Chapter 319

No matter what turmoil raged within, I pushed it aside. Yuna was so pure, so sensitive—almost saintly in her kindness. I couldn't let my emotions burden her.

By the time she and Hayden returned from their chat, Ed had already finished my chia pudding and helpfully begun pilfering Hayden's. It was the perfect scene—me surreptitiously stealing bites, caught red-handed. No one would believe I'd been feeling down moments before. Yuna saw me pilfering Hayden's food and likely assumed all was well between us. We clearly hadn't fought if I was pulling a stunt like that.

Both Hayden and Yuna blinked, surprised, as if I'd completely thrown them off. I scooped another spoonful of the warm chia pudding and tried to look innocent. "I think...I could go for another bowl."

"Oh! I'll make one right now!" Yuna gasped, shocked then flustered as she hurried to the kitchen.

"No need. Let her finish mine," Hayden said, sliding his bowl toward me.

I couldn't possibly eat more, but I gave him a quick wink and took a small bite. "It's fine. I'll just have a few more bites."

"Let's share it, then," Hayden replied, leaning in and eating the spoonful I'd just scooped.

I froze for a second, but Yuna burst into laughter. "You two are even sweeter than the pudding!"

That's when it hit me—Hayden had totally caught on to my plan and was playing along. Yuna, completely convinced by our little act, relaxed, her earlier worry dissipating. Hayden and I played our parts perfectly, taking turns eating from the same bowl until we'd finished the warm chia pudding.

After Hayden got up to clean the dishes, Yuna pulled me aside. "Keira, I've already changed the sheets for you both and set out your toiletries. If you need anything else, just let me know."

"Thanks, Yuna," I said, emphasizing the word to show my appreciation for her care.

It was clear Yuna liked me, and the best way to reciprocate was to embrace the idea of being her future sister-in-law—no doubt about it.

Yuna turned to Hayden with a teasing smile. "Hayden, you better hurry up and marry Keira. I can't let someone else steal her away!"

"Mhm, once you're all better, I'll marry her," Hayden replied calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Yuna was about to say something when Hayden casually dropped, "Keira's crashing with you tonight, so make sure you don't, like, kick her off the bed or something."

Both Yuna and I froze. What? He wasn't letting me sleep with him? Seriously, he was sending me to Yuna's room?

Yuna threw me a confused glance. "Hayden, shouldn't Keira be sleeping with you?"

"We're not married yet. It's not appropriate for her to sleep with me," Hayden replied seriously, like some kind of noble knight. My jaw nearly hit the floor.

Wait, was he serious?

Before arriving, he wouldn't let me sleep without him, even when nothing was happening between us! And now, in front of his sister, he's suddenly Mister Morals? Separate rooms? Really?

"Girls need to know how to protect themselves," he added, as if this was a teaching moment for Yuna.

But—wait a second. Didn't Yuna ask earlier if Hayden and I had…

And I'd already hinted we'd gone way past first base!

"You don't need to use this as an example, I get it," Yuna shot back, rolling her eyes. "Besides, if Keira's with me, are you really going to sleep that well?"

Hayden glanced at me, his ears turning red. "I'll sleep just fine," he mumbled.

"Oh," I replied coolly. "Well then, sweet dreams."

Hayden looked at me, but I linked arms with Yuna. "Come on, let Hayden finish up. We're going to bed."