Page 138 of Finding Hayes
I looked back down at the paper in my hand and continued. “Abe told me not to give up on you, but he didn’t tell me anything more. I started to leave, and he stopped me. He asked me if I was still dating Kate, and I said that I was but that I missed my best friend. And then I made some snide comment that you weren’t a very good best friend if you could just up and leave me the way that you did, so maybe I needed to find some new friends.”
I sighed, because I could just picture him and Abe having this heart-to-heart. I looked back down at the words he’d written me all those years ago.“He asked me if I really felt that way about you. And I told him that I wanted to hate you but that I just couldn’t seem to do it. I’m so pissed at you, Sav. But I can’t hate you, no matter how hard I try. And you know that I don’t normally struggle with hating people. It usually comes really easy for me.”
My head fell back on a laugh, and I kissed his cheek. “You do normally find it easy to hate someone, but I’m glad you didn’t hate me.”
He shrugged. “You’re impossible to hate.”
I looked back down and continued reading.“Abe thought itwas funny. He was the only person I’d opened up to about you, and the old dude just laughed at me. But when I tried to leave again, he said he had one more question. He wanted to know what I would do if you came back today or in five years or in ten years. Would I forgive you and just be happy to see you, or would I turn my back on you? I didn’t need to think about it for long. The answer was easy. Because even after everything, Sav, you’re still my best friend. And there would never be a time that I wouldn’t be happy to see you. Because my world is such a better place when you’re in it.”
I sniffed a few times but kept my eyes trained on the letter.“So, I’m going to stop writing now, because it just feels like it’s time. But just know that if you come back today or in five years or even in ten years, I’ll be waiting for you. And that’s the truth. I hope you find your way back to me, and I told Abe that. And the old fucker just smirked and told me only time would tell.”
I had to pause because the lump in my throat made it difficult to speak. I sighed before moving on to the final few sentences.“I miss you today, and I’ll miss you in five years and in ten years. Because you’re my favorite person on the planet, Savannah Abbott. Peas and carrots. Hayes.”
I just sat on the couch crying, and my husband wrapped his arms around me.
“Well, damn. I forgot about that conversation. I think that sneaky bastard knew I’d marry you.” He laughed as his lips kissed my forehead.
“I think he probably knew you were my other half, and he hoped I’d come back here and figure it out.”
And I closed my eyes and said a silent thank-you to Abe.
Because he’d helped me find my way home.
He’d helped me find my happily ever after.
epilogue
. . .
Hayes
Nash and Emersonhosted their annual Fourth of July party, and everyone was there. We’d all teased Romeo for wearing some sort of sling across his chest with baby Hayes tucked inside. He was a damn good father, and I was proud as hell to see the man he’d become.
We’d all met when we were just kids, but seeing these guys as husbands and fathers—it was a good thing.
We’d beaten the odds.
When I’d passed on my football scholarship, I think a lot of people wrote me off and thought I’d just be some fuckup. But I’d put my head down and worked hard to become a firefighter, and now that I was captain, I fucking loved it. It was what I was meant to do.
I sipped my beer as I sat with the guys around the fire and glanced over at my wife. She was in her second trimester now, and her baby bump was cute as hell. She was growing every day, as were our children.
We were having two little girls.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined I’d be a father to two little princesses.
But here we were. Filling our nursery with everything pink and frilly.
And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t loving every damn second.
My life had completely surpassed any expectation I’d ever had, and it was all because this woman had come back to town and turned my world upside down.
In the best way.
“Wait till you see the fireworks I have planned this year. Best ones yet. I went all out,” Kingston said.
“You always go all out.” Romeo chuckled as Demi walked over and kissed his cheek, scooping the baby up out of his arms.
“I’m going to go nurse him inside,” she said.
