Until Alex - J. Nathan Page 0,21
he said we knew so little about each other. But he wasn’t the only one to blame. I didn’t offer much in regards to me or my past either. “My favorite’s ‘Black.’”
Hayden’s eyes remained on the dark road, but a little smirk tipped his lips.
I waited him out.
“Mine’s ‘Nothingman.’”
I nodded, recognizing the song. “Walking on your own with thoughts you’d rather not think?”
His eyes shot to mine, blinking hard. It made me wonder. Maybe we weren’t so different after all. Both on our own. Both with heads full of memories that brought nothing but sadness.
Without a word, Hayden’s attention turned back to the road. That was all I’d get.
* * *
Parking in the darkest corner of the parking lot, Hayden jumped out and circled to my side before I could even gather my handbag into my lap. He pulled open my door, but unlike the scene outside the bar, he didn’t lean in and whisper in my ear. He waited for me to step out with one hand in his pocket and the other on the door.
As we crossed the parking lot, a spring peeper croaked its high-pitched call in the distance, making our silence in the balmy night even more prominent. Like things weren’t awkward enough.
Inside, the blast of air conditioning sent chills scurrying up my arms. Or, it could’ve been Hayden’s arm brushing mine as we took the silent ascent to the second floor.
I wondered why he never used the elevator. Scratch that. I wondered lots of things about him. Things, after the night’s unfortunate turn of events, I’d probably never find out.
He stopped outside his door, running his hand up and down the back of his head, messing up his already tousled hair.
Saving him the inner struggle of what to say, I continued to my aunt’s apartment and unlocked the door. I glanced over my bare shoulder.
With his hands buried in his pockets, he faced me.
“Thanks for tonight. You really helped me forget. At least for a little while.”
Taking a page from his book, I pushed open the door and slipped inside without another glance.
HAYDEN
I turned onto my side, checking the alarm clock for the hundredth time.
Seven thirty.
I hadn’t slept at all. Not because of the usual nightmares. Because Alex’s comments played through my head on a constant loop.
What did she need to forget? And why the hell did I only help for a little while? Did I really fuck everything up by blowing off her hug? Disregarding her toast? Dodging her questions? Not explaining my song choice?
Man. I was such a douchebag.
A loud pounding on my front door snapped me out of my head.
I rolled out of bed and moved through my living room. The pounding continued like the person didn’t think they’d been loud enough the first time. I didn’t even bother throwing on a shirt or checking the peephole. Whoever showed up at my door that early on a Friday morning deserved my wrath.
I yanked open the door, stepping back as Remy pushed by me. “Get packed.” He landed his ass on my sofa and kicked his black boots onto my coffee table like he owned the place. “We’re taking a road trip.”
I rubbed my palms into my scratchy eyes. “What the hell, man? It’s not even eight.”
“Cooper needs us up in Houston.” His brows bounced. “All expenses paid.”
As much as I needed the money, Cooper expected us to drop everything to take care of his shit. Excuses were unacceptable. And since Remy was always game, it meant I was, too. We were a team and Cooper knew it. Hell, everyone knew it.
And even though I wanted out of this job—this life—I couldn’t let Remy down. Not after everything he’d done for me. “I need to be back for Monday.”
“Don’t be such a bitch, Hayden. The sooner we get outta here, the sooner we’ll be back.”
CHAPTER SIX
ALEX
Back at the University of Texas, I loved the first day of a new year. Seeing everyone after a long summer apart. The new off-campus house. The new couples. The new classes. But as I pulled into the crowded parking lot of Southern State College, I could hardly swallow down the gigantic knot in my throat.
I wanted to stay at UT. But being alone in that huge empty house, waiting for the semester to begin, wasn’t healthy. My stint in the hospital could attest to that. So when my aunt enrolled me at SSC, I didn’t have a choice.
I’d heard about small colleges. The gossip. The drama. The