Page 37 of Acceptance
Everyone laughs, and Colt nods. “I wish I could’ve met your dad, but I think he knows we’re going to take care of his kids for the rest of our lives.”
“I’ll call Lily and get the papers drawn up,” Lex says. “And I want you both to understand that it’s okay to talk about your parents with us.”
“It won’t make you upset if I talk about my mom?” Lucas asks. “I mean, she’s still alive.”
Placing a large hand on his shoulder, Colt smiles. “Lex is the best person to talk to about her. She knows how it feels to be hurt by your parents’ decisions.”
“Do I,” she mutters. “You both can talk to us about anything. And we will always be here.”
That they are. Hailey wants to kick herself for being so blind and stupid. Everything she’s ever wanted is right in front of her, but she was too scared to accept it.
Not anymore. I’m going to take the leaps of faith I’ve been too scared to take. Even if I fall on my face.
Chapter Thirteen
Griffin’s Beach
Gavin
Sitting in his apartment, Gavin contemplates calling Hailey. Getting the call from his mom that she was in trouble scared the hell out of him. And the way they found her kept him up all night. As did the conversation he just had two hours ago.
Emme wasn’t happy, but she understood. He knows part of her had to realize he still loves Hailey. It didn’t make it easier to handle her disappointment at his rejection when she showed up, ready to hop into bed. At least she didn’t put up much of a fight about it.
The fact he almost lost Hailey hasn’t left his mind since last night, and it made turning Emme down much easier. He almostreally lost Hailey, and he hates that they were both so angry the last time they spoke before this whole mess happened.
BUZZ!
Walking to the intercom, he prays it’s not Emme coming back to try and talk him out of being done with her. Like she’d done via text. As much fun as he had with her, he can’t continue. Not after last night. “Yeah?”
“It’s me.”
Hailey. He can’t press the button fast enough, and he opens his door to wait in the hallway. His hands shake, and he all but bounces on the balls of his feet as he waits for her to walk towards him.
The moment her brown hair comes into view, he wants to run to her. Grab her and hold her as tightly as he can, and he wants to never, ever let her go again. He doesn’t, though. There’s no telling where her head is at and how much physical touch she can handle right now.
Hailey stops right in front of him, and he sees she’s been crying. Her eyes are slightly bloodshot, and they’re swollen. A look he hates to see.
“Hey,” he says after they’ve stared at each other for an awkward amount of time.
“Hey.”
Relief fills him as she jumps into his arms. Swooping her up, he takes her into his apartment, thankful to touch her.
“How are you?” he asks as he sets her down. “Can I get you something?”
“Water, please,” she says and moves to sit on the couch. “I’m… I don’t quite know what I am right now, actually.”
Quickly grabbing a bottle from the kitchen, he hurries to sit beside her. Being out of her sight for even a second too long has him feeling like she might just disappear. Poof! She’ll be gone.
“Hailey, how did this all happen?”
He’d been upstairs with Lindsey when she talked with Colt and Lex about it, and she recounts it for Gavin. He finds a strange relief knowing it wasn’t because she mistakenly trusted someone.
Obviously, that wouldn’t happen. She doesn’t trust anyone.
No, it was a case of wrong place at the wrong time. Her instincts were on-point, but she wasn’t in a position to get away. Not on her own.
“I’m not going back to school,” Hailey says. “Just the thought of having to go back to the campus, let alone that room, makes me feel like jumping out of my skin. I mean, we were supposed to be safe there, you know?”
