Page 80 of Movers and Fakers

“Hayes, please,” Forrest begs. “I’m going to die of boredom.”

I giggle. “You should get back to training.”

“If I must,” Hayes says on a sigh. He steals a kiss from me before popping back into the ring.

I spend the rest of the time watching him, wondering what he’s hiding beneath his carefree demeanor.

Chapter forty

Mine

Hayes Rosewood

I watch Forrest run up to his house and wait for him to get inside before backing out of the driveway.

“He’s a good kid,” Aurora comments from beside me in the passenger seat.

Knowing that I’d have to drop Forrest off, I had Mac bring around one of my other cars that has a back seat, since my McLaren doesn’t. I store a few in a garage off campus so that I’m prepared for whatever need arises.

“He is,” I affirm. “In spite of a hard life, he’s managed to turn out better than a lot of people I know.”

The driveway is practically disintegrated, so it takes some maneuvering to get out without damaging my car.

“I think that’s in part because of you,” Aurora says softly.

I shake my head and laugh a little.

“No, I’m sure any influence I have is a bad one.”

“Your plaque in Haymakers says differently,” she counters.

When we turn onto the main road, things smooth out, and I’m able to process what Aurora’s saying.

“You saw that?” I ask, and scratch the back of my neck.

“Yes, and I think it’s amazing, Hayes.” She pauses, and I feel her weighing her next words. “Why does it seem like you’re someone different at Haymakers than on campus? I mean, I get to see the Haymakers side of you, but everyone else …”

“Sees a cocky flirt floating through life?” I fill in.

She grimaces.

“Basically, yeah.”

I shrug. “It’s easier that way. You know how you’re closed off until you get to know someone?”

I see her nod out of the corner of my eye.

“That’s kind of how it is for me. I just give people a version of myself, instead of the whole thing. Does that make sense?”

“Sort of,” Aurora replies in a soft voice. “I hold back because I don’t like being in crowds or having attention on me. You do. So why hide behind this image, when you could make more genuine friends if you didn’t?”

My chest rises as I pull in a deep breath. No one has ever asked me anything like this before. Al has hinted at the idea but was never so direct. Leave it to my blunt ballerina to not pull punches.

Aurora reaches over and takes my hand from where it’s resting on the center console. Her touch calms my anxiety. And there’s something about having a conversation in the car that feels easier. I don’t have to look anyone in the eye, and if I take a while to answer, it could just be because I’m driving. There’s a comfort in that.

“I don’t know if it’s hiding. I’m still being myself, I just don’t feel the need to share all of me with everyone. There’s an image that’s expected of me, son of a billionaire, heir to the tech throne.”

Aurora’s thumb traces circles on my skin. I turn down a road that will ensure it takes us longer to get to campus.