Was that even a real question? No one likes being lied to.


    I looked at him, feeling a little defensive. “So, are you nning to deceive me in the future already


    lied about something?”


    or have you


    He hesitated, then said, “…No.”


    I couldn’t tell if he was beingpletely honest, but I made my stance clear. “Hayden, I won’t put


    up with being lied to.”


    He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I understand.”


    It was better to set boundaries upfront. I was m ng it clear now: if he ever dared to lie to me, he


    couldn’t expect me to just let it go.


    The boarding announcement came over the loudspeaker, calling for a flight heading overseas.


    I couldn’t help but think of Jace, and sure enough, I spotted him wheeling his luggage toward the


    security checkpoint.


    What was he going abroad for? Business? Or… something else?


    “Kiki, we should head to security,” Hayden’s voice pulled me back to reality.


    “Oh!” I snapped out of it and looked at him.


    Guilt washed over me. I was worried he’d notice I’d been watching Jace, even though my concern


    wasn’t about love anymore.


    But Hayden’s expression was neutral, giving nothing away. Hisck of reaction made me feel even


    more uneasy. I squeezed his hand. “Let’s go.”


    We passed through security without any issues and boarded the ne without a hitch.


    Right before I turned off my phone, I noticed an unread message. It was from Jace: [Safe travels.]


    I stared at those two words, remembering how I used to send him the same message every time he


    went on a business trip.


    Until one day, he’d scoffed, “That’s so old–fashioned. Next time, try to be more creative. If you can’t,


    don’t bother.”


    After that, I really did stop sending those messages.


    “Safe travels–those words may have seemed a bit old–fashioned, but they carried my deepest


    hope.


    Ever since my parents‘ car ident, I’ve dreaded every goodbye with the people I love. I was


    always scared it might be thest time.


    But Jace never understood that. He just found it annoying, so I stopped sending them.


    1 never imagined that today, he’d remember those words and send them back to me.


    I never thought that today, he would remember those words and send them to me.


    25 BONUS


    I pretended not to see the message and turned off my phone. Hayden had already powered off his,


    staring off into space.


    Irested my head on his shoulder. “Hayden, safe travels


    He smiled and rubbed his cheek against my hair. “Safe travels.”


    “There’s something I haven’t told you,” I said. I’m not the type to hide things, and this was one of


    those things I didn’t want to keep to myself. If I don’t want him lying to me, I need to be honest with


    him first.


    “You don’t have to say it if you’re not ready,” Hayden said softly, not wanting to push me.


    I rolled my eyes. “But I want to say it now.”


    “Then I’m all ears.”


    I almostughed in frustration. “Do you know what you’re like?”


    “What?”


    Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “You’re like a Weeble. No matter how hard I push, you never fall,” I teased, making him crack a


    small smile.


    “If you really want me to fall, I’ll just have to listen and do as you say,” he replied, his eyes serious


    but with a yful glint.


    The look he gave me suddenly reminded me of that night–the one that was not exactly PG–rated.