Chapter 65 Chapter 65

Chapter 65 Chapter 65
COLEEN

In my next life, I'm definitely going to be born into a rich home. Not that I wasn't happy with the parent I have, I was. I would choose my dad in every lifetime. But it sure won't hurt if he was crazy rich in his next life.

Because if my dad was rich, I wouldn't need to worry about my finances or do hard labor. I would simply just be laid-back and study without any worry in the world.

The mop bucket squeaked against the gym floor as I dragged it down the hallway, my arms aching from hours of scrubbing and wiping. My sneakers squeaked with every step, and I felt like a walking sound effect.

I hated nights like this, the long shift at the athletic complex after a full day of classes. My brain was fried from lectures, my back sore from bending over treadmills and wiping down lockers. By the time closing rolled around, my body screamed at me to collapse on the nearest bench and never move again.

But instead, I grabbed the mop, dunked it into the soapy water, and pressed it against the tile, watching faint streaks of dirt disappear into clean, glossy lines.

One more hallway. Then I could go home, shower, and sleep.

The gym echoed with emptiness. Most of the lights had already been turned off, leaving a few strips of fluorescent glow humming above me. It was eerie and calming at the same time.

I was halfway through muttering to myself about how I had a paper due tomorrow when a voice broke through the quiet.

“You missed a spot.”

I jumped, my heart leaping into my throat. I spun around, clutching the mop like a weapon.

And there he was. Hayden leaned against the doorframe, his hair still damp from his shower, his duffel bag slung casually over one shoulder. He had that infuriating smirk plastered on his face, the one that said he knew exactly how much he’d startled me.

“Are you trying to kill me?” I demanded, lowering the mop. “You can’t just sneak up on people like that.”

He chuckled, stepping into the hallway. “I wasn’t sneaking. I walked right in. You were just too busy grumbling to notice.”

“I wasn’t grumbling,” I muttered, turning back to the floor.

“Yes, you were.” He dropped his duffel by the wall and folded his arms. “Something about papers and dying?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Maybe.”

He laughed again, the sound echoing softly in the empty hallway. “Need a hand?”

I glanced at him over my shoulder. “With what?”

He gestured at the mop. “Cleaning. Unless you’re planning on fighting off dust bunnies with that thing all night.”

I rolled my eyes. “You just finished practice. You should be resting, not scrubbing floors.”

“I’ve got energy to spare,” he said easily, already reaching for the spare mop leaning against the wall. “Besides, if you collapse from exhaustion, who’s going to carry you home?”

“You’re ridiculous,” I said, but a reluctant smile tugged at my lips.

“I’ve been called worse.” He dunked the mop into the bucket with a flourish and began swiping it across the floor like he was on some kind of stage.

I couldn’t help laughing. “You look like a terrible janitor.”

“Correction,” he said solemnly, “I look like a stylish janitor.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“You like that about me.”

I snorted but didn’t deny it.

For the next twenty minutes, we worked side by side, the rhythm of our mops filling the silence. Every so often, Hayden would “accidentally” splash water in my direction, and I’d retaliate by nudging his mop with mine until he stumbled.

“Childish,” I accused after one particularly dramatic flail.

“Competitive,” he corrected, flashing me a grin.

When the hallway gleamed under the lights, I leaned on my mop, sighing. “Finally. I think that’s it.”

“Not bad,” he said, examining the floor like a critic. “I’d give us a solid eight out of ten.”

“Excuse me?” I raised a brow.

“Points off for teamwork,” he teased. “You were supposed to let me win the mop battle.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re hopeless.”

He set the mop aside and stepped closer, his gaze softening. “But you’re smiling now.”

I froze, caught off guard by the way his voice dropped lower. My hand tightened on the mop handle, my chest suddenly too tight.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I guess I am.”

He reached up, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face. The simple gesture sent a shiver down my spine. His fingers lingered for a second too long, and I had to force myself to breathe.

“You work too hard,” he said softly.

“I have to,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. “Scholarship only covers so much.”

“I know,” he said. “But you don’t have to do it alone all the time.”

Something in my chest loosened at his words, and I swallowed hard. “You can’t mop my life for me, Hayden.”

He grinned faintly. “Maybe not. But I can mop floors.”

I laughed, the sound echoing in the empty hallway. “You’re impossible.”

“Maybe,” he said, his eyes holding mine. “But I’m not going anywhere.”

The silence between us stretched, filled with unspoken things. My heart hammered, and for a moment, I thought he might kiss me right there in the middle of the hallway, surrounded by the smell of disinfectant and squeaky sneakers.

But instead, he just smiled and squeezed my hand lightly before pulling back. “Come on. Let’s lock up before they charge you overtime.”

I nodded, still trying to catch my breath, and together we finished up, switching off the lights, stacking the cleaning supplies, closing the doors.

As we stepped out into the cool night air, I glanced at him, the weight of the day lighter somehow. My body was still sore, my assignments still looming, but with Hayden walking beside me, it didn’t feel quite so overwhelming.

And for once, I let myself believe that maybe I didn’t have to carry everything alone.