Chapter 85 Ryan Hayes

Chapter 85 Ryan Hayes
Purple’s POV:

Okay, I shouldn’t have gone out today. Imagine my surprise when I got to the conference and realized that St. Naman wasn’t a big city after all, and that coincidences do exist. Giselle’s nephew was none other than the guy who had bumped into me at the airport. Since I wasn’t in the mood to talk, I completely ignored the surprised look he threw my way from the stage when I walked in.

The conference was indeed boring. I had switched off my phone because Harry wouldn’t stop calling me, but after reading his last message about coming to find me in St. Naman tomorrow to explain things, my heart ached and my conscience started acting up again.

He had his racing event tomorrow. If I didn’t reply, he might actually come over here, which would ruin his chances of competing. He seemed to need that race; it looked like it helped him come to terms with himself. I waited until the conference was over before slipping out to lean against the wall in a quiet corridor, contemplating whether to call him.

The image of Tania and him together was still stuck in my mind, but he kept insisting Nate was there. I couldn’t completely doubt him because the picture was definitely taken by someone else—there had to be a third person in the room with them.

So I dialed his number. Before the first ring even finished, it connected. I placed it next to my ear and waited.

“Hey, Pancake.”

I melted at his sound and bit my bottom lip, wishing he was right here with me. I fucking hated the effect he had on me, because I feared I wouldn't be able to stay away from him even if he had hooked up with Tania.

“Don’t hate me again,” he said, clicking his tongue. “Don’t do that to me, Purple.”

I rolled my eyes. “What does it matter to you? One might actually think you love me.”

The line went silent as expected. I wondered what it would cost him to just say those words; right now, that was all I wanted to hear.

“Nothing happened between Tania—”

“You already told me that through your hundred messages. And don’t mention her name.” My lips curled into a frown at the mere mention of that Shake Shake girl.

“Fine, I won’t. But you have—no, you need to trust me.”

I nodded as if he could actually see me. “How was your flight?”

“How are you?” he asked instead, and my shoulders slumped. I was not fine. I was expected to choose between two terrible options: a high-risk surgery or an experimental rehabilitation. Even if nobody said it out loud, I just knew my mom was going to buy me a purple wheelchair soon just to cheer me up.

She was going to push me around town in it and try to make me believe that being in a chair didn’t make a difference. But I didn’t tell Harry any of that.

“I miss you.”

The other line was quiet, as if he didn’t believe that was the only thing bothering me. “I will come to you.”

I would love nothing more.

“Purple, don’t tell me you’re running away,” a voice called from behind me. I turned to find Giselle’s nephew grinning as he walked over. When he noticed I was on a call, he gave me an apologetic look. “Go on with your call, but don’t leave without saying hi,” he winked, straightened his suit, and headed back toward the hall.

“I will come to you immediately after the race,” Harry let me know, sounding completely certain now that he had made up his mind.

“I will be busy with my mom and, uhm—”

“Great, I don’t mind spending time with you and your mom.”

I sighed, realizing it was useless trying to talk him out of it. Then my phone chimed—I checked and saw he was sharing his live location with me, clearly expecting me to do the same.

“Seriously?”

“Just to make sure I find you easily tomorrow.”

“Right. We both know you must be wondering where I am right now.”

God, I loved this man. And because I was a fool who loved him that much, I shared my location back. We hesitantly ended the call because he needed to rest for his race, and the driver was already waiting for me.

I looked at the conference hall entrance and decided I was too tired. I slipped out of the venue without going back inside to say goodbye to Giselle’s nephew.

Sir Martin was leaned against the car, humming a tune. When he saw me, he flashed one of his signature smiles and pulled the car door open.

“So you’re really trying to sneak out?” that familiar voice said from behind. I turned to find the clumsy guy from earlier with a wide grin. “I told you we were going to meet again.” His smile was so wide I wondered if his face hurt. “Purple.” Of course he remembered my name.

“Nice conference,” was all I could manage, because I definitely wasn’t in the mood for small talk.

“I thought so too, but some purple-haired girl couldn’t help but yawn all the way through it.” He clicked his tongue, and I chuckled.

“That’s not true, I was attentive.”

“Yeah? Then what was the conference about?” He folded his arms, challenging me to prove him wrong. No matter how hard I tried to remember what they had been discussing in there, I drew a complete blank.

“Well, I did hear 100,000 dollars ,” I joked, and he laughed before extending his hand to me.

“Ryan Hayes.”

“Hayes?” My brows furrowed, causing me to frown even more. Mom had said he was Giselle’s nephew.

“My mom said this conference was organized by Giselle’s nephew or something. Is she also called Hayes like her husband?” I knew my question sounded ridiculous because he laughed out loud.

“The conference was organized by Giselle’s nephew. I was just a spokesperson up there.”

Well, that made little sense. “If you were paying attention, then you would have known that—”

“Now, don’t drag this out,” I snorted. He shrugged, glancing past me. I followed his gaze and realized he was looking at Sir Martin.

“Can you give me a ride too? Turns out my dad forgot to get some documents from Paul.”

He knew Paul and his dad? Was his dad Dr. Hayes?

“Of course, that’s if Miss Quinn doesn’t mind.” Now they were both looking at me. I bit my bottom lip before turning fully to face Ryan.

“You knew exactly who I was when we met at the airport.” It wasn’t a question, and he hadn't called me Purple just because of the color of my hair. Asshole.

Ryan lifted his hands in defense. “Hey… I wasn’t entirely sure, but I did think you looked familiar. Then, when I saw you arrive with Sir Martin today, I put the pieces together and remembered you’re the one Alice keeps trying to introduce me to.”

My brows furrowed deeper. I just couldn’t believe him. Why would my mom want to introduce me to him? “We’ll give you a ride, but don’t say a single word to me, liar,” I sneered, slipping into the backseat. He was about to get in as well, but I pulled the door shut and gestured sharply toward the front seat.

Ryan chuckled, leaning down by my window to meet my gaze. “I’m liking you already.”

“The name Hayes annoys me,” I retorted, and he slanted his head.

“Oh… you met my dad. If it makes you feel better, he annoys me too.”

“Sir Martin,” I called out with a frown. Sir Martin was having way too much fun watching our banter. Ryan finally got into the front seat, and we drove off.

The ride was mostly silent, and I was just basking in the quiet beauty of the scenery when loud music suddenly filled the car.

I glared at Ryan. He winked at me and started singing along, reminding me so much of Roonie, where a quiet car ride was practically a sin. After a night out, Leone, Etsy, and I would spend the drive home singing and laughing at the top of our lungs while Chris and Harry made sure we got back safely.

If I chose to study online and resume the rehabilitation process, I would be giving all of this up. Ryan probably expected me to yell at him to turn down the volume, but arguing and bantering with him didn’t excite me. There was only one person I wanted to do that with.

The very thought of losing him had started to scare me more than the thought of ending up back in a chair. And somewhere deep down, I knew he would leave if I became permanently disabled—because if he didn’t think I was worthy years ago when I was handicapped, why would he now?

I knew all of this, yet I was still willing to stay with him. Because, as everyone already knew, I was a complete idiot.