Page 30 of Wicked and Claimed

As he waited for Haisley’s response, Nash savored this delicious moment. The game was on, and he had no intention of backing down until Haisley was his again. He’d advance on multiple fronts until she waved her white flag and surrendered to him.

RedHotSavvySleuth: I’m probably crazy, but it’s a New Year. Why the hell not? Let’s do it!

* * *

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries wafted through the cozy Sunday brunch spot as Haisley settled into the plush booth.

Across from her, Charli looked as gorgeous as always—a tumble of rich, dark curls spilling over her shoulders, skin so perfect it would make an esthetician cry, and a body that owed its shapeliness to good genes and a faithful gym habit. Before Haisley had moved to Cali, Charli had been full of party, snark, and grab-life-by-the-throat fun. She barely recognized this version of her friend, subdued and almost painfully quiet.

It had been so long since they’d spent quality time together. Guilt filled Haisley for letting too many months slip past them. Naturally, she’d attended Charli’s Vegas wedding last year…but Haisley hadn’t seen much of her—or the rest of her girl posse—since. Thank god that, regardless of the miles or years that once separated them, their long-standing friendship made getting together feel as if almost no time had passed.

“Thanks for inviting me this morning. I was itching to get out of the house.” Charli smiled, but her hazel eyes dimmed with a troubling sadness. “I know the circumstances that brought you home aren’t ideal, but I’m glad you’re back for good.”

“Thanks. Losing Aunt Cynthia shocked me. She’d been sick for a while, from what I understand. Not that she ever told me.”

“You two were never close.”

They hadn’t been, no matter how much Haisley had wished otherwise when she’d been a kid. “So being back here… I’m dealing with lots of memories and not many of them good.”

For the grieving girl suffering the sudden loss of her loving mother, Haisley had hoped her mom’s younger sister would fill that gaping hole in her heart. Instead, her aunt had given her a decade of chilly resentment before kicking her out.

“I know, sweetie.” Charli’s expression softened as she reached across the table to squeeze Haisley’s hand. “I was surprised you moved back but selfishly happy. You really think you’re staying for good?”

“Yeah. Aunt Cynthia owned the house outright, so I have a free place to live for life. I hate that we never resolved our differences, but I’m lucky. A house without a mortgage is something many people will never have.”

“You’re right about that. Daniel and I have been saving for a down payment since the day we got married. He’s obsessed.”

Something about that clearly made Charli sad. But her friend didn’t elaborate, and her face closed up. Questions filled Haisley, but she hated to pry. Charli seemed so fragile, so Haisley steered the conversation elsewhere.

“LA was cool…sometimes. But I missed home. When I got the call about my aunt’s passing, my lease was about to expire. It felt like the right time to leave Cali and put down roots. Besides”—she dropped her gaze to the steaming coffee their waiter slid across the table—“I missed everyone.”

“We missed you.”

Quickly, the women placed their orders, both choosing favorites, heedless of calories. Once the waiter left, Charli slanted a skeptical gaze her way. “Are you sure there isn’t more to your decision to move home? Did Nash have anything to do with it?”

Haisley tried not to feel the stab of pain in her heart. “That’s over.”

Charli raised a brow. “It didn’t look that way on New Year’s Eve.”

“Just the celebratory moment. Besides, we’d both had too much to drink.”

“You were once head over heels for him.”

“Ancient history.” Haisley willed herself to believe it. “We weren’t meant to be. We wanted different things.”

“I get that.” Charli’s gaze grew distant, her shoulders slumping as she heaved a melancholy sigh.

Prying now was too much…but Haisley couldn’t resist some gentle nudges. “You don’t look happy. What’s going on with you and Daniel? Don’t tell me nothing. I know better.”

She shrugged as if the weight of the world were on her shoulders. “I don’t even know. One day, everything was perfect. The next, we were like strangers living in the same house.”

“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. If you want to talk about it, I’m happy to listen. Where was he on New Year’s Eve?”

“At home. In bed. Asleep.” Charli shook her head despondently. “I thought we wanted the same things. But lately, it feels like we’re living two different lives.”

Haisley ached for her friend, the raw anguish in Charli’s voice resonating in her own bruised heart.

“If he had another woman, my decision would be simple. I would just leave his ass. But no, he’s always working, always talking about getting ahead, saving to buy a house, and preparing for the future so we can support the children we’ll have someday. I know he’s right…but it feels like he’s putting his job first. And when he is home, he’s exhausted. He barely pays attention to me unless he wants sex. It’s like he’s not really there, you know? Like I’m a pretty fuck doll he feels a responsibility to take care of. Decoration instead of a flesh-and-blood wife. I can help. I work, too. I contribute. But he insists that looking out for me is his responsibility. I can’t fault him. He takes care of everything…except my heart.”

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