Chapter 389

Even though Yuna's surgery was a success, her recovery involved risks, requiring round-the-clock care. Hayden hired a caregiver for the daytime, but he remained by her side at night. Lately, I hadn't spent much time with Hayden; we both worked during the day.

To my surprise, Hayden agreed to attend Steve's game. "I'll go," he said. I began to protest, "But what about Yuna—," but he interrupted, "I'll take care of it," in his reassuring tone.

"I haven't spent enough time with you lately," he murmured, his forehead against mine. His words tugged at my heart. Wasn't that the truth? He'd been with Yuna every night, leaving little time for us. I couldn't be truly jealous, but I felt slightly neglected.

The game in Ferndale was a few hours away, so Hayden and I flew there. Upon landing, we found someone holding a sign with my name. We exchanged a look, but the driver quickly explained Steve had arranged it. I hadn't expected such thoughtfulness from Steve. I was glad I'd come; otherwise, I would have missed his kind gesture.

The flight was crowded, mostly with Steve's fans. It was the first time I grasped the extent of his fame. Even before reaching the stadium, the energy from his fans was infectious, and my excitement grew.

"I never imagined Steve was this famous," I said, still amazed by the buzz. "All these years, I just thought of him as the guy who ran a pool hall."

Hayden remained quiet, which didn't bother me. Since he didn't know Steve well, I pointed out his banners and posters throughout the city, sharing stories about his incredible skills in snooker, billiards, and other cue sports. I even recounted the time I beat him.

As the car pulled up to the hotel, I asked the driver, "Is Steve staying here too?" His affirmative reply only increased my excitement.

"I'll introduce you to him tonight," I said, playfully patting Hayden's shoulder. But he didn't respond. His darkened expression was concerning. His unusual mood couldn't be ignored. "What's wrong?" I asked.

Hayden didn't answer. He got out, retrieved the luggage, and headed toward the hotel. The silent treatment? This wasn't like him, except perhaps when we first met.

"What's going on?" I stepped in front of him. Still nothing. Frustrated, I pressed, "Hayden, talk to me."

Finally, he blurted out, "Do you like Steve?"

"What?" I laughed.

"You've been talking about him non-stop," Hayden muttered, sounding sulky. Was he jealous? I'd never seen him like this, not even regarding Jace. Yet, here he was, jealous of Steve.

"Obviously I like him. Why else would I have talked about him the whole way here?"

Hayden's face darkened further. He grumbled, "Let's go," and started dragging the suitcase. I didn't move. He stopped, turning around. "Why aren't you coming?"

"Because I'm annoyed," I huffed, my bratty side emerging. "You're being super petty, and it's totally killing my vibe." With Jace, I would have played the perfect girlfriend. But with Hayden, I was much more… bratty.

He sighed and returned. "You keep talking about another guy. Of course, it bugs me."

Chapter 390