Chapter 87

“Got any wet wipes?” Hayden asked. “Or another towel? I need to clean up.” He was clutching my towel, but it was clear he wouldn't use it on his dirty clothes.

“I have some face cloths,” I offered, producing a couple. “You can wet them and use them the same way.”

He hesitated, staring at the cloths as if they were alien technology.

I laughed. “Seriously? You’ve never seen these before?”

“Yeah, first time,” he admitted, a response that somehow made him even more appealing. It made sense; he hadn't been in a relationship and hadn't had women in his life. And honestly, face cloths were a relatively recent trend.

“They’re disposable face cloths, mostly for women,” I explained, wetting one and handing it to him. Hayden nodded, understanding, and began wiping the dirt from his clothes. As he did, I noticed a smudge on his shoulder, so I grabbed another cloth and reached out to clean it.

The moment I touched him, he tensed slightly. I pretended not to notice and continued wiping. Then, I saw a small black mole on the back of his neck, and my mind instantly flashed to that dream—the one where a boy carried me on his back, with a tiny black mole in the exact same spot as Hayden's.

I became engrossed in the thought, wondering if it could mean something, until Hayden called my name, snapping me back to reality. I realized the damp cloth had soaked his shirt. “Uh, all done,” I mumbled, quickly withdrawing my hand.

I couldn't stop staring at the mole. “That mole… have you had it since you were a kid?”

He reached up, touching the spot. “Yeah, I’ve had it since I was little.”

My heart skipped a beat. Could “Haddy” from my dream really be Hayden? It felt surreal. I hadn't known Hayden long; how could I have dreamed about him as a child, carrying me?

I know dreams are often random, full of inexplicable things, but this one felt far too real. I was completely baffled, especially since I hadn't even known about the mole until today.

“I’m ready. Let’s go,” Hayden said, turning to face me, thankfully pulling me from my thoughts.

We headed downstairs and encountered one of the building's elderly residents heading up. She smiled warmly at Hayden. “You’re a good man. Come by often and help tidy up when you can.”

I couldn't help but think, “Wow, she’s really not shy about asking for favors.” But Hayden simply smiled back, unfazed. “Sure.” A true soldier, always ready to lend a hand. Even though I knew he was being polite, I couldn't imagine him actually returning regularly.

As we stepped outside, Hayden looked around. “Your neighborhood might be a bit old, but it’s still in decent shape.”

“It used to be better,” I replied. “But now it’s mostly renters, so it’s not as well-maintained.”

He nodded and followed me to the car. As I started the engine, he asked, “Is the rent here expensive?”

I turned to him, surprised. “Hmm?”

He buckled his seatbelt. “Just curious about the rates. Might help when I’m looking to rent.” His question seemed innocent, yet it left me with an unsettling feeling. Before I could dwell on it, Hayden changed the subject. “So what are you planning to treat me to?”

“What about you? What do you feel like eating?” I asked as we drove away.

“I’m not picky. Whatever you want is fine,” he said, sounding genuinely easygoing.

Considering all he’d done for me, I decided to treat him to a nice meal. But the moment we entered the restaurant, I spotted someone I really didn't want to see. And, of course, she noticed me too. Her eyes widened briefly before she headed straight for me.