Page 83 of The Lost and the Found

Logan

As I watchedher walk away, my fists clenched.

It was taking everything in me not to go after her, but that would be stupid, considering she was feeling volatile right now.

I knew getting her to agree to take the car wouldn’t be easy, only I didn’t think she would react so strongly. Hayden had a very cool temperament, so it always came as a surprise whenever she reacted so strongly to anything. But this felt like so much more than that.

It was more than just her pride that made her react this way.

She was scared of me.

And I didn’t know what to think about it.

The question was whether she was scared to be in a relationship with me because she was afraid of her feelings for me or because she was actually afraid of me?

It had been a long time since I had to use my fist to resolve anything, and even then, I didn’t enjoy it.

I did it out of survival. First, with the fights that were orchestrated by my very own father, then again when I had to take care of my baby sister. It was only months after living on the street that Mathew found us trying to steal food from the dumpster behind his restaurant.

After that, things were good.

I didn’t have to shoulder on the responsibility of taking care of my kid sister when I had still been a kid myself, and I didn’t have to worry about when our next meal was coming or if we would stay warm in the cold Chicago winter. I didn’t have to fight to survive.

I thought I had long ago buried that violent part of me.

But perhaps I didn’t bury it as well as I had thought. Hayden was the most perceptive person I had ever met. Could she possibly see the monster hiding underneath?

I rubbed away the ache that had taken residence in my heart at the thought that she might be scared of me, and climbed out of the bath, watching, a little detachedly, as some of the water splashed out of the tub and onto the floor.

What the hell was I supposed to do now?

I would love nothing more than to drive Hayden wherever she needed, but it wasn’t practical. There would be a time when I couldn’t drive her, and I knew Hayden thrived in an environment she could be independent in. Plus, letting her go back to walking or taking the bus everywhere was not an option. Not one I would consider, anyway.

I let out a tired sigh and walked back into the room, slipping on a pair of gray sweats and a white t-shirt.

I knew she hadn’t left the apartment because I heard the door to the guest bedroom closing and figured that was where she went to cool down. I walked over to the door and was about to knock when I stopped myself, thinking I should probably leave her alone for the night. We could talk tomorrow, when she wasn’t feeling so emotional.

Letting out another tired sigh, I went to the kitchen and made myself a turkey sandwich for dinner, which I finished pretty quickly.

I was left with nothing to do.

I could get some work done—lord knows I was behind since the day I met Hayden… hell, since the day I saw her waiting at the bus stop that one windy evening, over a month ago. I had been distracted by the very sight of her, and I didn’t even know why at the time.

A knock on the front door brought me out of my musing, and, frowning a little, I walked over to it and opened the door to Gage’s scowling face.

I would have thought he was in a bad mood if I didn’t know this was his usual disposition. “Hey, man,” he said, making a move to come in.

I blocked his way and his frown deepened. “Sorry, but I’m not fit for company right now. Plus, I have Hayden here.”

Gage’s expression cooled considerably at the mention of Hayden’s name and my eyes narrowed. I knew he didn’t much care for Hayden. Even if he was being his usual cynical self, it still didn’t make me feel better. In fact, it was getting fucking annoying.

“What’s your problem with her? Because if you can’t resolve whatever you’re feeling right now, then you and I are going to have a problem.”

I looked into his eyes so he knew how serious I was about this, about her, and I didn’t like the fact that he may have a problem with her when she hadn’t even done anything.

A few tense moments passed, and then his shoulders relaxed, a look of resignation entering his eyes. “I don’t have a problem with Hayden.”

“Then what the hell is it, huh? Because let me tell you, Hayden is perceptive as hell. If you have a problem, she’s going to see right through it, and I don’t want her to feel unwelcome in my life, especially not by my friends.”

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