Page 53 of Below The Surface
Hayden just laughs and shakes his head. We run across and Hayden slides into the passenger seat. “I can have my uncle pick me up. It’s no big deal.”
“No, I wanna see you safely there. Plus, maybe I’ll get to try something new tonight.” I wiggle my brows and Hayden just slaps a hand across my stomach.
“I really don’t need to know about your bedroom shenanigans.”
“Anyway, thanks for playing look out. We had fun even if it was short-lived.”
He shakes his head. “I expect you to do the same for me sometime.”
I press a hand to my chest. “Of course. Just say when and where.” I pull out of the parking lot and hop onto the highway. Hayden’s uncle lives on a farm and it’s a bit out of the way, but if he feels safe there, I’m happy to take him.
He fiddles in his seat and clutches the oh shit bar as he watches out the window. He’s so tense he jumps when his phone vibrates in his pocket. His face pales when he reads the text.
“No.” He tosses his phone onto the dashboard. “Stop the truck. Fucking stop.”
Thank fuck, there’s no one behind me because he opens the door as I’m slowing to a stop. He’s got his seat belt off and he’s out of his seat the moment I put the truck into park. He’s retching beside the truck when I get to him.
My hands shake. What the hell kind of text made him react like this?
“Go look at the text.” He waves back to the dashboard while he spits on the side of the road.
So I grab his phone, unlock it, and stare. “Oh, fuck.” It’s from Hayden’s uncle. Just a picture of a vase with a single blue rose with a card that reads, You’re the only man that makes me feel alive.
“How the hell did they figure out where you’d be?”
“I don’t know.” Hayden’s bent over with his hands on his knees. “I don’t know, and I’m freaking the fuck out. Do you trust Kay to figure this out?” His eyes go wild and he steps back. “What if it is Kay?”
“I don’t think it is.” But could it be? He has all these connections around the city. I shake my head. “Why would he?”
“I don’t know!” Hayden shouts and bends over again, this time just catching his breath. “I can’t breathe.”
I grab his shoulders. “Look at me. Match my breath.” I can’t think about how he smells like vomit.
It takes a long time for him to calm down, but I don’t blame him. I pull him in to my arms and hold him until he stops shaking.
“Kay’s gonna be so upset you’re not fucking him awake already.” Hayden chuckles as he pulls away.
“Kay can wait. You’re more important right now. What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know. I can’t go to my place. Can’t go to my uncle’s.”
“Then you’re coming with me to Kay’s. He’s offered plenty of times. I don’t think he’ll mind.”
Hayden wipes at his eyes with the back of his hands. “Okay. Glad I packed a bunch of clothes.”
“Their place is nice. You’ll like it.” I kiss the top of his head. Might be weird, but it felt right. Hayden doesn’t say anything about me acting strange. “Come on, I’m gonna text Kay and we’ll head over.”
Hayden gets settled in and I buckle before I send the text to Kay.
Dallas: We’re both coming back to your place. Hayden’s uncle sent a text that someone delivered a blue rose to Hayden. He’s freaking out, so I’m bringing him with me.
There. I get back on the road and turn around to head back to Kay’s place. Hayden turns up the music and hums along. That’s what he does when he’s anxious. His leg bounces and he slumps in the seat.
“Everything’s gonna be okay.” I say it to help myself believe it.
16
CASEY
