But we’re strangers now, and there’s nothing that we can do or say that would fix the past. Is there?
I turn around to the snobbish guy and ask, “Now, can I have a room, or should I go to the lake to clean myself?”
“Nick, give her the key to one of the suites,” Hayes orders the guy then grabs my ID and credit card inspecting them. “You live in San Francisco?”
“Sometimes,” I respond and turn to the guy. “A normal room works. I can’t afford the suite.”
The law firm is reimbursing the room and my meals, but I doubt they’ll pay for a suite.
“It’s on the house,” Hayes says, giving me back my stuff. “Give her a suite—and make sure that any room service is charged to the house account, not to her.”
Grudgingly, Nick gives me a keycard and instructions on how to get to the elevator bank. I give him a sweet smile and make my way to the elevator.
“Aren’t you going to thank me for getting you the room?” I hear his voice following behind me, its huskiness stealing the oxygen around us. I walk faster because I don’t think I can have a conversation with him—not yet, or ever.
Who knew he’d be provoking such emotional havoc in me by just being in his presence for only a minute? I should’ve known, though. My physical reaction to his memories haven’t changed over the years. It’s logical that my response to him would be, at least, as strong.
“Thank you for coming to my rescue, oh noble Hayes Aldridge,” I say mockingly, pressing the elevator button several times.
“Blaire.”
I turn to look at him, trying to keep the little annoyance I can fake because really all I want is … him. We have so much history and such a disastrous ending that I should stay away. I play the cool, yet annoyed woman—a role I hate. Faking and lying are two things I despise.
Faking that he’s not affecting me is harder than I thought. I take a good look at him. In another reality, if we drifted apart and we found each other again, we’d be thrilled to see each other. This should be the part where we hug, we kiss, and we say how much we missed each other. But we don’t.
My heart wants to reunite with its soulmate. My body wants to be held by Hayes, but my mind knows it’s impossible. Heat rushes through my bloodstream at the memory of what we shared so long ago. And that curious gaze he gives me reminds me of the first day we met.
This is my first-time flying solo. College seems like the right step, but it’s also a huge step for someone who’s been homeschooled and away from her peers since middle school. It’s fine, though. College has to be a way better experience than the last four years of my life.
At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
Deep breaths, one foot in front of the other. Nothing is impossible.
You can carry thirty boxes to your room—even if it takes you an entire day.
I’m so worried about how I’m going to open the door, since both of my hands are occupied, that I don’t notice the boxes in my path.
In seconds, I’m tumbling, falling forward, and the boxes I hold fly forward too. An arm that feels like a bar of steel secures me by the waist, breaking my fall.
“You okay?” A deep, rough, almost gravelly voice asks.
Heart pounding and mortified about dragging the attention of anyone around, I try to straighten myself and recover from the fright.
“Umm, yes.” I try to play it cool.
Nothing happened, Blaire.
Hopefully, no one will remember this incident by the end of the day. So maybe I have to repack my boxes in front of everyone and I’ll finish moving in by midnight. It’s all good.
I tilt my head and try to look unphased and say, “Thank you.”
I’m taken aback as I spot a heart-stopping smile. My breath falters. He’s not exactly your average college boy. At least, I didn’t see a guy like him during freshman orientation.
He’s gorgeous. Sculpted cheeks with dimples. A strong, hard, chiseled jaw. He also has the most striking green eyes I’ve ever seen.
Being so sheltered, it only took a matter of seconds for him to capture my attention, and, soon after, he stole my heart. I lived in a cloud of firsts: love, passion, and dreams. Until I fell from it, slamming back down to earth, with so much more than a broken heart.
The chiming sound announcing the elevator has arrived brings me back to the present. He hasn’t said a word, but his gaze keeps holding mine. I pivot and take a step into the elevator.
“It’s good to see you,” he says, surprising me, because the last time we spoke, his hatred annihilated me.
As the doors close and he remains outside, waiting for me to respond, I’m speechless. What am I supposed to say?
Is it good to see him?
I don’t know, because it took me years to forget him. Yet, it appears that I did a terrible job.
Seven
Hayes
My stomach clenches. My heart thumps fast and hard against my ribcage. I lean on the wall for a moment, closing my eyes as I calm down from the emotional hurricane I just endured.
It’s been twelve years. Twelve fucking years since the last time I saw her. She’s more beautiful now than the first time we met. Her body has changed. Her hips are wider, her legs are stronger. Her dark hair is long, and instead of a hat, she’s wearing a big headband, but it’s all the same. She’s covering her head.
There are things that never change. Her voice is still sweet, raspy. Soothing. In some ways, it feels as if nothing has changed, and yet, she’s changed a lot. My feelings for her, though, they are just as strong as they were when I chose to move to Baltimore. When I chose my future over her.
Fuck, she’s here.
Blaire Noelle Wilson is here.
My Blaire. But she’s no longer mine.
Her striking blue eyes look a shade darker than I remember. I can’t tell what she’s feeling for me. She was acting strange.
Why is she here?
Because since my father died, I’ve been doing what I’ve never done before. Praying for a miracle. For her.
It’s probably something less magical and more practical. Like my father saying “Fuck you, Hayes” in his own way. Well, the joke is on him because seeing her doesn’t make me angry. It makes me everything but.
If only I knew why she came. But that shouldn’t matter now. She’s here, and this is my chance to be back in her life. And the only way to do that is to earn her trust, and show her I am different from that coward she dated before.
But can we become something more?
What if she’s happy?
I can’t ruin her new life just because I did that with mine.
Running a hand through my hair, I decide to go to the conference room. First, I need to know why Blaire is here, and Mr. Parrish can answer my questions. But when I enter the conference room, Henry is speaking and already making some decisions.
“I vote that we sell the ski resort. It needs too much work.”
“We don’t know who gets the resort,” I remind him.
“What if he split his fortune in equal parts?” He asks. “I’m not running a fucking resort for you, assholes.”
Isn’t it obvious that he should be the one running it?