Page 38 of Acceptance
“What about your stuff?”
“Lex and a few others got everything for us. Lindsey left a couple of hours ago to go back home to Oregon, and the rest of her stuff is getting shipped to her.”
He tentatively reaches out and takes her hand. “What are you going to do?”
Shaking her head, she shrugs and leans against the arm of the couch. Her knee presses against the back cushion as she faces him. “I’ll stay at home until I figure it out. I kind of just want to stick around here, you know? It’s the only place that really feels safe, which is ironic considering there’s, like, a serial killer lurking around.”
She’s staying!“How were Colt and Lex about the whole situation?”
“They’ve been great. They’re always great. I was scared I’d never see Lucas again. Or the rest of my family. Or… you.”
I made the list!That’s something.“I can only imagine.”
“You have to understand something about me, Gavin. I’ve found it to be easier to expect the absolute worst out of everyone around me. In my experience, I’m always let down in one way or another. If I expect the worst, it’s not a surprise.”
He can’t blame her. Her life has been far from easy, but she creates some of the heartache she goes through herself.
“Or you might be putting the bad things out into the universe and getting what you ask for.” The moment he says the words, he pinches his eyes shut. “I didn’t mean that you deserved or even asked for what happened last night. I mean other shit. You know? I’m just going to stop talking now.”
Gavin expects Hailey to get angry. To bite his head off and yell at him and say he’s a terrible person. The one he fears is hearing her say she made a mistake by coming here today, but he pops his eyes open when she laughs.
“Hailey?”
“You’re right. I create self-fulfilling prophecies by expecting the worst. That night, though, wasn’t me putting it out there. My instincts were spot on, but I couldn’t get out of it.”
Shaking his head, he smirks. “You’re nothing if not a constant surprise, Hailey Lawrence.”
“Nichols.”
“Pardon?”
Sniffling, she looks at the couch cushion between them and pulls her hand from his as she hugs her knees to her chest. “I asked Colt and Lex to adopt me.”
“Wait, are you serious?”
She nods and looks up into his eyes. “They love me even though I make it incredibly difficult.”
“They understand.”
“They love Lucas just the same. I mean, the adoption is more of a formality at this point, but I’m going to change my name. I think I’m going to test out calling them Mom and Dad, but that might take some time. It’s time to put the past behind me.”
“They’re over the moon, aren’t they?”
She smiles, biting her bottom lip as she nods. “I was scared they’d say no.”
“You didn’t see them last night. Lex held it together for Lucas, but I know how she looks when she’s terrified. And it’s rarely ever for herself. And Colt… man, anyone who got in his way was going to lose their life. He told Mel he came to bring his daughter home.”
“The whole club showed up for me,” she says and begins to cry. “No one has ever done that before. Not since Dad died. It was humbling to need saving because I’ve always had to save myself.”
Taking the chance, he reaches out and pulls her towards him, wrapping his arms around her as he leans into his side. “It’s how it works in this family, babe. You just gotta get used to it.”
She sniffles and nods. “I know. It’s just… It’s not something I’m used to. It’s nice. Really nice.”
She sobs into his chest, and Gavin just holds her. No matter what he thinks, he can’t even begin to imagine how she feels right now. It has to be overwhelming on different levels, and she’s used to always taking care of herself. What’s normal for Gavin is brand new for Hailey.
“Are you dating the waitress?”
“Her name is—”
