“Hi.” My voice booms through the silent barn, and I grimace as Hayleigh jumps.
She places her hand on her heart. “Fucking hell, Nate. You scared the shit out of me.”
“Hope not.” I raise my brow at her.
She wrinkles her nose. “That’s disgusting.”
Ice officially broken.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I walk over to the couch and plop myself down as an awkward silence suddenly surrounds us.There’s so much I want to say to her, but I don’t know where to start.
“Wow, this is awkward.” Hayleigh blows out a breath and chuckles.
“I’m so–”
“I’m sorr–”
We both speak at the same time. I wave my hand for her to continue.
“I’m sorry, Nate. Leaving like that and not speaking to you or even messaging was cruel, and I shouldn’t have done that.”
I nod. “You said earlier that you didn’t want to disappoint me. What did you mean by that? Have I ever given you the impression that you have?”
She picks at the fabric of her leggings, not meeting my eyes as she shrugs. “You’ve never made me feel that way, but all my life I’ve been told how much of a disappointment I am or that I’m not enough, and I couldn’t bear that from you…even if you didn’t make me feel that way.” She throws her hands in the air. “I don’t even make sense.”
I shrug. “I mean, it kind of does make sense. You were protecting yourself in case it happened.”
“Can you not be so nice about it?”
My brow creases. “Why?”
“I don’t deserve you, Nate.” She covers her face with her hands.
I turn in my seat and grab hold of her wrists, prying her hands from her face. “I spoke to Archie, and he said that you’re grieving and to give you time. So that’s what I’ll do, but that doesn’t mean to say that I’m not here, because I am, and Hayleigh, I’m not going anywhere.”
She snorts. “I’m not grieving; no one died.”
“No, but the life you planned since you were young did, and now you have to make a new one, only this time you’re not alone.”
She cups the side of my face. “I’m glad I have you, Nate.”
I smile. “When do you head back?”
She groans. “Tomorrow morning. Thea has a dress fitting but…”
“But?”
“She confessed to me that she doesn’t want to go through with the wedding, but she’s scared of how my parents will react. I told her to come back to Roselake with me, but she isn’t convinced yet.” She looks away. “It’s why I’m still staying there; I’m trying to get her to change her mind.”
“So, you don’t know how long you’ll be gone for?” I try to keep my voice as light as possible, even though it hurts that I won’t see her all the time.
“Well, I’m hoping I can convince her within the next month and a half; otherwise, she will end up going through with the wedding.”
I think about the house and the work we’ve all been doing on it, and I wonder if she’ll be mad at me for what I’ve done.
“Have you been back to your new home?”
She shakes her head. “I haven’t had the chance, and please don’t remind me, there’s so much to do already.”
