Page 62 of Missing Pieces (Men of Manhattan 3)

"Let's just enjoy our last few days together then. Let's make the most of it. A grand send off for you."

Tyler smiled sheepishly. It was probably the cutest thing I had ever seen.

"As long as you promise you're not a criminal."

He laughed as he stepped toward me. "Unless what I'm about to do to your body is criminal."

"It depends on what you're going to do."

I laughed as he picked me up over his shoulder and carried me toward the bathroom.

Chapter 32

Tyler

Wednesday

Every time I glanced at Hailey out of the corner of my eye, she somehow caught my gaze and smiled. I noticed everything now, like my senses were heightened. The freckles on her shoulders and across the bridge of her nose. The dimples she got when she smiled. The chestnut highlights in her hair when the sun shone through the car window. I wanted to remember everything before it was gone.

She was stubborn and feisty and so different from any other girl I had dated. I found her determination sexy. And the way she belted out the songs on the radio like she had no inhibitions. I hadn't realized I could fall for someone so quickly. It was going to be hard to say goodbye. My mind wouldn't stop thinking about that fact. In two days I'd be saying goodbye. I didn't want it to end.

"Ah!" Hails screamed when a new song started on the radio. "It's our song!" She turned up the volume as Closer by The Chainsmokers came on. She started singing the lyrics at the top of her lungs.

I laughed as she put the windows down and let the breeze flow through her hair as she sang, "We ain't ever getting older." She smiled at me and I swore my heart stopped.

How was I supposed to say goodbye? I didn't want to. It was like my life was a series of events spiraling out of control. If I didn't make stupid, rash decisions, maybe I'd be happy. But maybe I never would have met Hailey. Maybe all those bad choices had allowed me to enjoy this moment. This beautiful girl that was so out of my league had told me she was falling for me. And I was fucking falling for her too. Hell, I had never felt this strong of a connection before. Not even with Penny.

"Stay, and play that Blink-182 song that we beat to death in Tucson!" She lightly hit my shoulder as she sang the lyrics. "We're so close to Tucson! It's like it was meant to be." She smiled again.

Hailey made me feel better than I had in years. I felt young and carefree and hopeful. I felt alive again. It was greedy, but I didn't want to let go of that feeling. I didn't want to let go of her.

"What?" she said with a smile on her face.

"I was just thinking about how beautiful you are."

She laughed. "Yeah right. Hey, I think we're almost there."

I could see some cars parked up ahead, but I couldn't really see anything. I thought driving up to the Grand Canyon would be this breathtaking experience. But I guess you had to be right on it to even see it. I glanced back at Hailey. Her eyes were glued to the window. It broke my heart a little that she didn't know she was beautiful, that she didn't know how much she affected me. I wanted to give her everything. Yet at the same time, I wanted to give her nothing so it wouldn't hurt so damn much when we went our separate ways.

Chapter 33

Hailey

Wednesday

"Oh my God." I opened up the car door as soon as it stopped. I walked out to the edge of the Grand Canyon and stared at the expanse, completely transfixed. There were no words. I swallowed hard as tears came to my eyes.

"It's like standing by the ocean. It makes you feel so small," Tyler said as he joined me.

I shook my head. "I wouldn't know."

"You've really never been to the beach?"

"I visited Lake Michigan a few times. But I can't imagine it's the same. From pictures I've seen of the ocean, I mean." I didn't really think the ocean could be this beautiful, though. Nothing could be.

"Maybe we could add one last stop to our trip?" he said. "I've actually never seen the Pacific Ocean."

I sl

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