“Wow,” Jamie whispers. “Is this yours?”
“Shh, Jamie. You shouldn’t ask that,” his mom hushes him. It’s kind of funny to me that Haley is scolding the little guy over such an innocent question.
“It’s okay, I don’t mind.” After I put their bags down, I answer, “It is my plane. The only people allowed on are the ones I want to be here.”
“That’s cool.” Jamie giggles and comes to stand beside me. “You’re really cool, mister.”
Haley laughs a little, and the tension eases. It’s the first relaxed moment we’ve had as a threesome, and Haley wraps her arms around herself, just like she used to when she was nervous.
There’s some shuffling, and I look down to see Jamie trying to sneak away. He probably wants to explore the jet.
“Hey, little dude.” Jamie abruptly stops moving, his entire body frozen. “You can look around, just don’t touch anything, okay?”
I barely finish, and the boy is off like a rocket. I never thought of the plane as this exciting but seeing it through his eyes, I’m getting a whole new perspective.
Haley is watching me quite closely, like she’s trying to make heads and tails of the new Jace King. Her bottom lip is between her teeth as she simply stares at me. It’s electrifying, but the woman’s holding back. Ever since we got into my car, there’s been something on her mind. I don’t blame her. After what we’ve been through, I myself have a million questions.
“Do you want to sit?” Motioning to the seats, I realize this whole situation is pretty touch and go, and a little like when we first got together. I remember asking her out that first time, and how nervous I was. She was the daughter of the richest man in Lenville, whereas I was a dirt-poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks. But since Day One, we were always like two peas in a pod; we got each other, and there were so many laughs and so much loving. Now, we’re strangers although I desperately want to know more.
“Thanks,” she gulps, taking a seat.
“Do you want to talk about what just happened?” are my slow words. After all, she was distraught when her dad’s vehicle crashed. If she hadn’t screamed, I probably wouldn’t have bothered to pull over. Honestly, I was okay with leaving Herb to his fate because that’s how much of an asshole I am.
Haley shakes her head.
“No, not right now, thanks.” Her eyes skim over the plane before landing back on me. She takes a deep breath. “So Jace, what have you been doing for the past seven years?”
I contemplate my answer before replying.
“Working. I run a hedge fund up in the city.” I’m not sure how detailed I want to get with my life. Coming to Lenville, I had a lot more confidence, but now, my life doesn’t feel like something worth bragging about.
“I always knew you would be successful,” she replies with a small smile. “Is there anything else?”
I shake my head. There’s nothing else. At least, nothing worth discussing. She’s not going to care about penthouses, private planes, and fancy cars. Haley’s not about things, she’s about values and everything that’s good in the world.
She looks down before taking another deep breath.
“So there’s, um, no one special?” she asks quietly.
“Special?” I ask. “What do you mean by special?”
I fully understand what Haley is asking but I just what want to tease her a little. She does all these cute little things when she’s avoiding a subject, and I want to see her squirm a bit.
“You know, someone extra important to you.” She’s doing everything possible to skirt around the question she actually wants to ask. There’s a chance it’s simple curiosity, but I’m really hoping she still has feelings for me. After seven years of harboring all this hurt, I could use a happy ending. I dodge the subject.
“Well, let me ask about you. Do you have anyone special?” Her eyes go wide with astonishment.
“But I asked you first,” she says with shock, but I’m not going to let her get away with it.
“Well, I need some clarification on the question. Let’s just say if you answer, then I’ll be able to answer.” She has to know I’m bullshitting her, but she doesn’t call me out.
She looks down, staring at her hands.
“There’s no one,” she says softly, shaking her head. Immense relief takes over my body. I can’t imagine having to step aside while Haley dates someone else. The possibility would break my heart all over again.
But then Haley adds something that makes my hackles raise.
“I mean, where would I meet anyone?” she adds ruefully.
That arouses my suspicions.
“What does that mean?” I demand. She shrugs.
“I just don’t get out much is all. Raising a son took up a lot of my time.” It’s a perfectly good explanation, but I’m pretty sure it has a lot to do with her father. “And you?”
