CHAPTER TEN: SHE CRIED

HAYDEN

I stopped breathing the moment Grace lifted the mask off my face.

I knew exactly how angry she was going to be. She was still furious about what happened in the locker room.

Her eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights.

“Hayden,” she called, her voice hard and cold.

“Angel,” I replied, practically begging.

This was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I was willing to take anything she gave me.

“You! How could you do this? Play me for a fool?” she whispered, tears glistening in her eyes.

My heart shattered. This was the second time tonight I’d made her cry.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“I didn’t mean for it to happen,” I tried to explain, but the words felt useless.

She turned around and walked away.

I refused to let her leave without fixing this.

“Wait!” I caught her in a hug from behind. “I’m sorry, Grace.” I held her tightly as she struggled, pressing my face against her back.

“At first, I didn’t know it was you. By the time I realized… it was already too late.”

We both knew what I meant, the things we’d done that night.

“I was shocked to find out you were my new sister,” I swore. “Believe me, Grace.”

“What about after that?” she asked, her voice rising as she spun around to face me. “What about everything you did a few minutes ago?” Her expression was stone cold. “Are you going to tell me you had no idea what you were doing?”

A thousand excuses ran through my head, but none of them was good enough.

“I did it because I wanted to,” I admitted. “Don’t tell me you don’t feel this thing between us.”

I was being selfish. I didn’t want her to leave me.

“Was that why you asked me to fake date you?” Grace demanded.

I looked at my Angel, confused. “You know damn well I did it for you.” Also a lie.

She said nothing. She turned and pushed through the crowd.

Panic hit me instantly. I didn’t want us to have another fight.

“Hold on!” I called, chasing after her.

I caught up just as she reached her car. She was fast when she was angry and somehow, it made her look even hotter.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, pulling her into another hug. This time, I refused to let go. “Let’s go somewhere and talk. Please.”

“No. I feel like a fool, Hayden.”

The hurt in her voice made my chest ache in a way it never had. No other woman had ever made me feel this way.

I was ready to drop to my knees. “Please, I don’t want this to end without fixing it.”

“You don’t get it,” she whispered, turning to face me. Tears spilt down her cheeks.

“Please don’t cry, Angel.” I gently wiped her face.

“You lied to me. How could you kiss me, knowing I’m your sister?”

I nearly cursed. She had no idea how hard I’d fought against it, how loud the voice inside me roared to make her mine.

“Yes, we did things without knowing we were related,” I said. “But right now… never again.”

We both knew I was lying. I was making an empty promise.

I swallowed hard.

“We’re fake dating. I need you to play your part.”

My chest tightened at her words.

I nodded. “Yes.”

Then she burst into tears.

“Angel,” I cursed softly, pulling her into my arms.

I threw my head back, staring at the sky. The heavy feeling in my chest only grew. Why the hell am I addicted to a girl I only knew a few days ago.

After a while, she calmed down. Her face was pink and glowing, the redness in her eyes making her even more beautiful.

Finally, she looked at me.

“What happened in the locker room?”

I felt relieved she asked. I've been waiting for this question.

“Nothing happened between Emily and me.” I searched her eyes so she could see I was telling the truth. “I won’t compromise on our agreement,” I added reluctantly.

“Okay,” she whispered.

A comfortable silence settled between us.

“Can I drive you back to your dorm?” I asked, taking her hands into mine.

“I need to inform Madison.” She replied softly and sent a quick text to her friend.

I drove her to the dormitory, and I killed the engine.

I pushed her curly hair behind her ears. Staring into her baby doe eyes, “Please forgive me, Grace.”

She still looked sad, but after a moment she gave me a small nod.

It was enough to give me hope.

“I’ll see you in class.”

I kissed her forehead quickly.

“You!” she stammered, blushing as she escaped from the car.