Page 26 of Fair Catch
“Uh, yeah. It was fine. We won,” I tell him absently.
“That’s what matters, right?”
I nod and force a smile. “I guess so.”
My answer has his frown deepening. “Then why do you look like someone kicked your puppy?”
Sadness shifts into frustration, and I lift my arms. “Do you even care?” It comes out with more bite than it should’ve, and guilt for it hits me immediately.
We’ve had shaky moments since calling our “fair catch,”but for the most part, we’ve kept true to the truce and the rules we set together. And it’s paid off, minimizing the blow ups and frustrations on both our parts.
Which is why Hayes is clearly taken aback, sitting up straight on the couch.
“Look, normally I would have a completely different reaction to your snappiness,” he starts, clearly choosing his words carefully. “But if we’re gonna make an attempt at being friendly, there’s this thing that has to happen.”
“Not biting each other’s heads off?” I supply, my lips curling up a little. “Probably a good idea. Sorry.”
“That, yes.” A returning grin pulls at the corner of his mouth. “But I was actually meaning the part where we talk to each other about the things bothering us.”
Oh.
An ear to listen wasn’t what I was expecting Hayes to say. Quite frankly, it’s the exact opposite of what I’d have thought, figuring he’d make a smartass comment about keeping our feelings to ourselves or saving the mental breakdowns for the confines of my bedroom.
So hearing his offer to unload has me spilling my guts before I can think twice.
“I saw Phoenix tonight, after getting back from the game. It was the first time since he moved out of our apartment after last semester ended, and I wasn’t expecting it.”
“And Phoenix is…an ex?” Hayes supplies, doing his best to fill in the blanks.
And that’s when I realize this guy barely knows a damn thing about me, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Oh, God no.” I shake my head, the mere thought strange and uncomfortable. “My old roommate. And my ex-best friend. Or still my best friend that I’m currently on a break from? I’m not really sure which, at the moment.”
A couple expressions cross Hayes’ face—everything from confused to amused—before he lets out a sharp laugh. “That doesn’t sound messy one bit.”
I blow out a dramatic breath. “Believe it or not, it’s actually one of the more simple things in my life.”
The two of us just kinda stare at each other for a second, neither of us knowing what to do or say after that. I’m about to just call it a night, head to the privacy of my room and sulk alone, but there’s part of me telling me to join him on the couch. Maybe even take him up on his offer to get this shit off my chest, with someone other than Mal or my therapist.
I’m about to ask Hayes if he’s being genuine in his offer, but my “Are you—” comes out at the same time he starts with, “Would it—”, our words overlapping each other.
Both of us laugh awkwardly before Hayes motions toward me. “You go first.”
Again, that transparent feeling comes over me as I look at him, and I force myself to push the words out before I can second guess them.
“Look, are you serious about this whole ‘talking it out’ thing? Because if you have better things to do—”
“Yes. Now, shut up and sit down,” Hayes says, cutting me off.
“Remember that thing about you not interrupting me being part of our fair catch agreement?”
“Remember the part where I told you that was a hard limit?” he volleys right back before pointing at the cushion beside him. “Now, sit.”
Well, shit. Okay, then.
Doing as he says, I kick off my shoes and drop down on the couch, only to be even more confused when Hayes getsupfrom it. He must read it in my expression too, because he lets out a little laugh that has butterflies swarming in my stomach while he holds his hands up in surrender.
“Relax, okay? I just think this is a conversation that requires something a little more than water.”
