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Reluctantly, I lift my head to see who I'm about to collide with. Dread sits heavy in my stomach that I'm about to come face to face with some of my old friends that I let down and abandoned.
It took me quite a few weeks, but eventually, I did some research and discovered who took my place as captain of the Seahawks. Part of me wanted to see them crash and burn without me, but deep down, I was happy that they were thriving and went on to achieve success, despite how much it killed me.
It should have been my year. My epic win. But I wasn't even in the stadium for their final game.
I lift my eyes at the very last minute, and they land on the one and only person I'd be willing to talk to in this town right now.
Hadley Rexford.
Okay, Hadley Rexford and a shocked but angry-looking Cole Jagger, her boyfriend.
His shoulders widen as our eyes hold. He pulls Hadley into his side as if I'm an actual threat to her safety.
It should piss me off. But I get it.
I fucked up, and I need to pay the price.
"Danforth," he growls. "Thought we'd seen the back of you for a while."
Ignoring Cole, I keep my eyes fixed on Hadley's.
"We need to talk," I state as Cole's grip on her becomes borderline painful, I'm sure.
I understand. If the situation were reversed, I wouldn't want my girl anywhere near me either.
Hell, I experience the exact same thing as Cole every time Cade so much as looks at Mia, let alone anything else.
The images of them kissing, of him touching her, flicker through my mind briefly, but I force it down into its box.
This is not the time.
"Like hell you do," Cole growls, attempting to steer Hadley around me.
"Wait, please. My name…" I start, and thankfully Hadley forces Cole to slow down a little. "My name isn't Danforth. It's Easton." I hold Hadley's eyes and watch as understanding and recognition hit her.
"Holy shit," she gasps. "For real?"
I ignore Cole's death stare and act as if he's not standing there.
Taking a step toward Hadley, the one person from my past who understands my future, I suddenly feel a little lighter.
I have someone to actually talk to about all of this.
"Marcus, the guy from the wedding. He's not my uncle. He's my grandfather. And…"
"You're the only Easton heir," she finishes for me.
"Apparently so."
"Fuck." She drops to the sand and pulls her knees up to her chest for a few seconds as she thinks.
I sit down beside her, and finally Cole does the same.
"So… um… your dad d-died in a car crash, right? His wife, your—" I shake my head to stop that train of thought.
"My mom is my mom. She got pregnant by Richard Easton and ran before anyone found out."
Her lips part before she closes them again, having found no words.
