Chapter 32

“Hayden, this is the girl I mentioned who wants to switch rooms. Can you two discuss it?” Macy’s voice cut through the staring contest between Hayden and me.

I stepped forward. “Hi, I’m Keira Kay. Would you mind switching rooms with me?”

“Hayden Hart, and no.” He dismissed me as quickly as he’d washed his hair earlier.

My lips twitched in irritation; my stubborn side kicked in. “Why not?”

Hayden glanced at me but didn’t answer. He simply slung an army-green towel over his shoulder and walked past, sending a chill through me.

Macy came over. “Hey, Keira. Don’t be upset. Hayden isn’t good at sweet-talking girls. I’ll talk to him later.”

My temper flared, and I raised my voice. “No need. It’s just a room. Whoever wants it can have it.”

Macy pulled me aside. “Don’t be so harsh. He’s an ex-soldier. If you push him too far, he might carry you out and toss you outside.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. How could I mistake an ex-soldier for a freshly released inmate?

“I’m serious, Keira. I’m not making this up. The widow across the street, Molly Ruth, kept banging on his door until he finally wrapped her in a sheet and threw her out. Everyone saw it.”

“Huh? Another widow? Weird how I keep running into them.”

“Seriously? Did she make it into his bed?” I asked, curious.

“She tried, but she didn’t get that far. He tossed her out before she could. It was quite the show,” Macy said, clicking her tongue.

I smirked. “Don’t worry, I’m not into guys who attract widows.”

Just as I said that, Hayden reappeared, now wearing a black T-shirt and a black leather jacket. He looked tough.

“Hayden, heading out this late?” Macy asked.

“Yeah,” he replied curtly.

“Don’t stay out too late. I have to lock up, and it wouldn’t be good if a thief got in…” Her words trailed off as Hayden disappeared.

As I turned to head back to my room, Macy added, “Hayden’s a good guy, really upright. Any girl who ends up with him is lucky.”

Lucky or unlucky, it had nothing to do with me. My heart wasn’t shattered, but it felt pretty beat up from past heartbreak.

“Keira,” Macy called as I was about to enter my room.

I turned around. “Yes?”

“Hayden never locks his door when he goes out. Want me to show you around his room? If you like it, I can talk to him again tomorrow.” She seemed determined to help.

I smiled. “That wouldn’t be right.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it. We’re not taking anything, and he doesn’t bring any girls here. It’s fine,” she insisted, already making her way to Hayden’s room.

“No, thank you,” I declined. “I don’t want to switch anymore. I like my room as it is.”

She stopped, and I gave her a warm, grateful smile. “Thanks. You should get some rest too.”

“I can’t sleep,” she muttered as I closed my door.

Actually, I couldn’t sleep either. Even though today had been more eventful than the past decade, I should have been exhausted and eager for rest.