moment.”
Her lips form a curious O and I swear I can see the assumption flash across her eyes.
“Oh, my God. That sounds really bad.” I laugh and push a nervous hand through my hair. “I’m just hiding out at my family’s cabin for a few days, apparently baking and drinking wine.” I gesture to the cart. “You know, I’m not sure that sounds much better.”
Her easy smile returns and I’m grateful for it. “Gotcha. You’re lying low.”
“Yes. Exactly.” I nod eagerly. “Jett doesn’t know I’m here, either.”
“Ah.” She bites her lip, then makes a thoughtful face. “Even more reason for you to come to the party tomorrow. You could surprise him.”
God, what I wouldn’t give to hug my baby sooner rather than later. “As tempting as that sounds, I don’t want to impose on Jesse’s time.”
She waves me off. “He won’t mind, trust me.”
“I would still rather it be his call…” And do I really want to hang out with the Enders family right now, all things considered?
“How about I take your number and talk to Jesse?”
“Um, okay, sure.”
She pulls her phone from her purse and I give her my number.
“It’s not a big deal if he says no,” I say more for myself than for her. I don’t want to be disappointed if he shuts her down, even if I’m not entirely sure I want to go in the first place.
“I’ll let you know what he says. I also sent you a text so you have my number, too.” Amelia tucks her phone away and then winks. “And if you need help with that wine, give me a call.”
“I’ll do that.” I laugh even though I probably won’t. She’s exactly the kind of friend I’d love to have more of, but I can’t very well dish the details of my life when her brother is one of the reasons I’m buying all of this wine.
She gives me a little finger wave as she walks away. “Talk soon, Hayden.”
As soon as she rounds the end of the aisle and disappears, I sigh. I also add ten more items from the baking section to my cart, because hanging out with Jesse and his family?
It sounds as amazing as it does terrifying.
JESSE
I had a nice time last night. Jett is the sweetest little boy.
The text from Mikayla is waiting for me when I come downstairs after tucking Jett into bed. I should text her back and tell her I had a good time, too. Jett and I both did.
But something keeps me from responding at all, let alone telling her I enjoyed her company.
That something happens to be just a few miles down the road, inside of a cabin on the lake, doing God knows what right now.
Grabbing a beer from the fridge, I twist off the top, lean back against the counter and take a long pull.
I haven’t stopped thinking about Hayden since I found her at the Foss cabin earlier. I keep seeing her bloodshot eyes and those puffy pink lips and that damn bare finger, taunting me like some kind of cruel temptation.
She’s the one I want to text right now. To make sure she’s okay and to see if she’s ready to tell me what the hell happened, not that I don’t already have a pretty good idea.
But I can’t text her. Not yet. She needs time and, if I push too hard, she’s liable to leave town just as quickly as she got here.
However…
Wouldn’t it make me an asshole if I didn’t check in on her, knowing she’s alone and hurting? It’s what Jesse the dad would do, just to be sure she’s okay.
Only problem is that Jesse the dad wants her just as much as Jesse the frat boy friend did.
Hell, Jesse the dad wants her even more.
Fuck.
I scrub a hand down my face as my phone goes off with another message and my stupid heart lurches, wanting it to be her. I snatch it up and sigh. Amelia.
Got the ice cream and the candles earlier. Think we’re set for tomorrow.
I thumb a quick response. Thanks. I owe you.
I know a way you can pay me back.
I already know I’m going to hate whatever it is. Yeah?
Can I bring a friend to the party?
I take another drink and frown. Does this friend have a dick?
What does it matter?
No.
No what?
No friends.
It’s a girl!
A girlfriend?
OMG stop.
I laugh. Who is it?
A friend from out of town. Down on her luck. Could really use some cake.
Considering there’ll be enough cake for the whole town, I cave. Whatever. But no dicks.
Thanks! Love you!
Uh huh.
I give her a hard time, but truthfully, Amelia has made my life a million times easier now that she’s finished with college and back home. Even when she’s out of town, meeting clients all over the country for her photography and graphic design business, she checks in. We weren’t close when we were younger—she and Jinx always had that bond—but we’re tight now and I’m grateful for it.
I’m also grateful for the distraction she just provided, too, even though it was short-lived. I’m already back to staring at the phone and wondering what would make me a bigger dick—letting Hayden think I don’t care or letting her know I actually do?
Neither seems like the right answer, but there’s not really any middle ground, is there?
My phone pings with another message and, like she’s read my damn mind, Hayden’s name appears on the screen.
Giving a mental fist pump, I smile and swipe to the text.
The Cole Stop has butter, right? Flour, too? *fingers crossed*
I chuckle. Stress baking? I remember her telling me about that little quirk.
Just a pie. Or three. Hence the reason I’m out of butter.
Oh, boy. Hate to break it to you, but it doesn’t matter if they have it—the Cole Stop just closed.
What? It’s only 10 pm.
Small-town living, city girl. We close up early, even on Saturday nights.
Ugh, she texts. I already cut the apples and tossed them in the cinnamon and sugar.
I run a hand around the back of my neck, take a pull from my beer, and thumb the next message before I can think twice about it. Come on over. I happen to have both.
The three bubbles show immediately... and then disappear. It’s a solid five minutes before they light up again and a message appears. I don’t want to bother you.
No bother at all. See her again and help her out at the same time? It’s a win-win. You have the address, yeah?
Yes…
I can practically hear the hesitation in that solitary word, but my heart’s already set on seeing her. Just punch it into your phone and you’ll be here in less than 7 minutes. I’ll put the porch light on.
The bubbles dance on the screen again, followed by a quick, Okay fine. See you in a few.
Hell, yes.
I drain the rest of my beer and then do a quick jog around the house to make sure I haven’t left any coffee mugs or underwear lying out. I don’t do much more than sleep here these days, aside from the weekends Jett is home, so the place is pretty clean, thank God. But I’ve waited three damn years for Hayden to finally see what I built and I’ll be damned if a pair of dirty drawers is going to ruin that first impression.