“I get that, I do. But that person is me. The product. That’s me. And I happen to like the man I’ve become, even if it is because of my circumstances.”
“I happen to like him too.”
“Good. Because you’re kind of stuck with me.”
Hayley smiles before shuffling her ass to sit next to me and resting her head on my shoulder, linking her fingers through mine. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Hayley
The tightness in my chest doesn’t subside until Reed begs me not to worry about him. And even then, it only fades to a dull ache. He’d hinted at a bad relationship with his brother and the effects it had on his mom, but I never could have predicted the hell they’ve all been through. The hell his brother put them through. I almost wish I’d known that before I came face-to-face with him earlier today, but then again, like Reed and his dad, I don’t want to do anything that could come back to bite his mom. I’ve never met her, but I have never wanted to protect someone more in my life. Including Reed.
“Hayls, you’re doing it again.” Reed shakes his head but smiles softly. “We have to change the subject. There’s nothing we can do, so there’s no point stressing about it.”
“I’m never going tonotstress about it, Reed. Not now. I need you to know that.”
“Me either, Hayls. Me either.” He presses a kiss to my temple and I snuggle into him. “Tell me about your parents. Do you talk often?”
“Often enough.” I shrug as sadness runs through me. I really should talk to them more. But that’s on me. “My parents have always been great. They’re supportive enough and they care.”
“But…”
“What makes you think there’s a but?”
“Call it intuition.” He hits me with a cocky grin.
“They have their own life,” I rush out, returning his smile, only mine’s softer. “They were pretty excited when I moved to Sydney, and I don’t think all that excitement was for me. They were decent parents, but never wanted to be parents. We’re probably more like friends these days than parents and child. Don’t get me wrong. I love them and they love me, but it’s not a traditional relationship.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry, Hayls.”
“Don’t be. It made it easier for me to move across the world.”
“Maybe so, but I can hear the sadness in your voice. You miss them.” His thoughtful, caring eyes bore into mine and my stomach knots. I don’t think anyone’s ever looked at me like that. With that much concern. For me.
“I do miss them. But at the same time…I don’t regret my decision to move. Just like I don’t regret my decision to stay with my cheating boyfriend. How could I? It got me here. Which in turn launched my career and brought me to Amelia. And you.”
“That last one is especially important.” He jokingly bounces his eyebrows but it’s true.
“I agree. And I’m here for you, Reed. Here for whatever you need. Just like I know you’re here for me.”
After our big talk about our pasts, and truly opening up to each other, Reed and I fall into an easy, comfortablerhythm, and before we know it, we’ve been faking a relationship for nearly two months. But while we’ve been doing enough to get me the audition forReckless Desire, and my agent is all smiles about me turning my reputation around, I’m worried about Reed. He’s got so much going on with his family, and he barely speaks to Bria anymore.
He’s constantly brushing off my concern, but I’m not convinced he’s as happy as he says he is. Especially when he seems to be overly invested in my life, as though I don’t know that’s one of his traits.
“Did you call Bria today?” I ask when we’re curled up on his couch watching a movie. He promised he’d call her this week, and I’m not letting him off the hook. They need to talk it out or they’ll both be stuck in limbo while I carry around the guilt of messing it up for them.
Reed groans and I have my answer. “We’re supposed to be celebrating your audition, Hayls. Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”
“But—”
“No buts. I promise I’m good. Bria and I will work out our shit eventually. For now, I want to focus on you. How long does it usually take before you hear anything?”
“Reed.”
“Nope. Not today.”
“Okay. Fine. In answer to your question, it depends. It took weeks for me to hear back aboutJaded Beginningsbecause the director got sick or something. I can’t remember. But with others, mostly rejections, I heard back the next day.”
