AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Convenient.”
“Listen to me. She’s safe and in good hands.”
I jab my finger into his chest. “I swear to God that if you don’t tell me what the hell is going on, I’m going to do something crazy.”
He stares down at me for a while, his gaze scrutinizing my face. Whatever he sees there causes him to blow out a breath. I brace myself for whatever he’s about to tell me.
“Harper has a concussion and a fractured wrist. Even though she was on a crosswalk, it was a hit and run. I can’t get any other details on her condition since I’m not family, but she’s alive.”
“Oh, my God,” I say, my words ending in a sob. “I need to go home.”
“Callie,” he says, his tone gentling, “she’s being treated at the best hospital in the city. Trust me. She’ll be fine.”
I cover my face with my hands, fighting back tears. When I look at him again, I say, “None of this is fine. I need to go home. I have to be there for her. Don’t you understand that?”
He shakes his head. “No.”
“Hayden! Please, just listen to me—”
“The answer is no.” He pockets his cell phone and settles back in the chair. “I hate to do this, Callie, but I won’t risk your life.”
I slide from the desk to kneel on the floor between Hayden’s legs. His gaze widens slightly, but he doesn’t move to stop me when I reach for him. I rest my palms on the tops of his thighs and bow my head, the ends of my hair brushing his pants.
“Please,” I whisper. “I’ll do anything.”
“Anything?”
“Yes.”
He stops to think, but it doesn’t take long. “Forgive me. Notalmostbut completely.”
I jerk my head up to look at him. “I’m not a robot. I can’t just flip a switch and change my feelings. That’s not how emotions work.”
He leans down to capture my chin between his thumb and index finger. “You’ve already forgiven me. If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t have let me eat that pussy of yours until you drenched my face. If you hadn’t forgiven me, you wouldn’t be naked and on your knees, ready to be fucked, if that’s what I asked for. I want to hear you admit it. Say you forgive me for everything I’ve done since we first met.”
I’m about to deny it, but I stop because he’s right. I don’t feel the anger I did the day we arrived here. I stare up at him, my bottom lip trembling with the nervous energy racing through me. “Let me be clear, if you don’t take me home, I’ll hate you. But right now, I’m willing to forgive you for everything, Hayden.”
He doesn’t give me a triumphant smile like I expect. Instead, he breathes out slowly, as though relieved that a weight has been lifted from him. Before I can ask, he trails a hand down my cheek and along my jaw.
“We’ll be gone within the hour.” A hint of a grin makes its way onto his mouth when he says, “At least it won’t take you long to pack.”
Chapter23
Calista
The plane levelsout at cruising altitude as I stare absently out the window. My thoughts are thousands of miles away, consumed with worry about Harper. She’s been in the hospital for two days, and I feel so helpless being unable to visit or even talk to her.
A gentle touch on my shoulder makes me flinch. I turn to find Hayden studying me with a look of concern. “You’re worrying about your friend again,” he says. It’s not a question.
I nod, a lump rising in my throat. “I know Harper has her mother, but… I want to be there for her.”
Hayden reaches for my hand, his thumb stroking my knuckles in a gentle caress. “We’ll be there soon. Everything will be all right.”
The tenderness in his voice makes my breath hitch. I search his face, looking for signs of him placating me, but there are none. His eyes only hold sincerity. “Thank you.”
He nods, continuing to stroke my hand. “I know how difficult it’s been for you these past weeks, but I never wanted to be your enemy, Callie.” His voice is quiet, but that doesn’t hide the strain underneath. “My only goal in life is to make you happy.”
I give him a wry smile. “As long as it doesn’t compromise my safety, right?”
