Page 9 of Make Me Whole
Especially if she was wondering whether she could trust me. Hell, I wasn't even sure if I could trust myself.
The things I'd done could hardly be excused by the things I'd gone through.
"I get it." Talia inched closer, her features softening. "Don't take this the wrong way, but anyone who knows what to look for can see the storm brewing in your eyes."
Fighting the urge to close my eyes, I swallowed hard. Was I really that transparent? How long before these people would look at me with judgement shining in their eyes too?
A soft touch to my arm pulled me out of my own head. The warmth shining in her eyes coupled with her smile, oddly comforting. "Don't worry, Hailey, we're not miners. We won't go sticking our shovels where we ain't got no business digging. Your past is exactly that…Yours."
Relief had a little chuckle blowing over my lips. "I've literally never heard that phrase before."
Hooking her arm through mine again, Talia threw her head back and laughed. "That's because I just made it up." With a waggle of her brows, she added, "Keeps things interesting."
Still laughing, we exited the cabin and walked straight into a giant of a man. He wasn't just tall; he was broad too. Before I had time to get a decent look at him, movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. When I glanced left, the breath left my lungs in one fell swoop. With his feet crossed at the ankles,black-hat-guywas leaning against the railing. Muscled arms folded across his broad chest; his gaze fixed on me.
"Ah, should've known curiosity would get the best of you two," Talia's voice had a teasing edge to it.
"Don't look at me," black-hat-guy said. His voice was deep and rich and did strange things to my insides. "This ishisdoing." With his eyes—eyes bluer than the sky on a cloudless day—still trained on me, he tilted his head in the other guy's direction.
"And you couldn't wait until breakfast?" I heard Talia ask. She made a tsking sound before she said, "Hailey, meet Thing One and Thing Two." I finally managed to tear my gaze away from black-hat-guy, but not before noticing his lips twitch slightly.
Not-black-hat-guy leaped forward, arm outstretched. "Don't mind her, I haven't gone by Thing One in ages. You can call me Sawyer." His lips stretched into the broadest of grins giving me a glimpse of his teeth.
I was positive I looked like a deer caught in headlights when I timidly shook his offered hand. "Hi."
If Sawyer noticed my discomfort, he didn't show. After releasing me, he took a step back. "Welcome to the madness. I'm sure you'll fit right in." When I arched my brow, his eyes widened. "Oh no, I'm not saying you're…" Another step backward. "I'm just gonna quit while I'm ahead." With that, he turned and bounced down the steps.
Talia snickered and yelled something, but my brain couldn't process what because yet again, movement to my left had me looking that way in time to see black-hat-guy push off the railing. I stood rooted in place as he ambled toward me with an unapologetic swagger.
When we were almost toe to toe, he removed his hat and pressed it against his chest. "Bradley." One word. That was all it took for a kaleidoscope of butterflies to take flight in my tummy. This was beyond ridiculous. I was twenty-friggin-five, not twelve.
An almost half-smile tugged at his lips while his eyes darted to something between us. When I followed his gaze, I noticed that while I'd been scolding myself, he'd been offering his hand to me.
Embarrassment heated my cheeks as I gingerly pressed my palm against his calloused one. When his fingers closed around mine, I swear, time stood still. His piercing blue stare found mine, stealing the breath from my lungs.
I had no clue why this was happening or even whatthiswas. I only knew I had never had such a strong reaction to another human before. It freaked me the hell out.
His eyes narrowed slightly, almost as if he was trying to figure something out. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he snatched his hand back, spun on his heels and rushed after Sawyer.
All I could do was stare at his retreating back while I tried to make sense of what'd just happened.
