Chapter 157

“I figured if you were in a hurry, you’d come looking for me, so I left it open for you,” Hayden replied casually.

And yet, like an idiot, I asked, “So you came out like that on purpose?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “No, I heard my phone ringing and came out to get it. I didn’t expect… well, the timing…”

“Yeah, just perfect timing,” I muttered, adding silently, At least he had a great body.

On the way to the Johnstons’ residence, Hayden remained quiet. I figured he was probably nervous. “When we get there, all you have to do is say hello. I’ll handle any awkward questions.”

“Okay,” he nodded.

“And if Jace is there and tries to be a jerk, don’t hold back,” I added.

“Got it.”

“Oh, and one more thing—we should get our story straight. We’ll say we met in Chiverton, and… you’re interested in me… so you followed me here.” My face heated.

“I don’t think I’ll have any trouble with that.”

“Huh?” I blinked, understanding dawning slowly.

After that, silence stretched between us, tense and heavy. My nerves frayed as I drove. I must have been more anxious than I realized, because when the car in front of me braked suddenly, I nearly rear-ended it.

Hayden reacted instantly. His hand shot out, gripping the steering wheel and yanking it sharply to the side, avoiding a collision.

By the time we stopped, I was frozen in shock. His reflexes were so quick, it seemed unreal.

“Focus when you drive,” Hayden scolded gently. “A car accident isn’t the worst thing, but what if you got hurt?” Once the car ahead moved again, he relinquished control.

I’d been driving for three years, but right then, I felt like a complete novice.

We drove in silence for a while, my pulse finally calming. Out of curiosity, I asked, “Your driving skills are amazing. Were you the designated driver in the army or something?”

“No.”

I glanced over, intrigued. “Then what did you do?”

“Special forces.”

I didn’t know much about it, but I’d seen enough movies to understand—special forces were the guys who charged headfirst into danger, always looking incredibly cool. And Hayden? Yeah, he definitely looked incredibly cool. There was an unshakeable toughness about him, rare these days.

“So, why’d you leave the military? Why not become a SWAT officer?” My curiosity was piqued.

Hayden hesitated. Then Demi’s words came to mind. Could this be connected to his father’s accident?

I tried a gentler approach. “Hayden, you’ve never mentioned your parents or siblings. Can you tell me a little about them? Just in case the Johnstons ask…”

“My parents are both gone,” he interrupted. “My father died in a car accident while driving his boss and his boss’s wife. None of them survived,” he said, his gaze meeting mine.

My heart lurched. Both my parents died in a car accident too. Hearing him say that hit me hard. “My mother passed away afterward. She was sick for years… grief destroyed her,” Hayden’s voice softened.

I could see his pain and immediately regretted bringing it up. “I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t think my father’s car accident was an accident,” Hayden added.