Page 95 of Every Now and Then
"How's the house hunting going?"
"Not great." I toggle my head. “Time is ticking. I have twelve days until I have to be out of my house, but I haven’t loved anything I’ve looked at.”
The average homebuyer views ten properties before making an offer, but I've far exceeded that number. Over the past few days alone, I’ve looked at five houses with Marsha, but I discarded each of them for one reason or another. Too big, too small, too expensive, too outdated. I feel like Goldilocks, but I’m still waiting to find the house that I walk into and say, “This one isjust right!”
“Do you have a backup plan?” asks Bailey.
“Maybe.” I fiddle with the napkin in my lap. “So, Hayes… kind of asked me to move into his condo.”
“What?” Laura shrieks. “That would solve all your problems, Anna!”
Would it? Or would it just muddy the waters further?Hayes and I are serious, but we haven’t been together long. Is it really smart to move into his place, even temporarily?
“Hold your horses! I didn’t say yes.” I tack on a silentyetat the end of my statement because it's something I'm considering.
As if she can read my mind, my best friend pushes, “But you’re thinking about it, aren’t you?”
“I am,” I say, glancing at Bailey to see her reaction. “He even offered to move to the ranch and let the girls and me stay at his condo until we find a place, if that would make me feel better about the situation."
Bailey reaches over and squeezes my hand, her eyes glistening. Through a watery laugh, she says, “Don’t mind me; it’s just the pregnancy hormones. But… I’m so happy for you and Hayes. You’re good for him.”
I tilt my head. “How so?”
From where I’m standing, it feels like he’s the one who’s good for me. I’m not entirely sure what I bring to the table, aside from two adorable children and a mountain of emotional baggage.
“Hayes has been struggling for the past couple of years. His light had dimmed. We all saw it, but we didn’t know how to help him. But then you came along. Youandyour daughters. You’ve given Hayes what he always wanted but never had. A family. A purpose.” She twists her mouth to one side as if debating with herself. “Has he told you much about his family?”
“Not much,” I say. “I know he was raised by a single mom who passed away a few years ago. And I know he considers you and the band his family now.”
“We are. We are his family, but… growing up the way he did… it left scars. He had a dad who abandoned him. His mom loved him and worked her ass off to provide for him, but she wasn’t around much because she worked so much. He always had friends, and he floated from house to house, so he wasn’t alone all the time, but…”
“But he was lonely,” surmised Laura.
Bailey nods. “Yeah, and I think he needed a place to belong. A family he could call his own. For a while, the band was enough for him. But after his mom died, it hit him that he was alone. He still had us, but it wasn't the same. We weren't enough anymore." Bailey shrugs with a smile. "But then he met you and your girls. Hayes pretends to be a macho cowboy, but he's a big softie. He has a strong caregiver side to him, and it’s come out since getting to know you, Annabelle. Hayesis happier than I’ve ever seen him. So, you may not realize how good you are for him, but those of us who have known him for years do.”
“What Bailey is saying is that Hayes cares about you, Annabelle. So, let him in. Let him care for you the way you deserve.”
“I’m also saying that you should move in with him.” Bailey's smile spreads. “Ever since he first met you, that man has been obsessed.” Placing her napkin on the table, she adds as she stands, “But back to pregnancy symptoms, I have to go to the bathroom. Again. Be back in a few.”
As Bailey walks away, Laura whistles quietly. “Hayes is head over heels in love with you, Anna, and I’m so happy for you. You deserve a guy like him.”
Though Laura doesn’t say it outright, I can tell she’s comparing my relationship with Kyle to the way Hayes treats me. And Hayes is the clear winner. Obviously.
“So, you’re not still worried about Hayes’ womanizing ways?” I tease, knowing full well that phase of his life is firmly in the past.
She blows out a funny whoosh of air as she waves her hand. “Not since you told me about how filming the music video went!”
If only she knew what happened after we finished filming.I feel my cheeks heat just from thinking about those juicy memories.
Laura grows quiet for a few moments before she inquires, with some hesitation, “Since you’re considering moving in together, are you going to tell him?”
I don’t need to ask what she’s talking about because I know.
Gathering my thoughts, I pause before nodding. “I hate reliving that period of my life. It’s painful to discuss and examine those feelings again, but if I’m going to build a future with Hayes, he deserves to know the full truth.”
“It’s for the best. Otherwise, those secrets will always be there, hovering between you and Hayes like a shadow. When are you going to tell him?”
“Soon.”
