When I glance over again, Hayden is watching me. Not smirking. Not glaring. Just… watching. The room fades, the clatter of the game, the laughter, even Lileah’s amused side-glances. It all goes quiet, like that moment before a storm hits. His eyes don’t move, and mine don’t look away.
There’s no smile, but there’s no hate in his eyes either, and right now, that feels like something.
Then… clack. Declan knocks the 8-ball into the wrong pocket and curses loud enough to shake the windows. Everyone breaks into laughter again.
Hayden’s eyes flick away.
The moment’s gone.
Hayden walks out, telling everyone he's getting more drinks, and I shift around the room, finally taking a few slow steps closer to the table, not part of the game, but not in the shadows anymore either.
“Wanna play?” Mason offers, spinning his cue toward me.
I shake my head, smile small. “No, but thanks.”
“Scared we’ll beat you?” Miles teases.
“Scared you’ll cry when I do,” I say before I can stop myself and for a split second, it feels like it used to. “I’m…I’m going to bed.” I smile and walk out the room and make my way to the stairs but stop when I hear him.
“The night is still young.” I turn to face Hayden in the kitchen getting the beers. “You want something stronger than hot chocolate?"
He’s standing at the counter, pulling a few beers from the fridge. His sleeves are rolled to his elbows, the veins in his forearms prominent, and that calm but unreadable look on his face makes my pulse falter. I see a few tattoos on his arms, I never knew he wanted tattoos, but I would love to get a better look at them.
“You want something stronger than hot chocolate?” he asks again, barely glancing at me as he sets the bottles down.
I hesitate, then push away from the wall and walk over, leaning against the opposite side of the counter. “No… not tonight,” I say quietly. “Just in case the hospital calls.”
That gets his attention. Hayden looks up, eyes flickering with something I can't place, concern maybe, or softness, or maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see when it comes to him.
He nods. “I’ll take you if they call.”
I want to thank him, but the words feel too small for the weight in my chest. I open my mouth to speak, then stop again. The truth catches like a splinter in my throat. My fingers drum once on the counter, and I shake my head, pressing my lips together.
“Say it,” he says, voice low. “Whatever it is. Just say it.”
My eyes flicker up to his. The heat of his stare almost makes me turn around and run, but I fight it, forcing myself to breathe through the thudding in my chest. This is Hayden, the guy who was so easy to talk to, he’s giving me something to hold on to.
“Will you… stay here? Just for a second.” My voice is soft. “I need to get something.”
He nods once, no questions asked.
I leave before I lose the nerve, but I know I will.
Upstairs, I move to my bag with shaky hands, my fingers dig through clothes until I find it. A small, square box, edges worn from being moved from purse to drawer to backpack over the years. I stare at it for a second. There were so many moments I almost gave it to him… but I never did. Fear always won.
Not tonight, something feels right inside me.
I walk back downstairs; the box clutched in both hands like something sacred. When I enter the kitchen, Hayden is still there, standing exactly as I left him.
He looks up the moment I step in.
I move a little closer this time, not quite touching, but closer than I’ve dared be all night. I stare at the box between my hands, then slowly place it on the counter between us.
“I always thought maybe one day I’d have the courage to give it to you, or even post this,” I begin, my voice trembling, “but it never happened. I carried it every single day… thinking maybe… maybe today would feel right. As you can see, I still have it.”
Hayden’s eyes don’t leave mine, but he reaches forward and gently pulls the box toward him. His fingers graze mine and it sends a zip of electricity straight to my chest.
“I know you hate me,” I whisper. “And there’s nothing in this world I can do to fix what I broke. But I got this for you before everything happened. Before we fell apart. Before I ruined everything.”
