Page 64 of The Twelve Days of Christian
“She told us things had got—”
“I let her climb all over me like ivy. Just like I heard someone else say they might like to do.” I fire her words of last week right back at her with an arch of my brow. Now it’s Sam’s turn to blush all the way to the roots of her ponytail. Trust her to be still groomed to military grade neat even after an all-night shift. I’m pleased to have ruffled her cool exterior. “Do you have a problem with that?”
To her credit, she gathers herself to all of her five-foot-nothing and shoots me a glare.
“If you hurt her, I do have a problem. She might have only confessed to losing her clothes and joining you in the no pants dance, but I know Haley—she doesn’t do casual sex. There are feelings involved here.”
“I’m well aware of that.”
While I wasn’t expecting to be interrogated by Haley’s friends so soon after we’d crossed into this territory, Sam’s warning makes me want to fist pump the air. Whatever Haley told them this morning, confirms last nightwasmore than an impulsive hookup for her, more than just sex. But her protective friends—and I’m pleased she’s got them looking out for her—need to know it was more than that for me, too.
I saunter past her into the kitchen, dragging a coffee mug towards me. Sam settles herself on a high stool and glares at me across the counter. I take a deep breath. It’s confession time for me as well.
“I’ve got some pretty big feelings for her, too. Did she tell you that?”
“She didn’t need to. Haley never jumps into bed with guys unless she thinks the feeling’s mutual. Even that creep of an ex, Jack, cared about her at the start. Just not enough to keep his dick to himself. You know about him and Paige, right?”
My blood seethes at the mention of their names. “Yeah. Maybe you should show me some of your Krav Maga moves in case I run into the guy.”
She snorts out a laugh. “Jack would take one look at you…” She scans me from head to toe, daring to admire my bulky arms and chest with her gaze. “And he’d run a mile.” Her smile slips away. “He hurt Haley so badly, I thought he’d broken her for good. Taken away her ability to trust anyone, to even consider a relationship. But, for some reason, she trusts you.”
“And she can.” I want to say more. Fuck it. I wish I could just lay it out there for everyone to know—tell the world I am in love with Haley Templeton, and that is why Icanbe trusted not to destroy her beautiful heart. However, I need her to hear those words from me first. I can’t spill them now simply to ward off a Sam-attack.
“And can she trust you to protect her? From all the crap?” she says, mouth full of cookie. “Like the stuff that happened to Ollie?” Of course Sam would know about Ollie. He’s her brother from another mother.
I hesitate. What the fuck can I say? I’ll do my best. Put her first. But the truth is there’s no guarantee, and Haley knows it as well as I do. Probably Sam does too.
“She can trust me to do everything in my power. But I’m not going to lie to you—that might not be enough.” Dark eyes flash a warning. “But Haley and I have talked about this, Sam. While I might not be able to prevent it, we can be ready for it. Together. Andthatcould be enough.”
Sam gives a disgruntled huff, snatching at the cookie jar on the counter and helping herself to another one. She munches away thoughtfully while I wrangle the coffee machine.
“It better be, Christian. Haley gets hurt like Ollie did, and I swear I’ll kill you.”
“You’ll have to beat Rachel to it. That’s pretty much what she said.” I shake my head. “I can’t understand how someone as sweet as Haley has such vicious friends.”
“It’s because she is so sweet she needs us to look out for her.”
“Fair enough.” I can’t really argue with that. “Want a coffee?”
“Nah, thanks, but caffeine’s not the best idea right now.” She stifles a yawn. “Need to get home to bed.”
“Well, this has been nice,” I say. “Sweet dreams.”
With Sam’s departure, it’s back to just me and the two dogs. Despite my bravado with the ninja nurse, her visit unsettles me. I’ve never considered myself worthy of Haley, and it’s as if Sam and Rachel can see it. No matter how much I argue otherwise, they talk as if it’s inevitable I fuck this up. The pair of them waiting in the wings, poised to pick up the pieces when it all goes wrong. Can they see some flaw in me? I try and push my gnawing doubt aside and settle back into my Haley-recommended reading.
After an hour, I toss down the book, feeling my inadequacy compared to these fictional guys who seem to have all the right words, with their fancy declarations of love. Meanwhile, I struggle to think how I can tell Haley how much she means to me without scaring her off. After all, we’ve come a long way in a week and I don’t want to push it too far, but I don’t want to lose her.
The house is lonely without Haley in it. She takes her Christmas playlist with her, and much as I tease her about it, I miss it. Miss her. I pick up my guitar and go back to the song I worked on the other day. Is this a song for Haley? Yes. Is this a Christmas song? Maybe. Am I sorry about that? Not at all.
Chapter 31
Day Ten
Monday is busy witha stream of clients through our Camden Town clinic doors. Word has spread through the local area and beyond; this clinic is more affordable than most. Despite our modest charges, these community clients are the lifeblood of the dog rescue, providing an income stream that allows us to subsidise our care of the homeless and abandoned, the battered and broken, who also arrive in sad regularity.
“Haley.” Alice’s voice is unusually sharp as she jerks her head towards the woman in the waiting room with a squirming puppy in her arms, and a smiling black lab by her side. I can’t blame our receptionist for her impatience withme. I’ve been distracted all morning, going through the motions of my job, my mind consumed with the events of the weekend.
Separated from the warmth of Christian’s bed, in the harsh light of a grey London day, I look back at what happened between us with no regrets. Rachel and Sam both made reassuring noises at the news. I came clean with my friends, firing off a message to our chat group while on the tube. I figured they’d work it out anyway the moment they see us together. They know me too well to try to hide it.
