I knew Lena wouldn’t reply right away, not at this hour. So, I closed the chat and scrolled through
my social media feed.
The first thing that popped up was a post from Steve–candid shots fromst night, everyone clinking
sses andughing.
N?velDrama.Org is the owner.
But what caught my eye wasn’t the celebration. It was a hand in the corner of the photo. Jace’s
hand. I recognized it instantly because of the ring. The one I gave him.
A weird mix of embarrassment and regret hit me hard. That ring was part of a matching set. I still
had the other one. I’d bought them for $99.90 with my first paycheck when I turned eighteen.
I’d worn the women’s version and gave him the men’s. He teased me back then, saying I was trying
to lock him down or something. But after that, he never wore it again.
When I hinted at it, he just brushed it off, saying wearing something like that would only invite
ridicule.
It was too cheap.
I got it. A guy like Jace couldn’t be caught dead with a
ap ring.
But that ring meant something to me. It was the first thing I bought with my own money. After he
brushed
it off, I never mentioned it again, and he never wore it. But now, there it was in that photo.
I couldn’t help but wonder, “What’s he trying to do? What’s he trying to say?‘
I didn’t know, and I didn’t want to waste time guessing.
Still, seeing that ring again stung. It reminded me of the old me–always careful, always chasing
after Jace, always feeling like I was reaching up to him.
Lena’s message pinged, snapping me out of my thoughts.
[Who’d you sleep with?] She was always blunt.
I stared at her message, still rattled by the sight of Jace with that ring on his finger.
[Jace?] she asked next.
Then, [No way it was him.]
[Was it Hayden?]
Bingo. She knew me too well to be wrong.
[If a guy and a girl crash in the same room and nothing goes down, there’s only one exnation–
the guy’s got issues.] ssic–Lena.
Hayden’s got issues?
My mind shed to Hayden’s lean, muscr frame, and I knew Lena’s theory was way off.
Nope, the problem definitely wasn’t with Hayden. Which left… me.
The thought that I couldn’t evenpete with a pregnant widow for Jace made me shake my head
and
+35 BONUS
close the chat, Ignoring Lena’s messages.
I
“Keira, you weren’t in bedst night. Where’d you go? I texted you, but you didn’t reply,” Demi
asked, her voice groggy from just waking up.
I didn’t think she’d notice, considering she usually slept like a log.
Feeling guilty, I looked away. “I went for a run.”
Demi’s eyes widened. “You went for a run in the middle of the night? Are you self–torturing, or were
you just too horny to sleep?”
Her logic never ceased to amaze me.
“Shut up,” I shot her a look.
so why were you runnin
in the middle of the night?” Demi pressed, still not buying it.
I dodged her question and told her to hurry up and get ready. We had a lot of work to do
downstairs.
She was as relentless as ever. “Keira, you’re gonna burn yourself out. Maybe take it easy before
you snap or something
just sighed.
Demi trailed after me as we headed downstairs to the restaurant for breakfast. The moment we
walked in, we spotted Hayden already sitting there, halfway through his meal.
“Good morning, Mr. Hart!” Demi chirped, all bright and bubbly.
Hayden gave a quick nod. “Morning.”
I avoided his gaze and nudged Demi, trying to get her toe with me to pick out our breakfast.
But she had other ns. Grabbing my bag, she grinned and said, “Keira, I’ll eat whatever you eat.
You go pick, and I’ll hold our spot.”
I just stared at her, speechless.
Demi shot me a wink, clearly wanting more time with Hayden, leaving me no room to protest.
The truth? I seriously didn’t want to sit with Hayden.
I was about to trudge over to the food stations when Hayden’s voice cut through the air. “Ms. Young,
I can hold the spot for you both. It’s better if you get your own breakfast.”