The scene was as awkward as you’d expect.
Except for Hayden.
“Just a moment,” he said calmly, carrying me over to the couch like it was the most natural thing in
the world.
He didn’t rush out either. Instead, he took his time, wiping my hands with a wet wipe. “Eat first. The
soup’s a little hot, so take it slow.”
Wayne hovered awkwardly at the door, clearly unsure if he should step inside or make a run for it.
Even I felt the tension.
“I can manage, thanks,” I said, hoping Hayden would take the hint and go see what Wayne needed.
Before leaving. Hayden made sure to open all the food containers, even cing the utensils in front
of me with such care it almost felt like a final blow to Wayne
Standing there in the doorway, Wayne had to watch this whole disy of tenderness. I couldn’t
imagine how much it must’ve hurt, considering his feelings for me.
“What did you want to talk about?” Hayden asked as he walked over to the door.
Wayne stepped out, and they started talking in hushed tones, too low for me to catch.
Hayden came back three minutester, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever.
Since I couldn’t get a read on him, I decided to just ask. “What did Wayne want?” I asked, sipping
my soup. “Nothing much,” Hayden said, brushing it off. Then, maybe realizing how vague that
sounded, he added, He was trying to recruit me.”
I blinked in surprise. “Recruit you? For RiverwaveCorp?
But Wayne was just an executive director now. Recruiting new talent wasn’t his job–it should be
handled by HR or someone higher up. Was he already gearing up to take over Jace’s position?
If that’s the case, what was the point of everything he said to me earlier? Was he testing me, or
maybe trying to prepare me for what’sing?
“He didn’t say where. Just asked if I’d be interested,” Hayden replied as he sat down.
I absentmindedly stirred my soup with my spoon. “And what did you say?”
“Not interested,” he said bluntly, without a hint of hesitation.
So direct. So unapologetically straightforward.
I couldn’t help butugh. He nced at me. “What’s so funny?”
“I’mughing at how direct you are. It’s kind of adorable,” I teased.
Hayden’s ears turned red again as he handed me ameal pancake. “That’s not exactly how your
compliment a guy”
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“How should Ipliment you then?” I teased, grinning. “Isn’t calling you adorable apliment?”
Hayden swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. You canpliment me, but no one else
can.”
I blinked, caught off guard for a second, before realizing what he meant.
He handed me the pancake, and when I reached for it, our fingers brushed. The tiny spark between
us was hard to ignore. “Hayden, you’re a bit possessive, you know that?”
He didn’t miss a beat. “Yeah, but only when ites to you.”
He really was a sweet–talker, always ready with a romantic line to catch me off guard.
I took a bite of the pancake. It was soft and slightly sweet, delicious, but still different from the ones
my mom used to make.
Nothing everpares, and now that my mom was gone, I’d never have her pancakes again.
“Is it good?” Hayden asked.
I nodded, not wanting to let my emotions show.
We continued eating, making light conversation here and there. By the time we were done, the
heaviness I’d felt from thinking about my parents had almost lifted, reced by a strange sense of
peace from his presence.
“Hayden, let’s go home,” I said softly.
He looked at me. “Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“I’m fine, and I don’t want to stay here,” I insisted, sounding like a brat,
“Alright, we’ll leave as soon as you’re done eating. Hayden agreed, humoring me.
I smiled, and he raised an eyebrow. “Don’t smile while you’re eating, or you’ll choke.”
“Oh, so I shouldn’t talk either?” I teased.
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“In principle, yeah,” he said, his tone almost too serious, reminding me of his military past.
I smirked, pushing his buttons a little. “If you’re so principled, why don’t you try to control me
more?”