Page 81 of One Baby Daddy
Another tear.
“Don’t do this. Just let me go.”
“I . . .” His voice deceives him. “I fucking can’t.” Lifting my chin, he searches my eyes, his eyes darting back and forth, looking for something, for any kind of tell. “Can we talk? Please?”
Lowering my head, I shake it. “There is no use, Hayden. There is no point in dragging on the inevitable. You’re moving to Los Angeles. I’m staying here. Let’s call it like it is.”
“And what’s that?” he grinds out.
Lifting my gaze, I hold my breath. “A summer fling I will forever remember.”
Twisting his lips, his jaw shifting back and forth, he punches the door behind me before lifting away and shouting, “Fuck.”
Not able to take any more, my heart crumbling into an unfixable pile, I turn my back and slip out the door. I jog to my car, and the minute the door shuts, I let out a wail of a cry and rest my head against the steering wheel. Catching my breath, I start my car and look out the window where I find Hayden standing in the frame of his front door, both hands pulling on the back of his neck, the lift of his shirt showing off a patch of tan skin on his narrow waist.
Pulling myself together, I wipe the tears from my face and put the car in reverse. All the while, Hayden keeps his eyes trained on me, never detaching, never letting go.
That was without a doubt the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do.
To walk away from the man who stole my heart.
To say goodbye when all I want to do is stay.
When all I want to do is love.
Chapter Sixteen
HAYDEN
This is the last fucking place I want to be right now.
In Philadelphia.
At a child’s birthday party, holding some fucking princess tea set under my arm.
I’ve been home for a fucking day. One day and I’m already itching to drive right back to Binghamton, to the hospital and shake some sense into Adalyn.
How the fuck could she just leave like that?
I know I meant more to her. I could see it in her eyes. I could tell from the way she broke down in her car, so why is she turning away from me?
Why is she ignoring my calls and texts?
Because of distance? We can work that out. It’s a minor detail. But the connection we had, that doesn’t come along very often. Hell, I’ve never felt the way I feel about Adalyn for any other woman.
It might have happened fast, I might have attached quickly, but fuck, how could I not? She was so kindhearted, strong, feisty, and so incredibly genuine. She was nothing like the women I’ve met throughout the last year. I love her brain, her crazy wit, her vulnerable looks she’d give me when she was unsure. She seemed interested in me as a person. She could trash talk my brothers. She talked to my mom on the phone, for fuck’s sake.And seemed to enjoy it once she was off the call.And her body? Her fire? She’s a goddess. She was the whole package. She made me feel like myself with no pretense. She showed me I’m more to her than a famous hockey player. At least she did leading up to our last conversation. I still can’t understand how someone can switch from mellow and content, wanting more of me, to agitated and indifferent, desperate to leave. To leave me.
Christ. I rub the outer parts of my eyes with my hand when the door opens. Someone I don’t know greets me with a smile, letting me know the party is in the back. I could have guessed that from the noise spreading to the street when I pulled up.
Handing over the gift, I make my way to the back of the house where I find Calder standing at the grill, looking like a master in command.
A flash of pink catches my eye, shooting across the pavement of the pool area. Shea, Calder’s daughter, is bouncing on her feet asking her dad when Uncle Hayden is going to arrive. I should be touched, warmed to the core, but I feel nothing.
But because I have to, I put on a happy face and grab Shea by the waist.
“Right now.” Shea squeals loudly. “Were you worried I wasn’t going to come?” I spin her around for a few turns.
“You’re late.”
