3.

☆☆SUMMER'S POV☆☆

After the chaos of mistaken identities and heart-thumping awkwardness, Jake and I escaped to Crabby’s for lunch, hoping some greasy food and inside jokes would clear our minds from Hayden.

Hayden Dylan! When we were in 7th grade and Hayden was in 11th, he was every girl’s dream. He used to pick up different girls in his car and would tell Jake and me to take the bus. There was a new girl every week. He was disgusting—hormones running wild.

I hated him so much. I used to make fun of him through the years and ruin some of his makeout sessions. I couldn’t believe it was the same Hayden my heart was beginning to trip for.

Gross!

After eating, Jake and I went to our favourite arcade down the same street. That was where we met Maxine and Dean, kissing at a corner.

“Well, well, if it isn't exes and hoes,” I said under my breath.

Jake looked in their direction. “Ewww,” he muttered. “Get a fucking room,” he screamed out loud, calling their attention.

They didn’t even flinch. Maxine just laughed and kissed Dean harder. Dean didn’t even look at me. My stomach twisted like I’d swallowed metal. I turned and stormed out. Jake followed.

“I don’t know why it still hurts,” I cried, burying my face in my hands.

Jake embraced me, stroking my hair tenderly. “It’s all right,” he said. “Let it all out. I’m here, bestie.”

I did let it all out. I even got some mucus on his shirt. Sorry, bestie. We went back to my place to play some of my board games. My dad was at work and Keith was with Anita, our neighbor. She had kids his age and they all played together.

I knew something was bothering Jake since he had refused to go home. He had dinner with my family.

Then he asked, “Mr Peterson, can I sleep over?”

My dad nodded, stuffing his mouth with a spoonful of spaghetti. “Sure, Jake. Anytime.”

I was glad. Jake and I couldn't contain our happiness, we both giggled over dinner. After dinner, we went back into my room talking smack about Hayden. Then we heard it.

“Psst—Summer?”

Talk about the devil and he appeared.

The voice was from outside my window and it was obviously Hayden's. It was a whisper, but in the quiet, it might as well have been a fire alarm.

Jake frowned. “Hayden?”

I shrugged. “Could be the wind.”

Then the voice grew louder. “Jake, get down here. I know you're in there.”

Jake scrambled to his feet, heading to the window. He peeked outside and saw his brother. He rolled his eyes heavenward.

“I left because of you. You have the house to yourself, why are you here Hayden?”

“Hey, little brother,” Hayden said with a smile. “I needed to see you. There was nobody to taunt.”

Jake rolled his eyes again. “Fuck off, Hayden.”

“Okay, on a serious note. I actually need your help with something,” Hayden said, almost pleadingly.

I strutted to the window and leaned on the sill alongside Jake. As my eyes caught with Hayden's, his lips curled into a smile.

“Hey, Stranger?”

My heart tripped instantly.

The dumb tree outside scraped the window. Our old escape route. Jake climbed out. Not far from the tree was a swimming pool my dad constructed a few years ago.

He and Hayden whispered to each other. Jake's face showed different emotions all too fast for me to catch on. The next thing I knew he pushed Hayden into the swimming pool.

My jaw dropped. “Yes,” Jake exclaimed and turned to me. “You owe me twenty bucks.”

He laughed and ran away, leaving Hayden in the pool. As Hayden emerged from the pool, I felt sorry for him. Jake and I had made a bet and clearly I lost. Now I owe him 20 bucks and Hayden looks angry as hell.

And why do I feel bad for him? He had been the one taunting us all these years, I should be glad he's wet on this cold night.

I should be happy. But I wasn't. I grabbed a blanket and crept downstairs. Dad was snoring on the couch. By the time I got outside, Hayden was out of the pool.

Water slid off his body in rivulets. Shirtless. Shivering. I stared—I couldn’t help it. Geometry class never made much sense, but his muscles? Oh, they did.

My heart almost jumped out of my chest. Each slope, each muscle in his body made the universe feel complete. I hadn't realized I was staring, until Hayden pulled the towel from my hands.

“Thank you, Stranger,” he said, his voice hoarse with cold.

He covered himself, and our eyes locked. He smiled.

“I'm sorry, I made a bet with Jake,” I started, shaking my head.

“It's fine,” Hayden said. “I'm cold and wet. Can I get warm inside?”

“Inside?” I repeated robotically.

He gestured to my room upstairs, and my head snapped back to reality. But before I could say anything, Hayden was already walking inside my house.

I chased him. “You can’t! My dad—he’ll kill me.”

Hayden turned, smirking. “Then maybe I’ll just tell him what you and Jake did. I could come down with a fever, you know.”

I froze.

He opened his mouth like he was about to shout, and I slapped my hand over it.

“Shhh!”

My dad mumbled in his sleep. But he didn't wake up. Thank goodness. Hayden’s blue eyes flicked to my hand, then back to my face. We didn’t move. Just stared.

Then a cold gust slipped through the open window. Hayden shivered.

“Fine, let's go to my room. Be quiet, though.”

I removed my hand from his mouth and he flashed me a smile. “Sure, Stranger.”

“Stop calling me that.”

He chuckled and went upstairs. I followed behind. It was the first time I was having Hayden in my room since we were kids. It was the first time I was having another boy, aside from Jake, in my room.

Hayden glanced around. He sat quietly on the study chair beside my bed. I sat on the bed. We said nothing to each other. After a few minutes, he began to tap his foot lightly on the floor.

I wanted to say something. But I couldn't. Then my phone buzzed. Jake.

I picked up, grateful.

“Is Hayden still swimming?” Jake asked, laughing.

I glanced at Hayden, butterflies rumbling in my stomach. “No.”

“Good. His girlfriend just showed up.”

What? Girlfriend? My heart shattered instantly. As I turned, my eyes met Hayden's. It seemed he heard the conversation. He let out an exasperated grunt.

Then he stood up and discarded the towel with lethal grace, revealing his beautifully crafted body. I watched him climb out the window and jump downstairs.

I followed to the window, heart pounding, hope flickering like a fool’s candle. And then, I saw her. Jake and a girl were standing outside.

“Hey booboo, I miss you,” she said happily.

Hayden swooped her into his arms like something out of a movie, planting a kiss on her lips.