Chapter 265

Hayden let me turn his face however I wanted, continuing, "Do you know what you said back then?"

"I don't know, and you're totally making this up," I protested, refusing to believe I had been so shameless as a child.

"You said it was like stamping a seal on me. That after you kissed me, I was yours. And that when you grew up, you'd marry me. You even made me promise not to marry anyone else." He paused for dramatic effect, then leaned closer. "Kiki, I've followed your orders. I'm in my thirties now, and I've never been in a relationship. Never liked another girl, never even held another girl's hand. I've waited for you all this time, so you've got to take responsibility for me," he said, his earnestness and vulnerability making me feel guilty.

I'd always thought Jace was my childhood friend, but I was wrong. Hayden was my real childhood sweetheart—the one who, despite our limited time together, left a mark on both our lives. But I was too young then; those sweet memories seemed to have stuck only with Hayden.

"Alright, I'll take responsibility," I said, tilting my head up and standing on tiptoe to lightly bite his jawline.

He let out a soft grunt, and I teased, "I'm leaving a deeper stamp this time, so any girl who thinks about liking you will know to back off."

Hayden chuckled. "Still as bossy as you were when you were little."

Bossy? Was I really? I'd always thought of myself as soft-hearted, especially with the Johnstons. Unless it was something I truly cared about, I usually went along with others. Hayden had given me a whole new perspective on my childhood. Even if I wasn't sure how much of it was true, I felt genuinely happy.

Later, he took me fishing, and we caught a good-sized fish—over two pounds.

"Tonight, I'll make you Mediterranean baked fish. You loved eating fish when you were little," Hayden said so casually, confirming everything he'd told me. I did love fish, especially Mediterranean baked fish—just like my mom used to make, full of flavor and perfectly cooked. The day my parents had their accident, my mom had promised to make it for dinner, but they never returned. Afterward, I stopped eating it altogether. Matthew, Lindsey, even Jace and Wayne, thought I simply disliked fish. But Hayden knew.

"Okay!" I agreed.

In that moment, I felt a strange sense of peace. Mediterranean baked fish was my mom's signature dish, a taste of her love and a reminder of her. Knowing someone else remembered it felt like a sign from her, like she was watching over me. Hayden's version tasted almost exactly like hers—so flavorful, just right. He explained that my mom had learned the recipe from his mom, who grew up by a lake and knew the best ways to cook fish. I'd lost my mom ten years ago, but through Hayden, it felt like a piece of her love had returned.

After dinner, we cleaned up, but Hayden didn't leave. I sat on the couch, scrolling through my phone, while he worked on his laptop. He looked so focused, and I felt restless. Something was making my heart race, like a tiny bug crawling inside me, preventing me from concentrating.

"Uh, I'm feeling sleepy," I finally said, searching for an excuse.

Hayden set his laptop aside. "I'm feeling a bit sleepy too."

I blurted out, "Then go home."

But he didn't move. He just looked at me. My heart pounded. "Hayden…"

"Can I stay over tonight?" he asked quietly.