90

90
HAYLEY’S P.O.V

The smell of breakfast was what woke me but it was the light streaming through the windows that had me sitting up in a flash- I was late.

“Relax,” I felt a hand on my shoulders as Jake gently guided me back into the bed. “You don’t have to rush anywhere.”

“But I’m late-”

“Your dad gave you the day off, rest, Hayley, you’re not a machine, you are not a robot, you need a break once in a while.”

I wanted to protest but he just shot me a look that clearly told me he wasn’t taking no for an answer no matter what so I reluctantly found myself resting against the pillows. It was only once I was back in bed that I took the opportunity to look at Jake.

He was shirtless showing off his toned chest, he had a tray of food in his hands that he placed in my lap. It smelled delicious and my stomach rumbled, reminding me that I didn’t have a chance to eat last night.

I mumbled a thank you under my breath before shoving a forkful into my mouth while Jake excused himself from the room. I didn’t know where he went and a part of me didn’t even want to ask.

He returned halfway through breakfast and sat next to me in bed. I avoided his gaze knowing without a doubt that he wanted to talk about something important. It wasn’t hard to deduce whenever he wanted to breach an important topic. He had the same expression on his face every single time.

“Are you going to tell me what happened at Andrea’s?” he asked but I ignored him. “Hayley-"

“I dropped the girl off and left, that’s it.”

“For a lawyer, you are a shitty liar.”

I shot him a glare. “That is a harmful stereotype.”

He didn’t even flinch, he just stared at me blankly, waiting for me to speak. The truth was, I didn’t want to talk about it with anyone, not even him, nothing had happened, nothing was going to change. I still wanted nothing to do with Andrea and her daughters but I just couldn’t shake the sense of hurt? Longing? I wasn’t even sure what I felt anymore.

“Hayley-”

“Please just stop,” I cut him off. “it is confusing enough as it is. I really don’t need you asking questions right now. I just need you to trust that I know what I am doing, okay?”

He hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Okay, if that is what you want then I’ll stop asking.”

“Thank you.”

The room delved into an uncomfortable silence. Even at our worst moments, things were never uncomfortable between us, that was what I loved most about being with Jake. We could sit together and neither of us would feel the need to fill the atmosphere with noise. Now, it felt like I had ruined it.

I abandoned my plate and rushed into the bathroom. I could feel Jake’s eyes on me the entire time but I ignored him and slammed the door shut behind me. I just needed a minute and a shower.

“Hayley,” I heard Jake speak from outside the door. I had a feeling if I opened it, he would be standing on the other side of it. “I just want you to know that there is no pressure, not from me at least. You don’t always need to have the answers.”

“I know that-”

“Do you really?” he asked, his voice soft but somehow firm at the same time. “You don’t always have to be perfect. You don’t always have to make the right choices-”

“I need to take a shower,” I interrupted him. “We’ll talk later.”

I didn’t give him the chance to respond before turning on the water.

By the time I got out of the bathroom, I felt incredibly childish for interrupting him like that as well as exhausted for no possible reason. I pulled on a loose shirt that smelled like Jake and his shorts.

Carmine was downstairs when I got there. She was seated by the kitchen island with Jake and they were both nursing cups of coffee. They went silent as soon as they saw me rousing some form of curiosity but I decided not to say anything and headed straight for the living room.

Jake mumbled something under his breath before walking out of the kitchen and heading for the stairs. I watched him leave, fighting the urge to go after him and fix what I had broken but I didn’t. I had barely sat down when Carmine spoke.

“I’m leaving today.”

That was enough to have me turning to face her. “Why?”

“I have a home, Hayley. I came here to see my daughter and she seems to be doing okay. I have to go back,” I just hummed because I really didn’t have anything else to say. “Besides, there seems to be a lot happening over here and as much as I do love some gossip, I’m too old for this.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “It was nice meeting you.”

“I could say the same thing,” she smiled softly. “Thank you.”

“What for?”

“For being good to Jake, for being Kate’s friend, my daughter hasn’t always had it easy in the friendship department but she speaks so highly of you.”

I felt a pang in my chest. I hadn’t exactly been a good friend to Kate recently. I texted once in a while but with everything going on, I hadn’t gotten the chance to see her or even speak to her. I made a mental note to go see her.

“You don’t have to thank me,” I said finally. “They’ve been good to me too.”

“Will you at least sit with me until the taxi comes?”

“Of course.”

She left about an hour after that. Jake was back from his shower and I watched Carmine’s cab leave. Jake still hadn’t said a word the entire time and the uneasy atmosphere was back.

I turned to him only to find him already staring at me, his eyes warm but assessing, almost as if he was trying to see inside my mind.

“I’m sorry I was a bitch earlier,” I mumbled. “I know you were trying to help, I just- sometimes I don’t want you to help, I just want you to be there for me.”

He was silent for a moment before nodding slowly. “How do I know which one you want at a given time?”

I shrugged. “You could ask.”

“I’ll ask then,” he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Do you have any plans for today or-”

“I want to see Kate.”

I could tell he was not expecting that because he stared at me for a full minute as if I had grown two heads. He blinked once, then twice and cleared his throat.

“Alright then, I can drive you or-”

“I think I’ll go on my own.”

He was clearly shocked. “Nick will go with you.”

“That’s fine by me. As long as he is ready within the next half hour.”

I wasn’t sure how Jake managed to pull it off but Nick was waiting by the door when I finally got changed. i grabbed one of Jake’s sweaters and paired it with leggings I had left behind at some point. I practically had my own drawer in his house.

Nick said nothing as he drove me to Kate’s school. Jake gave me everything I needed to know about where to find her. A part of me knew I should call first but for some reason, I didn’t get around to doing it. I was so focused on surprising her that I seemed to forget that she was a college student who needed her own privacy.

I knocked on her door and she pulled it open. On the surface, there was nothing wrong but I knew her well enough to know that something was off. She was in her usual sweats and a tank top but I could see black lace peeking out from underneath.

She had remnants of makeup on her face as if she had wiped it off but didn’t quite get it all and there was a scent in the air- a cologne that was obviously male. It clung to her skin.

“Hayley!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here? I didn’t know you were coming.”

“It was a last minute decision.”

“I thought you would be home with Jake seeing as my mum left today.”

“That was the initial plan. Can I come in?”

She stepped aside, letting me in. Nick was in the common area waiting, I didn’t want him here and suddenly, I was glad for that. Her room was beautiful to say the least, there were books all around and paintings on the walls. It had the kind of flair that made it look lived in.

The room was devoid of a male’s touch meaning whatever man she met, it wasn’t here.

“I could get you some water if you want. I have orange juice too but that’s about it.”

I waved her off. “What I really want to know is who he is.”

Her cheeks burned bright. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I shot her a bland look. “Please, you can’t lie to me. Who is he?”

“I don’t want you to judge.”

“Please,” I snorted. “I’m dating my father’s best friend. I am the last person who would judge you.”