COLEENBy the time I stepped out of the athletic complex, the evening air was cool and soft, brushing against my skin like a sigh of relief.My legs ached, my hair was a mess, and I smelled faintly of disinfectant and coffee from the staff lounge but I didn’t care. It had been a long day, and for the first time in weeks, there wasn’t a storm hanging over my head.Then I saw him.Hayden leaned against his car in the half-empty parking lot, hands in the pockets of his black hoodie, hair tousled by the wind. The fading sunlight turned his skin gold, and when he looked up, his smile, the real one that I hadn’t seen in a while, made something warm bloom inside my chest.“Need a ride, beautiful?” he asked when I approached, his voice teasing but gentle.I rolled my eyes, fighting a grin. “You’re supposed to say that before I see your car. Kind of ruins the dramatic effect.”He laughed, pushing off the hood and holding the door open for me. “I’ll remember that for next time. Get in. I’ve got
Last Updated : 2025-11-01 Read more