Chapter 452
“Why are you asking me for permission to do something you want?” Hayden countered.
I leaned my head against his neck, avoiding his gaze as my fingers toyed with the buttons on his shirt. “Because I don’t want you to overthink it. I don’t want you to be upset.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, the warmth of it spreading over me. “So, you’re worried about how I’ll feel?”
There was a soft happiness in his voice, like my concern for him meant more than I realized. It reminded me that men need to feel cared for, too.
“Of course. You’re my boyfriend. I don’t want you thinking I’d ever leave you behind for someone else, especially not a guy I used to be with. I wouldn’t want you feeling weird about me staying connected to an ex,” I said honestly.
I knew too well what it felt like to deal with betrayal and suspicion, and I never wanted Hayden to go through that because of me.
“You care so much about me,” Hayden teased, though his voice was filled with affection. His words brought back the memory of Jace’s comment at the airport, that I never cared about him. But that wasn’t true. I had cared—he just never seemed to see it.
“Of course I do. You come first,” I said, fully meaning it.
There’s that saying—if you love someone, tell them. So I did, making sure Hayden knew exactly where he stood. That way, no matter what happened, there’d be no misunderstandings, no room for doubt.
Hayden gently lifted me so I was facing him. “We may be together, but we’re still individuals. You don’t need my permission to do what you want.”
“How’s that fair?” I shot back with a laugh. “Does that mean there are things you think you don’t need to tell me?”
“Of course not. I’d always tell you and get your approval,” Hayden said, though it came off a bit like a double standard.
“You’re really unfair to yourself,” I teased, shaking my head.
His gaze deepened, his eyes locking with mine. “I’m a man. It’s different for you. You’re a woman—you should be treated with more care. Whatever you do is fine.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re such a feminist. If we ever have a daughter, you’re gonna spoil her rotten.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he responded, “Mm, our daughter. Of course, I’ll spoil her.”
I froze for a second, then my face went bright red as I quickly buried it back into his neck. “Who said I’d have a daughter with you?”
“Not now,” Hayden whispered softly in my ear. “We’ll wait until after the wedding.”
The mention of a wedding reminded me of his earlier comment about needing to secure funding through Kylian’s deal with the Johnstons. “Speaking of, how’s the deal with Jace going?”
“It’s almost finalized,” Hayden answered, tightening his arms around my waist. “Why? You’re eager to marry me already?”
I shook my head, hiding my embarrassment against his neck. “No, I was just asking.”
“But I want to,” Hayden murmured. “I think about it every day.”
The way he said it, like he hadn’t already won me over, like he was still yearning for something, tugged at my heart. He already had me, but his words made it sound like he still hadn’t fully reached me.
I couldn’t bring myself to say anything as bold, so I went for a more subtle response. “Aren’t we already together?”
“Silly girl,” Hayden sighed, his voice tender. “I don’t just want to be close to you—I want to be your husband. I want to be with you in a way that’s recognized by everyone. I want to spend every single day of the rest of our lives together, facing everything, through thick and thin. I want to be the one you lean on when you’re sad, the one who wipes your tears, and the one who holds you when you’re happy. I want to—”
I didn’t let him finish. I kissed him, cutting him off.
What he said was enough. I didn’t need any more words.
Tears welled up in my eyes, sliding down my cheeks as we kissed. Hayden seemed startled by my tears and gently pulled back, breaking the kiss.
I looked up at him, smiling through the tears, knowing this was the happiest I’d felt in the last ten years.