Chapter 359

I opened my social media and noticed a new friend request. I usually don't accept requests from strangers unless they have my number, but I clicked it out of habit. The name? Cedric Sawyer. He's a police officer.

It took a moment, but then I recognized him—the officer from yesterday who handled my parents' case. I hadn't gotten his name then, but it had to be him. He had asked for my number, so it made sense.

I accepted the request. A notification popped up confirming we were connected. I didn't message him; if he had something to say, he'd contact me.

I switched to Lena's profile and sent her a message: "Girl, you need to tone down the superhero vibe. Be playful, maybe even a little flirty. Let him feel like he needs to protect you. Right now, you're making him feel like the sidekick."

I glanced across the café at Lena, but she was engrossed in her drink. Classic Lena—always oblivious. I didn't expect an immediate reply; it was more of a suggestion for next time.

"Stop staring at your phone and eat," Hayden nudged me, bringing me back to reality.

"Okay, okay," I mumbled, poking at my pasta. My throat was still sore, so I wasn't very hungry. The juice, however, was heavenly—sweet and warm, perfect for my throat. It would have been better cold, but Hayden insisted on warm because, you know, I was menstruating.

Even though I wasn't hungry, I sipped my juice and watched Hayden eat. He ate quickly but neatly. For someone who seemed so rough, his table manners were surprisingly impeccable. Not a single crumb remained.

This wasn't unusual. Ever since I met Hayden, he'd always cleaned his plate meticulously. It was a habit, I realized. My parents had instilled the "no wasting food" rule in me, too, though I didn't always follow it. Maybe that was the one rule I actually rebelled against.

Watching him scrape his plate clean, I teased, "Hayden, you're a little too diligent about cleaning your plate. At home, it's practical—fewer dishes. But here? People might think you're too cheap to order seconds."

"It's not about being cheap," he said, reaching for my half-finished plate as if it were nothing. "It's about not wasting food."

This wasn't the first time he'd finished my leftovers, but we were in public. "Hayden…"

"Doesn't matter. Wasting is still wrong," he said seriously.

I couldn't argue, so I watched him devour the rest of my pasta. It was a little embarrassing, so I nudged him under the table. He froze mid-bite, his eyes locking onto mine, intense.

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, and muttered, "Stop messing around."

I smiled, sipping my juice innocently, lightly biting the straw.

"Don't laugh while you're drinking," he warned, watching me. "You'll choke."

Naturally, I didn't listen. I grinned wider. "Choking would be perfect. Then you could give me CPR."

"Ugh!" Hayden almost choked, causing me to burst into laughter.

I was still laughing when I felt a shadow behind me. I jumped, nearly spilling my juice.

Chapter 360