My smile is smug. “Nope. I’m good here.”
She grits her teeth. “Nate. I have been sleeping here for weeks.Go home.”
I look at her.
Weeks? She’s been here forweeks?
Still, I smile. “Sorry, not letting you sleep here alone. I’m great here.”
She huffs. “Fine. Be like that.” I settle in and pray to god no spiders crawl over me, but then she huffs again. “Okay. What else do you suggest?”
Yes! A win for me! “Thought you’d never ask. You can take our spare room until you get your own place, or you can stay with Cas and Emmy, or-”
She sighs. “No, I can’t stay with Emmy; she just got married, and there’s no way I’m crashing that. I’ll stay with you and Archie until I get my own place, which will be soon, by the way.”
Operation Help Hayleigh is a go. I think Arch would be proud of me. I grin in the dark, victory blooming in my chest.
Chapter 10
Hayleigh
What the hell are you doing, Hayleigh?
I’m following Nate’s car back to his place, and I can safely say this is not something I envisioned that I’d be doing tonight. In fact, ever. I have spent the past three weeks trying my hardest to forget Nate Peterson and how sweet he was in Vegas. I tried to ignore how he wanted to help and be friends, and it was working perfectly, until I opened that damned gift.
My mind wanders as I drive along after Nate. I’d been on my own in the barn when I remembered that I brought it with me. I sat on the dusty old sofa while the rain outside thrashed againstthe wooden barn walls, and parts of the roof leaked, but that all fell away when I held the neatly wrapped package in my hands.
My heart thumped wildly that day as the rush of excitement flooded through me. I tore at the paper, pieces falling to the floor, but I didn’t care, especially not when I saw what was underneath.
It was a scrapbook. A candid photo of me by the pool in Vegas was stuck to the front. Even now, my heart aches at the thought of Nate doing this for me, of him thinking about me.
In the front was the list he helped me create, a new list to erase the old one I had growing up, the one that led me to Pete. Nate’s list was positive, and he only added things I wanted to do, not what he thought I needed. Then there were the trinkets, the movie tickets, a napkin from the karaoke bar and the pressed cone flower from the botanical gardens. I cried so hard that I couldn’t breathe because all I wanted was to fall into the dream of Nate Peterson, but I couldn’t because I’m not right in myself, and if I did that, I’d be doing it to makemyselffeel better. So I went cold turkey, no contact, and I left him on read.
I was sure it worked, but boy was I wrong because Nate Peterson is as stubborn as-well, me.
I click the phone button in my car and ask it to call Emmy. She answers, giggling, and I groan. “Oh god, did I catch you two at a bad banging time?”
Emmy splutters out a laugh. “Hayleigh! No, you didn’t. What’s up?”
Fuck, I’m not ready to have this conversation, but I so need my friend right now.
Fuck it.
“Okay, so don’t be mad, but since I’ve been home from Vegas, I’ve been living out of the barn on my grandad's land, and somehow Nate found out, and now I’m driving in my car back to his place because he’s a stubborn idiot and won’t leave mealone.” I finish what I’m saying without taking a breath, but there’s silence on the other line.
She sighs. “Hayleigh, why didn’t you come to me? We have room here…” She trails off, and I know she feels bad for me, but that’s the last thing I want.
I force a cheery tone. “It’s okay, I didn’t want to be back in that crappy house anyway, and I’ve found a few places that I like. Plus, you’ve just gotten married, Em, and I know what you’re going to say, but please, for me, don’t. I promise I’ll tell you everything, but right now, all I need to know is if I’m making a mistake-”
“You’re not making a mistake, sweetie, you’re doing something for you. Tomorrow, though, you’re going to explain yourself. Okay?”
I nod. “Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too.” I hang up.
We arrive at Nate's home, and I’m surprised to see it’s a townhouse similar to Lacey’s. We both park up, and I grab my bag from the backseat, but Nate takes it from me and hoists it over his shoulder before I can close my door.
“Thanks, Nate, but I can manage a bag.” I laugh off the gesture, even though butterflies are flying around in my stomach.
