I glance down at the floor. Hayden takes a slow step toward me.
“Everything okay? Are your parents okay? Mason called and told me about Leo, but he’s a problem for another day.” He asks more questions than I can answer.
I nod. “I’m fine, my parents are still the same, and Leo is being an asshole.”
He gently pulls me closer, brushing his knuckles against my cheek. “Then what’s happening?”
“I wasn’t going to keep it from you. I was going to tell you. So first I got another note, I’ll show you in a second, and then I wanted to talk to Mr. Cra-, sorry Cain, to see if I could pick up a few more shifts. I need to pay for the medical bills, and he said to talk to you.” I walk over to my bag to get the note out, and I hand it to Hayden.
“Leo I will sort out when the time is right, I just can’t do anything yet. The money for the medical bills, don’t worry about it.” I stand there, staring at him. What? Don’t worry about it? Is he crazy? That’s a lot of fucking money that I don’t have.
“Hayden, I need money to pay for it.”
“I know, and I’m here to help you so don’t worry about it.” He puts the note in his pocket and walks closer to me. “You’re partof the family now, and the only thing I ever want from you is to have faith in me. Nothing else. Now you have a family, and the crazy fucker who owns this building.” He leans in and gives me a kiss, and I smile against his lips.
“Now I’m with you, are you going to tell me what's on the sixth floor?” I lean back, and Hayden starts laughing, and I hear the door open behind me. I try to pull away from Hayden’s grip, but he won’t let me move.
“She wants to go to the sixth floor,” Hayden tells Cain.
“No, I asked what’s on the sixth floor, not to go there.” I quickly tell Cain, and I push Hayden away.
“No, she can’t go there, and I’ve put her name on the no entry list so don’t try it,” Cain warns Hayden, who laughs.
“Like I was going to let her up there.” Hayden walks over to the desk and puts his hand out. “Hand them over.”
“Fuck off,” Cain snaps at him, and sits down. “You see what you have to do?” Now I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I stay where I am for a moment.
“Yes, I’ll get it done. Now, hand the pills over. I want to see if you’ve been taking them.” Hayden seems to be the only one who isn’t scared of him.
Cain throws the pills over to him and continues to talk about whatever it is that Hayden has to do, which is a different language for me. So I walk over to Hayden and tell him I’m starting my shift, and I’ll see him tomorrow.
“I’ll pick you up, I don’t trust Leo wanting to be an asshole.”
“Okay.” Giving him a quick kiss, I leave them both to talk about who knows what they are talking about, and I get ready for a busy night.
My shift finishes, and I’m tired. All I want to do is sleep, but I know that's not happening because Hayden came down and told me we’re having dinner at his parents’ house, as I finish work at eight.
Even though the whole family has forgiven me, I still feel I shouldn’t be there after what I did.
The house is already loud, and Hayden has only opened the door slightly.
I can hear Mason's voice above everyone else, something about someone cheating at something, and then what sounds like Lileah telling him to shut up. It sounds like she’s been telling him that for a while.
The smell hits me immediately; something rich and warm, with garlic and herbs. “That smells so good.”
Hayden raises an eyebrow. "When did you last eat?" He jokes.
"I had half a granola bar at nine."
"Jesus, Olivia." He steers me by the shoulders straight into the kitchen, where his mom turns from the stove, takes one look at me. “Seriously, do I need to monitor your food intake? For my night activities, you need to be eating.”
I snap my head toward him in shock. I can’t believe he just said it in front of everyone. I don’t think anyone heard it but still. Hayden starts laughing, leans down, and gives me a kiss.
I sit down next to Hayden and look at everyone around the table.
Declan and Trixie are across from us, Mason and Miles taking up more space than two people should ever need, and Lileah is wedged between Mason and their dad, already lookinglike she regrets every decision that led her to this seat, and it makes me smile.
"Right," Mason says, pointing his fork at Miles. "Tell them what you did."
