Page 25 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

"Tyler Stevens, you're toxic and I want nothing to do with you."

"That's not what the lyrics mean."

"Yes it is."

"No. They're about how you love the toxicity. About how badly you want it."

"You're so full of yourself." She closed her eyes a

nd leaned her head on the back of the booth. "I don't want you. I was trying to make you feel better."

I ignored her comment. She had definitely wanted me a few minutes ago. Maybe it was the tequila talking, or maybe it was something more. Either way, tonight was definitely not the night to talk about it.

"Let's go sleep off the alcohol at the hotel," I said.

She groaned.

"Hails?"

Her head dropped slightly so that her chin was almost resting on her chest. I swore I heard a light snore.

I shook my head as I stood up. Despite what she thought, she did need me. I put my hand on her shoulder. "Hails?"

She snored again.

I leaned down and picked her up in my arms. She felt so light. I ignored the people staring at me as I carried her out of the restaurant. They had all seen me singing with her earlier. Besides, I had no intention of taking advantage of her. If I had, I would have given in when her lips were on mine. She snuggled her face against my chest.

***

I kicked the door of the hotel room open with my foot and turned the light switch on with my shoulder. I had told myself it made sense for us to share a room again. Just for the sake of safety. If she started throwing up, it would be better if I was with her. But I had at least gotten two beds this time.

She sighed against my chest. "You smell like freshly cut grass," she whispered. "And toothpaste."

I smiled as I carried her over to the first bed. I pulled the covers back and laid her down.

She moaned and rolled over. She was wearing a tank top and cutoff jean shorts. It probably wasn't the most comfortable outfit to sleep in, but I wasn't about to undress her. I grabbed her flip flops, tossed them on the floor, and pulled the covers up around her.

"Can you hold me?" she whispered. "Just for a second?"

Something constricted in my chest. I tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Get some sleep, Hails."

She closed her eyes tight and turned away from me.

I so badly wanted to give her what she wanted. When we had danced earlier, it felt like her body fit perfectly against mine. But if I climbed into that bed with her, I was afraid it would turn into something more. After one last glance at her, I went to the bathroom.

***

I put my hands on my knees as I tried to catch my breath. It had been a long time since I had run this early, but I couldn't sleep. All I could do was think about Hailey lying in the bed beside mine. I had gotten out of bed at five in the morning and had been running ever since. After several miles I realized I was trying to run off the sexual tension I felt. This whole situation was so frustrating.

I stared out at the field of grass. And that's when I saw it. A buffalo in the distance. Just like Hailey had said she saw yesterday. I held my breath as I watched it disappear into the sunrise. I hadn't believed her at all. Maybe she really had seen one too. I blinked and saw dots from staring into the sun. Or maybe I had imagined it too.

I turned back to the hotel and walked as slowly as possible, half trying to catch my breath, half delaying going back to the room. Hailey looked so peaceful while she slept. There was no pain or worry in her eyes. She just looked happy. And it made me realize just how much she was tormented while she was awake. She was dealing with something, and I wanted to know what it was. I wanted to help her. Maybe I could help fix whatever it was. But first, I probably had to open up to her. I just didn't know if I could.

I let myself into the room as quietly as possible so that I wouldn't wake her. But I was surprised to see that she was already up. She was sitting on the bed with her chin resting on her knee. Her hair was tied in a knot on the top of her head, giving me a view of her long neck. I felt like I was intruding on her privacy. She hadn't seemed to have heard me come in.

"I saw a buffalo," I said.

She turned toward me. "Did it stomp on my head?" She put her hand on her forehead.

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