Page 35 of Acceptance

“You were right. I’ve been so angry for so long, and I just…” Sighing, she tries to find the words. “I think I forgot what it was like to have people who actually care. The ones who care usually disappear, but most don’t give a shit.”

“You try to protect yourself.”

She nods and looks at her hands. “I know you didn’t abandon me by letting them adopt you. I was just angry.”

“At what?”

“The world, I think?” Hailey poses it as a question because she can’t pinpoint just one thing. She’s always in a perpetual state of anger. Until now. “I think when it came to Lex and Colt, I feltI wasn’t going to get to keep everything good that had suddenly come my way, and I tried to prepare myself. But I was wrong.”

“You know who would probably love to hear you say that?” he asks with a smirk.

Laughing, she nods. “I know. Could you get Colt for me? I’ll go get Lex.”

“Sure.”

The butterflies take over, and Hailey hates it. She pulls herself off of the couch, the button on the sleeve of her long-sleeved shirt catching on the cushion—which she wears despite the warm temperature because she needs to feel completely covered. No longer exposed.

Opening the sliding door, she catches Lex’s gaze. “Can I, uh, talk to you for a second? Inside?”

“Be right there,” Lex says. “Noah, keep an eye on Calla, okay?”

“Sure, Mama.”

This right here is what Hailey worried she’d never see again. Noah’s the sweetest boy, and he cares so much. Just like Lucas. She stopped caring like they do a long time ago after being hurt so much, but it’s time to find that girl again. The one who doesn’t push love away.

“What’s up?” Colt asks, wiping his hands on a rag.

If killing those men last night bothers him, he doesn’t show it. In fact, he looks relatively relaxed.

“Before we talk, I have something for you,” Lex says and disappears down the hallway.

Hailey looks at Colt who just shrugs, and she smirks. He wears his leather when he does everything, never taking it off like others would take off a jacket or an extra layer in the warmer temperature days.

Probably only takes it off to sleep, screw, and shower. Just like Gavin.

When she catches sight of the box in Lex’s hand as she returns, Hailey gasps. Tears spring in her eyes, and her hands shake as she takes it. She never thought she’d see it again.

“I went and got it for you the other day,” Lex says. “Just like I told you I would.”

“A jewelry box?” Colt asks.

“It was my mom’s,” Hailey whispers as she holds it like it’s made of glass.

In reality, it was probably purchased for ten dollars at some big box store, but it was her mom’s. The only thing she has left of her. Sitting down, she opens it and lets out a sob as she sees all of the jewelry still there.

“It’s all here,” she says, her voice cracking. “The cross necklace Iris took from me. Even…” She digs at the bottom and holds up the simple band, “her engagement ring.”

“You saw my mom?” Lucas asks.

“I did,” Lex says. “Hailey mentioned the jewelry box on a rare evening she shared something personal with me, probably because I was having a meltdown, and I promised I’d get it for her.”

Taking the necklace out, Hailey clasps it behind her neck and touches it against her chest. “I honestly thought she’d thrown it all away. Or sold it.”

“H-how was she?” Lucas asks.

The conflict in her brother reads clear as day, and Hailey just wants to hug him. Even though she hates her stepmother, he still loves his mom. Iris only ever cared about three things. Hailey’s father, Lucas, and drugs. Eventually, drugs were the only things she cared enough about, though.

“She’s not doing great,” Lex says. “Her problem seems to have gotten worse.”

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