Page 101 of Redemption
“Did you know?” I ask, gritting my teeth.
“Know what? Why are you acting so crazy?”
Another laugh and Hayes’s eyes widen because there’s no way not to know that laugh—it’s awkward like the person doesn’t quite know how to do it.
“That. Did you know that?”
He shakes his head, furiously denying involvement, and I narrow my eyes in a threat. “You better be telling me the truth.”
The lines on his face soften, and he leans closer. I hadn’t realized I was still holding onto his shirt until he’s so close that my hand is locked between our chests.
“I wouldn’t lie to you, MJ.”
Hayes’s tongue peeks out, swiping across his lips, and I track it.
Now is not the time, Mallorie Jade.
When it disappears back inside his mouth, I raise my eyes to his. There’s a fire burning there that I need to extinguish before it consumes me, too.
“Are you guys going to hide back there all day or what?” Tanner asks, effectively dousing the fire for me.
I knew I wanted to help this kid for a reason.
I’ll find a way to thank him later because kissing Hayes again cannot happen, and despite our surroundings and current predicament, that’s exactly what I was thinking about doing.
Clearing his throat, Hayes straightens, but I’m content to hide behind a teenager all day if it means avoiding the person in the center of the room.
Too bad Hayes is not a person that can blend into a crowd, though, because as soon as he stands, a voice booms his name, drawing closer to where I’m hiding, and when I look up, my dad stands there in all his glory.
“Hi, Daddy,” I say, giving him a guilty smile.
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I’m going to kill Hayes. I don’t know how, but I’m blaming this on him. I always seem to get into bad situations when he’s around.
“Mallorie Jade,” my dad greets, his voice more formal than when he greeted Hayes. He’s staring down where I’m still crouched behind Tanner, making this experience even more awkward than it would have been had I not hidden like a chicken.
Pushing off my knee, I stand to face him.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
Hayes steps closer to me, infiltrating my bubble, and for once, I don’t object.
I haven’t spoken with my dad since that day in my room. The guilt of that day has eaten away at my insides, but I also didn’t know how to apologize.
Sure, I could have said the words, “I’m sorry,” but I doubt they would have meant much to him. My apologies have never meant much to him.
Now, I wish I hadn’t because tension swirls in the air around us, making it awkward for everyone.
“I’m here with the football team,” I say, wincing at the mention of the sport.
It’s always been a sore subject for him, especially after Langston.
He purses his lips, his face a blank mask that I can’t read. “I see.”
Hayes’s hand slides up my back to my ponytail, twirling his finger around my hair and lightly tugging it to let me know he’s there. It distracts me until a thought hits me. “Wait—what are you doing here?”
Pink slips into my dad’s cheeks, and I’m taken aback. He’s embarrassed—my strong and confident father is embarrassed.
