Hayley - Kathryn Shay Page 0,47
already talked about Seth and his recovery.
“Ronan was his champion. Whenever kids picked on him for being a bookworm, Ronan was there to punch back, sometimes literally. Sometimes with his quick wit. I think maybe Finn took Ronan’s disappearance from our lives harder than I did, though he never would talk about him after he left.”
Dropping down next to her, stretching out, Paul crooked his elbow and put his head in his hand. She was so precious he wanted to take away her pain. “By the looks of you two together, he was your champion, too.”
“You should have seen how he went after my mother whenever she got on us.”
“What about your father?”
“Dad talked to him, and Ronan told him if he didn’t stand up to her, he—Ronan—would.”
“Gutsy move.”
“Still, Ronan was close to Dad.” She seemed far away. “The same week he passed away, Ronan’s ex-girlfriend died, and Ronan said he had to get out of Hidden Cove. We never heard from him again.”
Because he could tell she was getting sad again, he reached out and brushed back her hair. “That’s good news about Seth.”
“Yeah. I’m glad Aunt Carmella and Rafe stayed the night with him.”
“He’ll be sore for a long time.”
“Can you imagine, somebody walked right into Legal Aid and went after him?”
“Aren’t there any security precautions in place?”
“Some, but they’re not enough. He complained to the bosses but they never put in an alarm. They will, now, though.”
“Too late for Seth.”
“I need a shower.” She frowned as she glanced down at his body. “I have clothes here, but you don’t. Hold on a sec.” Bolting up, she walked out of the room.
Paul laid back on the bed as she’d been and stared up at her ceiling, where a fan whirred. God, he had to have another chance with this woman. He had to. The thought of losing her was untenable.
She came back bearing an armful of clothes and tossed them on the bed. Shirts, pants, shorts, a bathing suit, some pajama bottoms. “Help yourself.”
He rolled to a sitting position then stood. “Did you disturb Finn? He said he was going straight to bed.”
“I didn’t want to do that. Those are Ronan’s clothes. I guess he doesn’t have a whole lot of interest in coming back into the fold.”
“I was thinking, Hayley. He must be close by. He got to the hospital fast, almost as fast as we did.”
A startled look. “What are you saying?”
“Maybe he’s living in New York.”
Her face flushed. Not with sorrow, this time. But with anger. “Fuck him, then. If he’s been that close.”
He stared at her.
“Sorry. I know your situation—”
“No, don’t apologize. I’ve been back in the area and I didn’t contact my family for a year. Comparing me to Ronan is accurate.”
She stood before him, watching him carefully. “Why did you come to my apartment tonight?”
“I decided I wasn’t going to let you go without a fight. Some things happened, good things, which I’ll tell you later. But they gave me the courage to come after you.”
She smiled.
“There’s one thing I want to say now.” He brushed his knuckles down her cheek “I love you, Hayley.”
Her eyes widened, then crinkled up at the corners. “I love you, too.” She didn’t even hesitate to say it back.
He was shocked at her admission.
Even more so, when she started undressing.
“Are you going to take a shower?”
“No. Later. Now, I think the talking should end on that lovely thought.” Wearing only a pink skirt and black bra, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
He picked her up and whispered in her ear, “I’ll take it from here.”
* * *
Two weeks later
“Is it straight?” Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, Paul stood on the ladder after nailing in the sign over their new space on the edge of the commercial district in Brooklyn. They’d been lucky to get the spot, as someone canceled their lease.
“Yep, you nailed it.”
“Ha ha.”
Hayley smiled at her fiancé. He was light-hearted these days. It was hard to believe that it had only been two weeks since Seth’s injuries. He was recovering just fine. Right after the incident, and their confessions of love, she and Paul both gave notice in their respective jobs.
Paul joined her on the grass, sliding his arm around her waist. It felt wonderful to be outted. “Think we’re going to make it?”
“I know we are. Covington, Casella and Covitz will be a real success.”
“I wish it could say Covitz and Casella.” He sounded sad.
“It will, someday. But