Page 78 of The Best Kind of Forever
“Aeris, I love you,” Hayes professes, stunning me into silence.
My heart plays pattycake with my chest. His voice stands at the edge of my mind’s bluff, echoing throughout my body.
Hayes Hollingslovesme. I never thought I’d hear those words. I’d accepted that I probably wasn’t destined for love—not after Roden and Wilder. I’d accepted that I’d never have a wedding, I’d never get married, and I’d never have kids. But within weeks, all of my preconceived notions about love have been turned upside down.
I don’t know if I would’ve met Hayes if I wasn’t at the bar that night. I don’t know if I believe in soulmates or love at first sight. I’d like to think that we would’ve found our way to each other eventually, that the universe knew he was out there for me.
“Hayes, I love you too.”
The look on his face is nothing short of complete and utter happiness. A spectrum of emotions spike through me, and I’m starting to worry if I said it weird, but then he kisses me, and everything suddenly makes sense.
35
A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW
AERIS
It’s around four in the morning when I sneak out of Hayes’ bedroom. I normally would’ve stayed for breakfast, but I’m behind on stuff for work, and my boss is going to blow a gasket if I don’t get the captions in on time.
Shoes still dangling from my fingers and my hair a bird’s nest, I quietly start to head downstairs when a slurry of voices interrupts my departure.
As I peek around the corner, I see Kit’s head of dark hair and Bristol’s lighter one. A seedling of curiosity plants itself inside of me. What could they be talking about this early in the morning? I don’t want to barge into their conversation, and I don’t technically mean to eavesdrop, but…
“Has he told Aeris?”
Told me?
“About?”
Yeah, about?
“About the whole fake relationship stuff,” Kit clarifies.
“If he has, she must’ve taken it better than I expected,” Bristol says.
“I mean, it worked, you know? He rebranded his image.”
Record scratch. Hold on. What thefuckdid Kit just say?
I freeze, waist-deep in a tsunami of shock. My veins turn into rivers of ice as I stare at them from my spot on the stairs, trying to make sense of everything.
The truth whips me like a live wire, and the only reason my limbs haven’t given out yet is because I’m clinging on to the railing. My breath has fled me, the dizziness is overpowering, and tears boil over onto my skin, creating what feels like third-degree burns.
Fake relationship. Rebrand his image.
Oh my God. My father was telling the truth. How could he have possibly known? I’m so stupid for not heeding his warning.
But I’m not stupid, am I? It was a rumor.
But there’s a reason rumors exist. There’s a reason they’re so widely believed by people. And it’s usually because there’s an inkling of truth in there.
Hayes has a temper? Check.
Hayes was a womanizer? Check.
I mean, the timing of everything makes sense. Hayes was getting a lot of hate over his reckless behavior, and he was getting involved in scandals left and right. And the moment I entered his life, everyone magically started to like him again.
Has he really kept me around this whole time to look like a decent guy?
