I giggle. “I take it you read the latest book I gave you?”
He nods. “Yes, and if Riker and his men hadn’t gotten to Cassidy in time, then her parents would have sold her off to the bad guy biker group.”
I pat his cheek softly. “I’m not Cassidy, and as far as I know, my parents don’t know any outlaw biker groups. They’re more tea and biscuits at the country club, kind of people.”
He grumbles. “I still don’t like it.”
Nate hums his agreement. “Same, Hayleigh. I know they’re your parents, but I don’t like it either.”
I roll my eyes while secretly loving how protective they both are. “I’ll be okay. Who wants food, because I amstarving.”
Archie gets down from the counter with ease before pointing at me. “That’s some next-level subject change, but as it so happens, I too am starving, so where are your menus?” He roots through my kitchen drawers before I wave my phone in his face.
“No one uses menus anymore, Arch.”
He looks from me to Nate, his mouth hanging open. “If we’re going to be besties, Hayleigh, you need to understand that all this digital crap isn’t how I roll. What would you do if there were a global internet attack and you needed food? You would wish then that you had a menu handy.”
I look at Nate, but he holds his hands up and shakes his head. I look back at Archie and shrug. “Fine, you win. I’ll start collecting them.”
We leave Archie grumbling about having to use an online menu and head for the living room. Nate takes hold of my hand, stopping me.
His eyes flicker uncertainly between mine. “You will tell me before you go, won’t you?”
I nod. “I promise, Nate. I’m not staying there, but I do need to go. I left Thea once before, and I won’t do it again. Ihaveto do this alone, you understand that, don’t you?”
He smiles. “Of course I do. It’s one of the last things on your list.”
“Don’t forget the safari.” I’m smiling, but I also feel lost. “I have no idea what to do once the list is complete.”
He bops my nose with his finger. “That’s easy, we can add to it, or we can take each day as it comes. It’s entirely up to you.”
I smile up at him, safe in his arms, as I realise that he’s right.
I don’t always need a plan, and that’s okay.
Chapter 29
Nate
Today’s the day that Hayleigh goes back home to confront her parents and ask Thea to come back home with her. She told me she’d be fine and not to worry, but I can’t help it. Something feels off with the whole thing, or maybe that’s Archie projecting because he’s been glued to the Life360 app watching her as she makes the two-hour journey.
My leg bounces, and my fingers drum on my mum's kitchen counter while she busies herself making us each a cup of tea. She places a mug in front of me and lifts a brow while looking pointedly at my drumming fingers.
“You know this is something she needs to do on her own; she isn’t stupid, Nate. They’re her parents, they’re not going to hurt her, and she’s strong enough now to not fall for their rubbish.”
I pick up the mug of tea and take a sip, instantly feeling much calmer, the magic of my mum's tea-making skills. “I know that, but it still doesn’t stop me worrying.”
She has that knowing look in her eyes. “Well, when you can’t fix the problems of the person you love, it can make you feel hopeless.”
I nod along. “That’s very true.”
My mum gasps and clasps her hands together. “So you do? Love her, I mean?”
I huff out a laugh. “Yeah, but I haven’t told her yet. I didn’t want to put the extra pressure on her.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. That girl is a very intelligent and resilient young lady. Don’t wait too long before you tell her.”
I’m about to respond when Archie gasps out loud.
