Tyler
Thursday
I watched as the guy slammed the door in Hailey's face. It took every ounce of restraint to not run to her. She had asked me to leave. It was bad enough that I had come back. And it felt like I was spying, because I was. She didn't want me here. I couldn't really explain it, but I felt in my gut that she needed me here, though. I wanted to be there for her.
She put her arms around her torso, hugging herself. I watched the girl I was falling in love with fall apart. And I watched her be strong as she pounded on the door again.
Maybe she didn't need me. But I was going to be there for her anyway. I'd be right here waiting for her if she wanted me.
Sirens wailed in the distance. I glanced in my rear-view mirror but didn't see anything. When I looked back out the side window, Hailey was standing at the end of the driveway staring at me.
I couldn't tell if she was furious or happy to see me. I opened up the car door and stepped out.
"You came back." She wiped her eyes with the heel of her palm.
"I came back."
She nodded as more tears slid down her cheeks.
The sirens were starting to sound closer.
"Does the offer still stand to go see the Pacific Ocean?"
I smiled. "Get in."
She looked down at the ground as she climbed back into my car.
"Do you want to talk about..."
"Can you just drive?" She didn't say it defensively. It came out as more of a plea.
I glanced once more at the large house and pulled off the curb. There were a million questions I wanted to ask her. But first I needed to get her as far away from this place as possible.
It was hard to focus on the road. Her eyes were squeezed shut and tears were still streaming down her cheeks. Her hands were balled into fists.
"Hails," I said as gently as possible.
She shook her head.
Talk to me. Let me in.I drove on in silence. I wanted to say something that would make her feel better, but I didn't know what to say.
"We're almost there," I said.Really, that's what I came up with?
Hailey didn't say anything.
There were so many things I wanted to say, so many things that would have been better.I couldn't leave because I'm in love with you. It physically hurts me to see you cry because I care so much about you. I want to be with you. I want you to wait for me. I'm scared that you'll hurt me like Penny did.
But maybe Hailey had pegged me right at the very beginning. Maybe I was a coward. Because instead of saying anything, I pulled into a parking lot alongside of Venice Beach.Tell her.
I didn't get a chance to find the courage though. She opened up the door and starting sprinting toward the sand before I had even cut the engine.
"Hailey!" I yelled as I chased after her.
Missing Pieces - Chapter 41
Hailey
Thursday
