Chapter 95

“Mm.”

I was about to speak when he added softly, “I can’t help it. I can’t stop myself from wanting to be close to you, to take care of you, and, yeah… even flirt with you.”

He had a point. If love were controllable, even gods wouldn't stand a chance.

For a moment, I was speechless, but Hayden released me. “Make sure you drink plenty of water when you get inside. And if you need anything, just call me,” he said, pointing to my bag. “Your keycard—I’ll get the door for you.”

“No need,” I said, snapping out of my reverie and stepping back. “I’ve got it.”

I quickly retrieved my keycard, swiped it, and slipped inside. Leaning against the door, I stood there for a while, composing myself.

By the time Demi returned, I was already in bed. She moved quietly, likely trying not to wake me. I kept my eyes closed; I wasn't in the mood to talk. I heard her mutter, “Wasn’t she sleeping just fine? Guess I didn’t need to come after all.”

So, Hayden had called Demi to check on me.

My fingers curled into fists beneath the blanket. Hayden Hart… How did I even get involved with that guy?

I had no answer, and eventually, I drifted back to sleep. It wasn’t peaceful, though. My dreams were a chaotic jumble of unsettling images. I even dreamt of my parents, reliving the car accident that claimed their lives.

I never saw the crash site myself, but I had secretly viewed the case files at the police station. Those images were burned into my memory, fueling the nightmares that haunted me. When I first moved in with the Johnstons, these nightmares occurred almost nightly, but they had faded over the years. Tonight, however, they returned.

I woke before dawn, my phone displaying 5:00 AM. Lately, I’d been waking at this hour regardless of when I went to bed. Even after last night's alcohol, my head wasn't throbbing; I felt surprisingly clear-headed.

I noticed several missed calls and silenced messages. Lena had called twice, and there was one from Lindey.

I couldn't understand why Lindey would be calling, but I suspected it had something to do with Jace. I'd already told Jace everything, and Lindey hadn't contacted me in ages. Was this about Wayne?

After some thought, I decided to contact Lena first. It was too early to call, so I opened the chat app and saw a flurry of messages from her:

[Why aren’t you answering? Are you okay?] [Did Hayden abduct you?] [Call or message me back, or I’m calling the cops.] [Did something happen at Mr. Seth’s bar?]

Clearly, Lena had tracked me down at Mr. Seth's when she couldn't reach me. Otherwise, she would have likely been at my hotel door.

I sent a sticker and typed: [I’m fine, just needed to unwind with a little drink]

Almost instantly, my phone buzzed. Lena was calling. She must have been on the night shift; otherwise, she wouldn't have replied so quickly.

To avoid waking Demi, I stepped onto the balcony to take the call. Glancing down, I saw Hayden jogging below. This time, I turned away, focusing on Lena.

When I mentioned Hayden’s reaction to her earlier message, Lena burst out laughing. “Rea, I think Hayden’s worth considering. Why not give him a chance?”

“I shut him down last night. Not interested,” I said flatly.

“Alright, you’re clearly still licking your wounds and not ready for love,” Lena sighed.

After we hung up, I showered. Feeling refreshed, my phone buzzed again—this time, it was Lindey. I hesitated before answering. “Hey, Lindey.”