Page 96 of Body Shot

“Happy,” Marco says with a quirked mouth. “I mean, you were happy before, but . . . happier.”

“I am happy,” I say slowly. “Even though settled down and steady are that last things I ever thought I wanted to be. Might as well call me boring.”

“Fuck that.” Marco snorts.

“D’you think Hayden’s boring?” Cade asks.

“Hell, no.”

“Exactly.” Smiling, he shakes his head. “Go see your girlfriend.”

“We good?”

“Yeah.” They agree.

“Okay.” I take a breath and stand back up. “I’m outta here. See you tomorrow.”

Wow. I have a lot of shit to think about.

I thought I was influencing Hayden, opening her up, lightening her up. But . . . is she having an influence on me? I didn’t think I needed to “settle down,” but fuck, it kills me to think that I wasn’t pulling my weight with the two people who matter most to me in the world.

Hayden matters, too. If I’m going to change, she’s the best person to affect me. She’s strong and determined, smart and dedicated. I thought I was all those things, too, but maybe Iwasfucking the dog. I need to do better. Iwilldo better.

I feel a sense of energy. Purpose. Hayden’s good for me, and maybe I’m good for her, and maybe this thing we’re doing . . . maybe it’s a good thing. A big thing.

I drive to Kimchi to pick up food, then head over to Hayden’s place, arriving at the same time she does. Christ. It’s seven o’clock and she’s just getting home from work.

I wait on the sidewalk for her to meet up with me, the bag of food under one arm. I smile watching her walk toward me. She’s changed up how she’s dressed, although she mentioned she had a big meeting this morning with a foundation that might enter into a funding partnership with them. She looks professional but sexy, her suit fitted to her shape with a snug pencil skirt and small jacket with shorter sleeves.

Hell no, she’s not boring.

“Hey, gorgeous.” I slide a hand around the back of her neck and pull her in for a long, sweet kiss. “How was your day?”

“Shitty.”

I blink, quickly taking in the tension in her face and the droop of her lips. She turns and walks toward the complex. Even though I’m concerned, I can’t help but admire her ass in the snug skirt. She stops to pick up her mail, not bothering to look at it, and enters the condo.

I follow her in. “Why shitty, babe? What happened?”

“Let’s eat first.” She advances into her kitchen.

I set the bag on the counter and turn to the cupboard where her plates are. I open it and my eyes fall on the plastic child’s plate with the divisions to keep food from touching. The first time I saw that I laughed, but Hayden was so mortified that I saw her secret plate, I hastened to reassure her that I think it’s cute. And it is. Everyone has their own little quirks.

I turn with two regular plates in my hand to see Hayden pulling containers out of the bag.

“What is this?”

“Korean.” I set the plates on the counter. “Gyoza. Dakgangeong. Yaki udon.”

She nods, seeming distracted. I get the feeling she doesn’t give a shit what kind of food I brought. We dish it out onto the plates.

“Want some water?” I step over to her fridge, comfortable in her kitchen.

“Yes. Please.”

I fill two glasses with water, making sure to use her “favorite” glass, which also amused me when I learned about it, but hey, we all have our quirks.

I want to know more about what’s obviously bothering her, but when we’re settled with our food she says, “Tell me about your day.”

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