Chapter 151 Look to the skies
Chapter 151 Look to the skies
Tegan
Things with Hayes had become ridiculously perfect. Ever since we got locked in Charlie's kitchen on Thanksgiving, the awkward, icy wall that kept us stuck in a three-week silent treatment had totally smashed to pieces.
The silence was gone, replaced by a crazy, breathless closeness that took over everything. Hayes moved right back into my life like he’d never left.
His huge hands were constantly sliding under my sweaters, cupping the warm curve of my stomach as if he were trying to make up for every single day he’d spent keeping his distance.
Which was exactly why, when I pitched my grand, old-money plan for the gender reveal party, he didn't even look at the papers I handed him. He just tossed his black Amex card to his finance team and told them to make it happen.
"I am officially declaring this the most aggressively extra, fancy event this university has ever seen," Sophie squealed. Her face was bright with pure excitement as she smoothed down a tablecloth.
It was late sunset, and the private island beach estate looked like a breathtaking, high-society gala right at the water's edge.
Huge white silk tents flowed gracefully in the crisp November wind, shading long tables covered in linen, overflowing with crystal glasses of champagne, white roses, and heavy silver candle holders.
Hayes and I had invited the entire campus, the Student Union board and sweet staff members like Martha. Even the Dean himself accepted the VIP invite. He was standing near the water in his tailored coat, looking like the perfect, classy boss of our school universe.
Hundreds of Whitlock students mingled across the sand, their expensive white coats catching the last, burning orange rays of the sun setting over the dark horizon. White was the dress code for today, and everyone understood the assignment.
"Tegan, look at you," Charlie murmured, walking up to me with a soft smile.
I smiled back, my hand gently smoothing the heavy fabric of a tight, off-shoulder white dress that hugged my pregnancy curves perfectly. I felt like a fairy in this dress. Well, a pregnant fairy. Which was honestly even better.
This evening was all about my baby. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a nervous wreck. At least I had Deedee for moral support. He was right beside my silver heels, sitting comfortably in a custom, tiny wicker beach chair.
Of course he got his own seat. He's family, and Hayes didn't even fight me on it. He was wearing a tiny, satin formal bowtie around his neck, his bulging, unblinking eyes watching the elite crowd with hatred. I'm positive he wanted to be literally anywhere else than a beach full of people.
"The Captain is getting impatient," Jax chuckled, rubbing his jaw as he joined our circle. "He’s been staring at the roof for twenty minutes."
I looked across the sand toward the edge of the water. Hayes was standing near the waves, his massive 6'4" athletic frame totally taking over the shoreline.
He wore a tailored three-piece white suit, the fabric practically begging for mercy against his broad shoulders, with his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
His blue eyes locked onto mine. Then he winked, making my cheeks instantly burn. I felt like a teenage girl whose crush just noticed her. Fucking hell.
The fierce, possessive pride written all over his rugged face made my heart do a wild, frantic flip against my ribs.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer’s voice suddenly boomed through the high-end beach speakers, cutting through the chatter of the crowd.
"The countdown to the reveal has officially begun! Please, look to the skies!"
The entire crowd erupted into a massive roar of applause. The crowd rushed toward the shoreline, their phone cameras up as a heavy, mechanical thump-thump-thump echoed from the roof of the main beach house.
This was it. My heart hammered against my ribs. One of Hayes’s private security helicopters lifted off the pad, its huge blades slicing through the purple twilight air as it flew right over the ocean, positioning itself right above the white tents.
The plan was flawless and simple, a beautiful piece of movie magic. The helicopter’s fuel lines had been completely drained and filled with a special, safe, thick coloured organic mist.
When the countdown hit zero, the pilot would open the vents, releasing a sweeping, beautiful wave of pink or blue mist to rain down. Sophie handled everything, so out of everyone standing here, she'd probably be the only one looking smug when the color finally poured.
"Ten!" The crowd began to shout together, their voices echoing across the waves. "Nine! Eight!"
Hayes closed the distance between us in two long, heavy steps. His huge arm wrapped tightly around my waist, pulling my body flat against his side. His large, rough palm slid flat over my stomach, his breathing heavy and possessive against my hair.
"Four! Three! Two! One!"
The helicopter drifted lower, its mechanical roar deafening as the vents beneath the body hissed violently open, dumping a massive, pressurized cloud right into the strong ocean wind.
The smile on my face instantly, violently froze. My breath locked in my throat, a sudden, suffocating wave of cold, terrifying dread crashing over my chest.
The cloud swirling through the air wasn't a gorgeous, vibrant pink. It wasn't a bright, celebratory baby blue either. It was a thick, choking, and utterly pitch-black mist.
What the actual fuck.
The ocean wind caught the dark cloud instantly, blowing the heavy, chemical-smelling powder directly over the shore, staining the beautiful white silk tents into a dirty, soot-covered mess.
The black dust rained down over the diamonds, the champagne, and the expensive coats of the crowd.
The music abruptly cut out with a sharp burst of static, and the entire beach turned into absolute, screaming chaos.