Page 66 of Every Now and Then
I smile. I wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall to witness Grace’s conversations with Hayes.
“We watched a couple of YouTube tutorials last night because I didn’t know how to braid hair. The lessons stuck, and both girls are sporting some good-looking braids to school today. And we were only eight minutes late, but luckily Ms. Rogers in the front office is an Outlaw fan. I signed a few autographs for her in exchange for the girls not being counted as tardy.”
“Celebrity does have its perks, doesn’t it?”
“That it does.” He scratches his nose with his thumb. “The girls told me it’s the last day before Christmas break and that today is a half day, which I verified with Ms. Rogers at drop off since I learned the hard way not to take Grace at her word.” My lips twitch as I nod. “Anyway, since you missed work yesterday, I figured you’d need to be in the office today, so I planned on picking them up and watching them for you this afternoon. That okay?”
“More than okay, Hayes. It makes my life a lot easier.”
“Good.” Hayes hands me a to-go coffee cup and drops a kiss onto my forehead. “Here you go. I grabbed it for you when we stopped for donuts. May need to throw it in the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up, though.”
I take a tentative sip, and the rich, familiar flavors of a vanilla latte hit my tongue. Surprised, I take a bigger gulp before asking, “How did you know my coffee order?”
“You mentioned it once.” Hayes shrugs like it’s no big deal.
But to me it is.
Every time Hayes does something thoughtful, it throws into stark relief how little support and consideration I received from Kyle during our marriage. And that realization brings out feelings of guilt because Kyle isn’t here to defend himself.
Grief is a twisty, tangled web.
I choose to believe that Kyle loved me in his own way. But the truth is, he could never love me the way I deserved to be loved. He didn't value me, and as his wife and the mother of his children, he should have.
That’s why the ways Hayes shows, in both quiet gestures and meaningful actions, that he values me… that’s why they mean so much to me. I don’t take them for granted.
My past will always be tied to Kyle. But I’m feeling more hopeful that my future might belong to Hayes.
Sheepish, I murmur, “Thank you again for yesterday. I was… about to fall apart, and you cheered me up and made me feel better.”
“Yankee, I’m here for you. All three of you. But you don’t need me to cheer you up; you need me to show up. And I promise you, I always will.”
I blink back tears as Hayes’ proclamation hits me in the chest. As I stare up at his handsome crooked grin, I realize that the seeds of trust have been sown. I trust Hayes with my heart and with my daughters.
Not too long ago, I wondered if I’d ever trust a man again. Now I have my answer: I trust Hayes.
Ready to lighten the mood, I ask, “Do you have any hair products I could borrow? If I let my hair air dry, it will be frizzy and turn into a big poof ball.”
“No idea, but we can look. I probably have something left over from a photo shoot.” He sends me a big smile before offering, “Or I can braid it for you. Not sure if you’ve heard, but I’m practically a professional at braiding.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Hairdresser Harry. Or do you prefer Braiding Brad?”
Hayes laughs. “God, you're awful at nicknames. Come on,” he grabs my hand. “Let me give you the full tour of the condo so youcan learn your way around. Next time, you won’t have to ask because you’ll know where everything is.”
“Next time, huh? Awfully sure of yourself.”
Hayes sends a smoldering stare my way. “Make no mistake, Annabelle, there’s going to be a next time. And a time after that, and a time after that, and so on, and so on. You’re not getting rid of me again.”
His words send a shot of lust down my core.What I wouldn’t give for a kiss right now!For a second, I wonder if I spoke my thought aloud because Hayes pulls up short and wraps me in his arms. Gazing down at me, he looks like he wants to kiss me too, but he doesn’t. He strokes the side of my face gently, almost lovingly, and I melt into his embrace. Dropping a kiss on the crown of my head, he gives me a squeeze and then releases me, leading me through the condo, pointing out the different rooms before we wind up in the master bathroom.
Hayes crouches down, pawing through the lower cabinets until he tosses a few products my way.
“Hey, Hayes?”
Looking at me over his shoulder, he lifts a brow questioningly.
“Stupid regrets for $1,000, Alex.”
Standing slowly, Hayes turns to face me.
