Ch. 231..240

Chapter 231

The phone, which had been blowing up, went quiet all of a sudden.

For a second, the only things we could hear were the sizzle from the stove and our own hearts racing.

We were so close that our breaths mixed, and I caught a flash of something intense in Hayden's eyes...

I just knew this was leading up to something huge.

Knock, knock!

A knock on the door shattered the moment, followed by Mrs. Lowrey's voice. "Hayden, my water's barely trickling. Can you come take a look?"

Hayden jumped back, and I used the chance to make a beeline for the couch, practically diving onto it.

A second later, Hayden walked out of the kitchen and over to the door. "Sure, I'll check it out."

"Thank you," she said, peeking inside and spotting me. She gave me a polite smile. "Keira, mind if I borrow your boyfriend for a bit?"

Hét out a small laugh.

"He's all yours," I teased. "Just don't forget to return him in one piece.

She chuckled. "Will do," she said, leading Hayden out the door.

I sighed in relief, sipping my watermelon juice before retreating to my room.

By the time Hayden came back to get me, a good half hour had

passed.

Funny how time works; the awkwardness from before had mostly faded. I tried to break the ice. "What was wrong with Mrs. Lowrey's water?" "Faucet was clogged with lime scale. I just swapped it out for a new one."

I remembered the rumors about the building being torn down soon. "You heard they're demolishing this place, right?"

"Yeah."

"And you're moving out soon anyway, since you're just renting." I added, remembering how he'd mentioned his plans to leave

"What about you?" Hayden asked. "Where are you going?"

""Not sure y

yet," I said, keeping quiet about my plan to buy a place.

He looked at me for a moment longer, but didn't push it.

Dinner was incredible, as usual. I had this weird feeling that if Hayden ever disappeared from my life, I'd probably never enjoy food again.

After we ate, we headed to the amusement park

"Demi's not coming?" I asked when I realized it was just the two of us.

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"No need," Hayden said.

I laughed. "Wow, you're really just cutting her off like that?"

He didn't answer, just kept walking, leading me deeper inside. The lights around us flickered on.

I said, "Lighting looks perfect now, but we'll need to check the overall effect later."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Didn't you say the Ferris wheel has the best view? We'll head up there and check it out.

"Hayden, I can't believe you actually pulled this off on time," I said, honestly impressed.

"I told you I would." He said it like it was no big deal, but there was something in his voice-something that felt heavier, like he was trying to say more.

This wasn't the first time he'd done this-dropped comments that felt like they had some hidden meaning.

I tilted my head, studying him. "You're pretty good at this, you know?"

"At what?" His face was unreadable.

I was about to say something when a familiar figure caught my eye.

I froze, my steps faltering as I stared at the silhouette lit up by a thousand lights. I almost thought I was imagining it.

"What's up?" Hayden asked, following my gaze.

And then he saw it too-Jace, standing not too far away.

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Jace was here. I hadn't expected that.

But it made sense. Tonight was the big lighting test, and as the owner of the amusement park, of course he'd want to check it out.

Our Pe

eyes met, and Jace started walking over.

Hayden's hand slipped around mine, warm and steady

Gotta give him credit-when it came to pretending to be my boyfriend, he didn't hold back. The second Jace showed up, Hayden's protective vibe kicked in like it was second nature.

Jace's eyes darted to our joined hands, but he didn't look fazed. "What time does it start?" he asked, his voice calm

Hayden and I knew what he meant-the lighting test.

"Ten minutes, Hayden answered.

"Where's the best spot to watch?" Jace asked, his tone still calm.

Hayden's grip on my hand tightened just a bit. I glanced at him, and he looked back like he was leaving it up to me.

He knew this place better than anyone. He didn't need my input.

He was just giving me the choice.

"There are different spots, all marked," I said, sounding like a total tour guide. "The best one's from the Ferris wheel."

Jace's gaze lingered on me for a second before shifting to Hayden. "Where are you guys watching from?" Was he seriously hinting at tagging along?

How could he not feel awkward?

Then again, he'd clearly moved on. Whatever we'd had was history, so why would he feel awkward? "Keira and I are just doing a general walkthrough first. Plus..." Hayden paused, shooting me a quick look before adding, "Tonight's not an official inspection. I'm just showing her around."

Something flickered in Jace's eyes, but all he said was, "Hmm."

Hmm? What was that supposed to mean?

I had no clue, and Hayden didn't seem to care. "Do whatever you want. Please excuse us," he said, not giving Jace another look.

Hayden led me further into the park, and as we passed Jace, I couldn't help but notice the cold vibe coming off him.

"Let me know if you spot anything weird," Hayden murmured to me.

But I knew there wouldn't be any issues. If there were, he wouldn't have brought me here in the

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We strolled through the park, surrounded by glittering lights. It was insanely romantic, but I couldn't let myself get caught up in it.

Not with my ex trailing behind us. I couldn't just act like he wasn't there or pretend he was some stranger. Hayden, on the other hand, seemed totally chill. He pointed out different lighting setups, explaining where there'd been wiring problems and which areas had bad bulbs, like it was no big deal.

Gradually, I started to relax.

I even started to believe Jace had given up and left us alone. But as Hayden and I reached the Ferris wheel, I realized I was dead wrong.

Jace had been following us the whole time.

We hadn't done anything super couple-y, just held hands, but even that seemed like it was enough to make Jace uncomfortable. Yet, he still stuck around.

What was he doing, torturing himself?

Oh, right. He didn't care about me anymore, so it wasn't torture for him.

I tried not to dwell on it, but it still stung, like all the feelings I'd poured into him were just wasted.

"Mr. Johnston, would you like to go up?" Hayden asked way too politely.

"Yeah." Jace was unusually quiet tonight, way calmer than the guy who used to get all worked up whenever he saw me with Hayden.

"After you," Hayden said, still being weirdly polite.

Jace, ever the confident one, stepped into the open Ferris wheel cabin.

Hayden turned to me. "Shall we?"

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My throat tightened. Was Hayden seriously suggesting we all squeeze into the same cabin?

I was about to say something when Hayden grabbed my hand and steered me toward another one. "You're not getting on this one?" Jace called after us

"Yeah, that's a hard pass," Hayden shot back as he helped me into the other cabin.

He climbed in right behind me and slid the door shut.

Through the glass, I saw Jace's face darken, his eyes practically shooting daggers. Yup, he was definitely not happy.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at Hayden.

"Yep," he admitted without missing a beat. "Didn't feel like sharing a cabin with him."

There was this smugness in his voice, maybe even a little defiance-like a kid who'd just gotten away with something sneaky.

I couldn't help but laugh.

I had to admit, Hayden was full of surprises. One minute he was all tough and distant, the next he was

sweet and thoughtful, and now he was being downright cute and a little bit bratty.

"Hayden," I said.

"Yeah?" He turned to me, eyes sparkling under the lights.

"You're really cute," I said, just as the Ferris wheel's soft music started playing.

Perfect timing, right?

"What?" Hayden asked, either not hearing me or just playing dumb to avoid accepting the compliment.

I just smiled and turned to look out the window, letting it slide.

As the Ferris wheel climbed higher, the whole amusement park came into view.

I could see the carousel, the roller coasters, and even the water slides. The park looked tiny from up here, surrounded by the city's skyscrapers and the warm glow of the streets below. The flickering lights pulled my attention back to the park.

The inside was all about fun, but the view from up here? It was meant to be admired. This sea of lights was the park's heart, making it the brightest spot in Scavora.

This place wasn't just any amusement park-it was Seavora's newest landmark.

I suddenly remembered the day Jace laid out the park plans in front of me. "Rea, I'm giving you this. Do you like it?"

In that moment, I'd believed he loved me.

Why else would he know about my dream to build a park, a dream connected to my dad and me?

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Jace had made that dream a reality, only for it to shatter before it could even take root.

The lights kept shifting, each color holding its own meaning: blue for deep affection, red for prosperity. purple for mystery and persistence...

Back when we were picking the lighting for the park, several companies fought for the contract. I'd been the one to choose Hayden's firm in the end.

Watching the colors weave together now, I realized that fate had already been nudging Hayden and me together from the moment I made that choice.

I glanced over at him just as the Ferris wheel reached its peak.

"Have you heard the legend of the Ferris wheel?" Hayden asked, looking up at the stars, his voice soft.

I pressed my lips together. "Not the legend, but I've heard if you make a wish at the top, it'll come true." "Wanna make a wish?" Hayden turned his gaze back to me. For a second, his eyes were so bright, it was like they'd caught some of those stars.

I thought about it, then shook my head. "Nah, I'm good.

""Why not?"

I gave a small, sad smile. "Because it won't come true.

When I was a kid, I used to wish every birthday that my parents would always love me and we'd always bel together.

But life had other plans.

"Come on, make one. I'll make it happen," Hayden said, moving behind me and gently covering my eyes with his hands.

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The world went dark under Hayden's touch, but I felt strangely calm.

His warmth, his closeness-it was more comforting than any light could be..

"Wish for anything. From now on, I'm here, and I'm gonna make your wishes come true," he murmured in my ear, his voice low and soothing. The soft music playing in the background seemed to ease the tightness in my chest, bit by bit.

A wish?

What was there left to wish for?

After my parents died, I stopped making wishes altogether.

Then I had Jace, and I guess all I wanted was for us to last. But that was more of a hope than a real wish. And now, if I had to wish for something...

I dug deep, trying to figure out what I truly wanted, but even I didn't know.

Eventually, I thought of my parents, of the accident, and whispered, "I wish I could find out the truth about my parents' car crash,"

*Ill make it happen," Hayden said, no hesitation at all.

I laughed softly and pulled his hands away from my eyes. "Then why bother with wishes? I could just ask you directly."

"Exactly, you wasted a perfect chance," he teased, lightly tapping my head.

I gave a smirk. "I stopped believing in that stuff a long time ago."

I turned back to the glittering lights outside. "After my parents died, I stopped believing in blessings or any kind of protection."

Hayden's hand found its way back to my head, this time gently rubbing it. "Then believe in me from now

1. on.

He wanted to be my guardian, my protector.

But what he didn't get was, I only trusted myself to keep me safe.

The lights outside exploded back to life, lighting up the night sky like fireworks. The park's lights kept changing, never repeating the same pattern, always surprising, always magical. Just the lighting alone had cost a third of the park's entire budget.

"Heart of the Ocean' is one of my favorites," I admitted, letting myself get swept up in the moment. "There's even better coming up." Hayden said, his confidence unshakable as always.

The next sequence was even more breathtaking, each display more stunning than the last. I was so mesmerized by the show, I didn't even notice when Hayden wrapped his arms around me from behind. I'd almost forgotten about Jace in the opposite cabin.

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I spun around, ready to share my excitement with Hayden, but then I saw him.

Jace was standing in the other cabin, just staring at me. I couldn't make out his expression, but his stillness said it all.

He looked calm-too calm, like all the life had drained out of him.

My whole body went rigid.

Even though I'd let Jace go, he still had a decade of my life. I couldn't just see him as some stranger, especially not when he looked like I'd stabbed him right in the heart.

Hayden noticed me tense up. He didn't say anything, just tightened his hold around me. Then, in that soft, almost hypnotic voice of his, he whispered in my ear, There's one last special light show, just for

"Huh?" I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.

Hayden pulled out his phone and tapped a few buttons. Suddenly, all the lights went out.

you."

The vibrant, colorful world plunged into total darkness. It wasn't like when he'd covered my eyes earlier. This was like falling into a black hole, and panic clawed at me...

I grabbed onto Hayden instinctively, my heart pounding Before I could say anything, the darkness disappeared as quickly as it came.

The lights came back on, flooding the park in a deep ocean blue, turning everything into a sea of shimmering waves. The lights moved and flowed like real water, creating a three-dimensional effect that was more stunning than anything I'd seen in the renderings. "Is this new? After-" I started to ask, but my words got stuck as the ocean lights shifted again.

From the blue depths, a four-dimensional figure emerged. The light grew brighter, and I saw her-a little girl with her hair in a bun, wearing a ball gown.

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The little girl ran through the waves, like a princess from a fairy tale.

She moved with such joy, dancing on the crest of the waves, twirling around like she was weightless.

It was mesmerizing-too beautiful and lifelike to believe it was just a light show. It felt like a real little girl was out there, playing on the waves.

I held my breath, afraid to blink, not wanting to miss a second.

Then, as a bigger wave rose, another figure appeared.

A boy.

The boy stood tall, watching the girl with quiet intensity,

She glanced back at him and, after a few seconds, ran toward him. "Hi, I'm Kiki. What's your name?"

My heart squeezed. That little girl was me.

""Haddy, don't run..."

"Haddy, wait for me..."

The boy stopped and reached out his hand. They held hands and ran together.

""Haddy, I'm tired. Carry me."

""Haddy, run faster..."

The girl climbed onto the boy's back, and they took off, skimming over the waves together.

My eyes blurred with tears. Hayden had turned my childhood memories into a light show.

So, the dreams I thought were just dreams were real all along.

T

"Haddy, when I grow up, I'm going to marry you."

Haddy, you have to wait for me, okay? Don't forget..."

As the scenes played out, everything clicked. Hayden hadn't just shown up in my life by accident, and it- wasn't some calculated move. It was because of a promise he made to me a long time ago. The lights were mesmerizing. It felt like I'd stepped into a fairy tale, but also like I'd been pulled back in time, back to my childhood..

At the end of the show, I saw my parents. They looked exactly like I remembered-standing together, smiling at me. My mom's voice echoed softly, "Kiki, be happy.

I didn't even realize I was crying until the lights faded and I was full-on sobbing.

Hayden held me close, his embrace steady. "Your parents are watching, you know. If you cry like this. they'll be sad."

His words only made me cry harder.

No one knew how much I missed my parents. I thought I'd never see them again, but Hayden had used Al

Chapter 235

to bring them back to me, even if just for a moment.

"If you have something to say, you can tell them now," Hayden said, catching me off guard.

I had so much I wanted to say, but no words came out Deep down, I knew they were just projections, not real.

In the end, I didn't say anything. I just looked at them, memorizing every detail.

I wasn't even sure when the Ferris wheel started moving again, but when it stopped, I saw Jace stepping out of his cabin.

He strode over and yanked open our door, anger all over his face. "Hayden Hart, get out here."

His voice was sharp and demanding, making me snap my head up.

Jace's eyes widened when he saw my tear-streaked face, shock written all over him.

Hayden didn't even look at him. He gently wiped away my tears, his voice calm and soothing. "Stay here and take a minute."

He brushed his hand over my hair, then moved to leave the cabin.

reached out and grabbed his arm.

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"You're seriously low," Jace snarled, grabbing Hayden by the collar.

My heart lurched, and I started to move toward them, but Hayden stayed cool. "You think this is low because you've never cared about Keira the way I do, have you?" Jace's evac

eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. "These cheesy tricks might work on a little girl, but Keira's not into fake stuff like this. Don't you get it?" Not into it?

I remembered telling Jace that once.

It was our first Valentine's Day as a couple. He didn't get me anything-not even a card or a dinner.

The next day, we were out with Steve and a few friends, and Steve jokingly asked what romantic thing Jace had planned for me.

I'd never felt so embarrassed. Jace apologized later, saying he'd forgotten, and I had to laugh it off, pretending I didn't care about that kind of thing.

But seriously, what girl doesn't like flowers and a little romance?

It wasn't that I didn't want it-it was that he didn't give it to me.

"Still think she doesn't like it now?" Hayden's voice was steady.

Jace glanced at me. I didn't know if he could see the tears still lingering on my cheeks, but he'd definitely seen them before.

If he had even a clue, he'd know exactly why I was crying.

Yeah, I was crying because Hayden had brought my parents back, even if just virtually. I was overwhelmed with joy and longing, but also by the care and thought he put into everything he did for me. Hayden's love was in the details-the meals he made for me, the way he quietly looked out for me, the personalized light show he created just for me....

After a long, tense silence, Jace finally looked away, but his eyes were still cold as they locked onto Hayden. "Keira loves me. We were together for ten years. She would've given up her life for me." Hayden didn't say a word, but Jace sneered. "Don't believe me? Have you noticed the little scar on her left ring finger? That's the proof."

I instinctively curled my fingers. So he remembered the injury I'd gotten for him.

But did he remember the promise that came with it?

The promise to replace that lost piece of flesh with a ring?

No.

He didn't remember.

If he did, he wouldn't have been sneaking around with Tanya behind my back.

12

hapter 235

"Yeah, she would've died for you-but how did you treat her?" Hayden shot back, his voice icy.

Jace froze. Hayden raised his hand, gripping Jace's wrist with equal force. Hayden's voice was calm but firm. "You're the one who didn't appreciate her, which gave me this so-called 'low' opportunity. Get it?" With that, Hayden yanked Jace's hand off him.

I walked over then, not saying a word. I just looped my arm through Hayden's. "It's getting late. Let's go." Hayden looked at me with such tenderness, and we left together.

On the way back, neither of us said a word. Even when we got to the stairs, the only noise was our footsteps echoing around us.

"Night," he muttered when we reached my door, already reaching for his keys.

"Hayden," I called out, making him pause

He turned around, the dim hallway light casting shadows on his face as I stepped closer. "Do you really not care about my past? Do you actually want to be with me?" "Haven't I made that clear?" he asked softly.

hing to

He had, right? He'd literally moved into the apartment right across from mine. He'd done everythin show he was serious

If I still didn't believe him, it'd be like spitting on everything he'd done for me.

"Hayden," I whispered again.

Then I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, my lips brushing against his

He froze. I wrapped my arms around his waist, my words a breath against his mouth. "Let's just be together."

Hayden stayed still. He didn't say a word

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I suddenly felt a rush of confusion. "Wait, do you not want to anymore? Or-"

Before I could finish, he kissed me. It wasn't deep, just enough to shut down my spiraling thoughts. After a beat, he whispered, "I want to."

I couldn't help but laugh, feeling my cheeks warm up.

Hayden was flustered too.

Even with his tan skin, I could see his ears turning red.

We just stood there, holding each other, not saying a word.

It was a little awkward, but neither of us wanted to let go.

So this is what they mean by love being disgustingly sweet.

Sticky and hard to pull away from.

We both wanted to get closer, but neither of us knew how to make the first move.

Were we really going to stand here all night?

No w

way. My legs were already starting to go numb, and my back was killing me.

"So, uh..."

"Maybe we should..."

We both started talking at the same time, which made it even more awkward. We went silent again, both of us scrambling for something to say that wouldn't make this worse Then, my phone rang.

Hayden took a step back as I fumbled to pull it out. Lena's name popped up on the screen. Seriously? She barely ever called, and she picked now? Perfect timing, as always. "I, uh, gotta take this," I said, tapping my door.

"Yeah, no worries. Goodnight," Hayden said.

"Goodnight," I said, spinning around and sticking my tongue out.

I'd been in relationships before, but my heart was racing like it was the first time or something. Leaning against my door, I answered the call. "Hey, what's up?"

"What took you so long? Don't tell me you were up to no good," Lena teased. She could always read me like a book.

I hesitated. "Actually, I have some good news."

"Let me guess," she said, her tone full of mischief.

I grinned.

"Did you and Hayden finally make it official?" she asked.

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#25 BONUS

"Yep, just now," I said, still smiling.

There was a pause on the other end.

I frowned. "What's wrong? Weren't you the one always pushing for us to get together? Why so quiet now?"

"I'm just calculating if I've got enough in my bank account for your wedding gift," Lena joked, making me let out a breath and laugh.

"Oh, so you're planning to hand over your entire fortune to me?' I teased back.

"Yep, but you better double it when I get married, Lena shot back, making me roll my eyes.

"You're such a schemer," I said, acting all annoyed.

"It's not scheming; it's just how things are now. You probably don't know this, but a lot of people aren't getting married for love or forever anymore-they're just trying to get back all those wedding gifts they've given out." Lena's words totally blew my mind. "No way. Who actually does that?" I scoffed.

"There's this couple at my hospital who did exactly that. Got married last week, collected all the gifts from both families, then divorced this week. Someone caught them on tape talking about their plan, and it went viral," she explained, like she had all the receipts.

I was speechless, staring up at the ceiling, but my mind drifted back to the light show Hayden had put on for me. "Maybe some people would do that, but not Hayden and me."

"I know, you two are the real deal, all deep love and-"Lena's voice' cut off as my phone buzzed with a new notification.

I glanced at the screen and saw it was a message from Cole.

[Crashed yet?]

1 frowned, and another message quickly followed:

[Going to see my dad tomorrow. Wanna come?]

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Cole was trying to flirt, and I could totally play dumb and Ignore him, but meeting Thorsten couldn't wait.

Still, him texting this late wasn't a great sign. If I replied now, he might use it as an excuse to ask for something else. And if I said no, he could use it as an excuse to back out of our deal to meet his dad. The best move? Do what I did last night and just leave him on read.

I tuned back into my conversation with Lena, who was saying something I'd obviously missed because now she was asking. "So you two made it official and that's it? No next steps?"

"What next steps?" I asked, still half-distracted by Cole's texts.

"What do you think I mean? The next step in a relationship. Obviously, I'm talking about that," Lena said, her voice dripping with mischief.

I caught en immediately. "Hayden's a gentleman, okay?"

"Gentleman or not, he's still human, isn't he? He's gotta have desires. Or is he just not interested st

in, you know, doing his part to solve the population crisis?" Lena shot back. Then she sighed and said, remember, Jace was a 'gentleman' too."

I went silent. She must've realized she'd hit a nerve because she quickly added, "I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to say, when people are in love, there's this rush of dopamine. It boosts adrenaline and makes them crave, um, physical closeness." She was using her knowledge to break down love, adding, "Basically, if a guy really loves you, he'll feel that urge to be with you, physically. If he doesn't, or if he can hold back without a problem, then there's a good chance he's just not that into you." I thought back to all those years with Jace. To everyone else, we were basically a couple, but the closest we ever got was holding hands or those awkward side hugs-except for that one time we made out, right before Tanya called and totally ruined it. It felt like he just wasn't that into me.

I used to think he was just being respectful, like some kind of modern-day knight or whatever. Sometimes, I'd even wonder if it was because I wasn't, I don't know, attractive enough.

But now, after Lena's little analysis, I realized: he just didn't love me enough.

And yeah, Jace did tell me once that he wasn't interested in me like that because we were "too familiar."

"Rea, does Hayden ever show he wants to get closer to you? Or does he just not want to let you go?" Lena asked.

I thought about how we'd stood there at my door, wrapped up in each other, neither of us wanting to be the first to let go..

"Of course he does. But he's, like, respectful. He keeps things, you know, appropriate," I said, trying to convince myself as much as her.

"Please!" Lena scoffed. "If a guy's really into you, like really loves you, he'd want to merge with you or something, make you a part of him." Chapter 238

I felt my throat tighten. I walked further into the kitchen, grabbed a glass of water, and took a sip. "Wow, didn't know you were such an expert on love."

Lena caught the teasing in my voice. "I'm just looking out for you. I don't want you to miss out something good. Hayden's got principles, but you can totally take the lead."

I groaned, almost choking on my water. "Wait, so you want me to seduce him now?"

I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn't see it. "Why can't I just have a pure, genuine relationship? Why do I have to, like, use my looks to get him?"

"That's not what I'm saying." Lena said, sighing. "It's just, a guy like Hayden isn't going to stay single forever. If you don't make a move, someone else will."

I hadn't realized she was so invested in my love life.

"You know the saying: a man who just wants to sleep with you doesn't necessarily love you, but a man who loves you will definitely want to sleep with you," Lena finished with that final, all-knowing tone, like she'd just dropped some profound wisdom bomb. I mean, I wasn't exactly new to relationships. I'd been with Jace long enough to know how things worked. "But true love isn't just about physical stuff," I argued.

"Yeah, but desire's a part of it," Lena insisted.

I hadn't really thought about it before, but now I was replaying all my time alone with Hayden in my head. We'd hung out together so many times, and, well, nothing had happened.

I mean, I know I'm attractive, and I know he likes me. So why hadn't he made a move?

Was it possible I'd found another guy who wasn't really into me?

Seriously, that would be beyond bad luck.

I felt this sudden urge to test Hayden, see if Lena was right. But how was I supposed to make the first move like she suggested?

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Gotta think of an excuse....

My phone buzzed twice in my hand. It was a message from Lena.

A gif loaded-a woman, fresh out of the shower, posing seductively in this super skimpy nightgown.

And Lena's not-so-subtle advice: [You should try this

I sent back a facepalm emoji.

Even though I silently cursed Lena for being such a pery, I couldn't deny the idea had potential. I just needed the right excuse to show Hayden this side of me. Still brainstorming. I headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

If I used Cole's info, Hayden would definitely catch on, No way that's gonna work.

Maybe I could say something's wrong with the plumbing and ask for help, but I can't just break something for an excuse. That's out too.

Hmm, what if I said I was hungry and asked him to cook for me? That could work.

Decision made, I finished my shower and slipped into a sexy nightgown I almost never wore.

I'd bought this thing back when Jace and I got engaged, thinking we'd be living together soon.

Funny how Jace never even got to see it, and now Hayden would be the one to.

I looked at myself in the mirror-the black silk clung to me in all the right places, the contrast with my fair skin was almost too much.

Not to sound full of myself, but I looked hot enough to make someone's mouth go dry.

Knock, knock!

I froze. It was late-who else could it be? Hayden's here?!

His timing couldn't be better. Way easier than coming up with some lame excuse to go find him.

But why is he here so late? Could he be thinking the same thing I am?

My cheeks burned. I lightly patted my face and checked myself in the mirror one last time before heading out. "Who is it?"

"It's me. I made you some flaxseed oatmeal with mixed berries," Hayden's deep, calm voice came through the door.

I swallowed, suddenly nervous. I glanced at my reflection, took a deep breath, and then tugged the shoulder of my nightgown a little lower before opening the door. "Perfect timing. I was just getting hungry," I said, trying to sound casual.

Hayden stood there, holding the bowl of oatmeal, his eyes taking me in, I watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed.

Chapter 239

It's working!

Four words flashed through my mind, but I played it cool and teased him with a smile. "You've really got that perfect boyfriend vibe going on."

He looked away, handing me the oatmeal. The tips of his ears turned red, and suddenly, I felt a wicked urge to push him just a little further.

I almost felt guilty for messing with him like this. Almost.

As he passed me the bowl, I let my fingers graze his. The bowl wobbled a little in his hands.

But then he steadied it, his eyes locking onto mine.

His usually soft gaze had a new intensity, like there was a fire just starting to burn.

A wave of heat surged through me, and I knew this was trouble. I tried to pull my hand back. But Hayden didn't let go.

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My heart was racing, pounding like a drum.

I'd been the one who wanted to tease him, to test him, but now that he was actually responding, I totally chickened out.

I was breathing like I'd just run a marathon. "Hayden, you....

He stepped closer, and I completely froze, taking a step back on instinct.

With each step, he went from being outside the door to inside my apartment. I was now pinned against the shoe rack, both of us still holding onto this stupid bowl of oatmeal. Gotta give him credit, though-he hadn't spilled a single drop, even with all this back and forth.

My heart was going so fast I thought it might jump out of my chest.

Hayden didn't say a word. He just stood there, so close, staring right at me.

I couldn't look at him anymore, full-on panicking. What was I thinking trying to provoke him like this?

Lena had pushed me into it, but she also warned me: guys can't resist being teased.

Well, I'd definitely lost my mind for a sec and done something dumb.

But it was too late to backtrack now.

I had to pull it together, fast. I could only handle Hayden if I kept my cool. I could tell I'd gotten to him, that I'd stirred something up.

But he was holding back, trying to keep it under control

The vein on his forehead was practically popping.

"Oatmeal delivered, you can leave now," I said, holding my breath.

Hayden didn't move. He didn't say anything either.

"Hay"

"Kiki..."

He cut me off, his voice low and husky, like a feather brushing against my heart.

Every nerve in my body felt like it was about to snap, and this weird, intense sensation surged through me.

"Hm?" My voice trembled.

It sounded way too seductive, so I bit my lip, afraid to say anything else.

I didn't even know I had this side to me. It was honestly kind of embarrassing.

I watched as Hayden's Adam's apple bobbed, and then he suddenly cupped the back of my head with his free hand, pulling me against his chest. His husky voice tickled my ear. "Don't speak.* Wait, what?

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Chapter 240

or now.

"Don't move, and don't speak," he murmured, his voice scared I won't be able to hold back."

My eyes went wide. Was he saying he was actually thinking those kinds of thoughts about me?

"Don't move. Be good," he whispered, his fingers softly running through my hair. He pulled me closer, his arms locking around me even tighter.

I was in this super-thin silk nightgown, and he had on a light T-shirt. The barely-there fabric wasn't doing anything to stop the heat between us.

I'm not like Lena. I don't know much about, like, anatomy or whatever, but I knew my nerves were on fire, buzzing with this insane, restless energy. They were screaming at me.

It was like I was craving something I didn't even know I wanted,

I wasn't a kid anymore. I was in my late twenties-totally grown up-but I'd never really, you know, done it before.

And that empty, aching feeling inside me was seriously messing with my head.

I could tell Hayden wasn't doing any better. His heartbeat, his breathing, the way he felt so hot against me

-it was all saying the same thing

He

was totally into me. No question.

But he still hadn't made a move. What did that mean?

But he still hadn't made a move. What was up with that?

Was it self-control? Restraint? Or, like Lena said, did he just not love me enough to take that step? Or maybe he was just too freaked out to deal with what would happen after? I couldn't let it slide. I needed to know. I had to get an answer.

Chapter 241