Page 103 of Cocky Prince
“I don’t know.” I swallow. “Am I?”
Adam stalks toward me, stopping inches away. “All that matters is thatIam finished. With you.”
I wipe my face. “Of course you are.” I take a shaky breath and walk to the door. I look over my shoulder. “But you know what? I know you. So live with that, Adam Cade. There’s someone out there who’s seen you, who loves you, and who knows why you pushed her away.”
Chapter Forty-One
Adam
Iblow sawdustoff the wood I’m cutting in Jaeg’s workroom, and toss back a bottle of water, feeling the cool liquid slide down my throat. I’ve been bent over for hours, focused on my project, where my mind won’t wander. Being in town with memories of my father, Hayden—it’s getting to me. I’m considering leaving. Starting fresh somewhere else. Maybe New York. I’d miss my shithead brothers, but I don’t know what else to do. I can’t stay in this town.
“Hold the brace,” Jaeg says to Tyler, who came over to help him put together a giant trellis he’s been working on for the last several weeks. He’s incorporated one of Cali’s designs into it, and the end result is pretty amazing. A log across the top has a doe and buck standing together, heads touching. Shapes and spirals form down the legs of the trellis, creating a forest scene.
“What’s that for?” I say.
Tyler glances at Jaeg, and Jaeg pats the base. “Engagement trellis.”
I shouldn’t have asked. The last thing I want to think about is someone getting married.
It’s been a week since the Bliss opening. A week since my father passed and the private funeral that followed shortly after. And five days, three hours, and twenty-one minutes since I threw Hayden out of my house.
I pick up the paint for the birdhouse and focus on my project.
“So what do you think?” Jaeg asks.
I look over. He said something before that, but I was caught up in my thoughts. “About what?”
“Cali has a friend of a friend. We thought we’d set you up.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Where the hell is this coming from?”
Jaeg snorts, and Tyler hands over a fiver. “That’s what I thought,” Jaeg mumbles.
They’re placing bets on me now? Insensitive assholes. “I’m not interested,” I growl.
Jaeg balls a cloth and throws it on my table. “Before Hayden, you would have been interested in going out with someone new after a breakup.” He paces closer and shakes his head. “You’ve turned your back on Hayden. Didn’t think you’d do it. With the others—oh, every time. But not Hayden.” Jaeg turns and stalks out of the workroom.
I stare after him. “What’s his problem?”
Tyler shakes his head slowly, as if he can’t believe me either. He leaves the same way.
I set the paint down and stare at the birdhouse I’m building. I can’t look at myself in the mirror. Now my friends can’t look at me either?
Moving to a new location isn’t the solution, because I’ll still have to live with myself. I’m no longer sure of the conclusions I drew about Hayden. I was vulnerable, scared—though I don’t like to admit it. I freaked the fuck out and made a rash accusation.
Time to man up.
* * *
Hayden
Ihaven’t spokento Adam since I went to his house. He hasn’t called, and I’ve stopped calling him. I’ve wanted to, but I said everything there was to say, and if he hasn’t changed his mind after that, he won’t.
I told him I loved him. And he let me walk out the door. I’m beyond sad. I’m numb.
I thought… I don’t know what I thought. That he’d come around? That he’d forgive me. But had I forgiven him? I was so hard on him about Bliss, and the whole time, he was just as unhappy with what was going on as I. He even sought help and put a stop to what Blackwell was doing.Adamdid that, not me.
I put all of my energy these last few months into investigating Blackwell after I realized he’d hired me for the casino’s image, and after I learned what had happened to my friends. I wasn’t letting Blackwell and the others get away with that, oh no. I had to fight for the underdog.
