AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know that you have more shit going on right now than most people deal with their whole lives. But you’ve also got more power, privilege and wealth than those same people can dream about. And with all of that comes all the obligation. More money, more problems, right?”
He nods.
“So, get off your ass and put on your streetwise hat, because your uncle is playing dirty,” I tell him.
“No kidding.” He sighs and rubs his hands tiredly over his face.
“We have to think like desperate people who don’t have safety nets or moral compasses,” I tell him.
“You sound like Amelia,” he grumbles.
“You should do whatever she tells you to do,” I say.
“You’ve changed your tune. I thought she was a ‘vulture,’” he says.
“The board meeting is in two days. No atheists in foxholes,” I say.
“Do you mean my enemy’s enemy is my friend?” he asks.
“Whatever. We have a lot of work to do!” I snap impatiently.
His expression has morphed from slightly annoyed to happy.
“Why are you smiling? Do you like getting chewed out by me?” I ask.
“I don’t know what chewed out means, but it sounds like it could be hot,” he says.
“Hayes,” I huff.
“That morning, when he attacked you. I was coming to break up with you,” he says.
I freeze and stare at him. Tears, hot and unbidden, fill my eyes. My breath is trapped in my lungs, and I can’t speak.
“I wouldn’t have done it,” he says quickly and rushes to stand by me. When he puts his hands on my shoulders, I lean into him.
“But why?” I hear myself say in a voice that I don’t recognize. It’s thick with hurt.
“I had just gotten the call about the DNA test. I was angry and thought I had let Thomas get away with too much because I’d been distracted,” he says, not quite meeting my eyes now.
“By me?” I ask.
“Yes. But by the time I got there, I knew there was no way I could give you up. The sun rises and sets in your eyes, Confidence,” he says. My heart starts that kicking again and my tears dry.
“But walking into that, seeing him on you. I thought …” He swallows thickly. “I’m sorry. So sorry that I wasn’t there. I’m so fucking sorry that he put his hands on you. That I was late,” he sounds so distressed.
“Hayes, why didn’t you just talk to me? Is that why you haven’t left your house? You’ve been avoiding me?” I ask.
He laughs darkly. “No. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from going to that fucker’s house and setting it on fire,” he says. I grab his hand and squeeze.
“I was scared that day. But I’m okay now.” I tell him. “I just want us to focus on what we can control. And we have to get ready for this meeting. It’s only two days away.” I feel desperate suddenly to lighten the mood. I’ve spent four days in a state of complete anxiety and it’s taken its toll. As much as I’m dreading the rest of our conversation, I’m glad we have it to talk about.
I lean back on the window sill and he sits on the bed watching me with a smile on his face.
“What are you smiling at?”
“You,” he says, his gaze growing more intense. “You’re my everything. And I want to be your everything,” he says intently.
“You are my everything, baby,” I assure him.
