frustrated or amused. “And, no. I’ve never signed them up for anything.”
She lifted a brow. “Not even a wet T-shirt contest? Because the ones I’ve seen, definitely seemed the type.”
I choked out a laugh. “Not even a wet T-shirt contest.” Alex had this uncanny way of weaving levity into our conversations when they became too serious. Like she knew when I got uncomfortable and needed a breather. Like she really knew me. “Seriously, I signed you up because you’re good.”
I could practically see the sarcasm leave her lips. “I believe you called me amazing.”
My gaze dropped to her parted lips, so lush and inviting. “I think you might be right.” We were dangerously close. She knew it and so did I. Her minty breath drifted over my face. She’d used my toothpaste. Had she expected something to happen between us? Had she hoped for it?
I couldn’t stop myself. I inched closer. Her breath hitched in her throat.
Knock. Knock.
“Fuuuck,” I groaned, dropping my forehead to hers.
“Expecting someone?”
The way she said someone told me she assumed it was a girl. Why wouldn’t she?
But what she didn’t know was whoever lurked outside the door could’ve been so much worse. “Listen.” I pulled back, evening my eyes with hers. “I need to answer this.” For the first time, I cupped her warm face between my hands. Her cheeks felt so damn soft I didn’t want to let go. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have. “Please stay in here. No matter what you hear, do not come out of this room.”
“Hayden, you’re scaring me.”
“Please. Just stay in here.” I jumped out of bed and hurried out of the room, closing the door behind me.
I leaned against it, pausing for a long moment. My old life and new life were seriously close to colliding. If I could just keep them separate, things might be okay.
I moved to the front door, wishing I didn’t have to answer it. But my truck was parked in the lot. No big secret I was home.
I checked the peephole, finding exactly who I expected.
I barely opened the door before Remy burst in looking like he hadn’t been to sleep yet. “Dude, where’ve you been? I’ve been calling.” He dropped onto my sofa and opened the pizza box on the coffee table.
“My phone must’ve died.” The truth was, with Alex around, the outside world disappeared. Most girls would break into a chorus of Awwws over the sweet notion. But it wasn’t sweet. It was stupid. In my life, losing focus was dangerous. It could get people killed.
It could get me killed.
Remy’s eyes assessed my apartment like he hadn’t been in it a hundred times before. “So…” His eyes landed on the two empty glasses on the coffee table.
Shit.
“Have some company last night?”
I shrugged.
His eyes shot to my closed bedroom door, before he flashed me one of his devious grins. “Is she still here?”
“Shut up, man. You know I don’t let ‘em stay.”
Remy stared at me, long and hard. Given the surly look in his narrowed eyes, he questioned my words. Questioned my story. “So, was it Sydney?”
“Nah. Just some bitch. Couldn’t even tell you what she looked like.”
A sly smile slid across his face. “Yeah. What was I thinking? Totally not your style, bro.” He grabbed a slice of cold pizza and bit into it. “So, Cooper called. We got a job tonight.”
I nodded. I didn’t need to know the logistics. Remy took care of that. As long as I drove and supplied backup, I just showed. The less I knew the better.
“I’m on my way to meet the boys for some grub. You in?”
“Got some shit to take care of.”
It may have sounded vague, and most would’ve questioned it, but not Remy. If it didn’t interfere with our job, he didn’t question it. Not seriously, anyway. “Pick me up at Baxter’s around nine. Unless you wanna get hammered with me first.”
I shrugged. “I’ll see how the day turns out.”
He jumped to his feet, grabbing another slice and stuffing it in his mouth on the way to the door. “Later.”
“Later,” I said, locking the door behind him. And only then, with him out of my apartment and away from Alex, did I exhale.
ALEX
Hayden’s bedroom door swung open. Still in his boxers and wrinkled white T-shirt, he stood in the doorway looking down at me nestled in his bed.
“Everything okay?”
He nodded, but his eyes were distant. Troubled. Uneasy.
I sat up, keeping the blanket wrapped tightly around me, like that would shield me from