AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Yes, it’s my life. And this should be my decision. I’m a grown woman, capable of making up my mind.
But meeting Hayden has seriously screwed with my ability to think straight—to operate based on logic rather than emotion.
“Yeah, you do,” Qasim quipped. “That’s twice I’ve seen you two together.”
“Ouch,” Karlene adds, waving her hand as if it’s been scorched. “I ran into them in the hall today. Talk about chemistry.”
This so isn’t helping.
“That’s exactly the problem,” I say. “There’s no way this is going to stay quiet. Even if we do try to sneak around like a couple of teenagers.” I pause, then add, “I told my family everything.”
Kar’s eyes widen. “And?”
“And my dad, rightly so, says I’m walking a very thin line.”
“No surprise there.” She shrugs. “I mean, it’s not like you didn’t already know that.”
“I know, but I guess I’m not worried about me so much as I am about Hayden. He has more to lose here.”
He said he trusts me, and I trust my friends, so I tell them about his loan arrangement. And a little bit about his relationship with his dad.
When I’m done, Qasim whistles. “Yikes. But, I mean, he’s an adult, right? If you’re willing to take a risk, maybe let him decide if he wants to do the same.”
“I’m concerned he might make the wrong decision,” I say in a rush. “He can’t risk his business for me.”
They exchange a look.
“So what are you saying?” Karlene asks.
I’m not sure. Which is exactly why I’m sitting here drinking a vodka and club rather than running off a weekend of my mother’s baking.
“I need to text him.”
Qasim stands, presumably to get another drink. “Good idea. You ladies need another?”
I shake my head. Karlene looks like she wants to say something, but instead she takes out her own phone. She’s just doing it to be polite, though, because when I look up from my screen, she’s waiting for me.
“I told him I wasn’t coming. That I’d call in a bit.”
Now that I cancelled our plans, I want to be anywhere but here. I want to be alone. Why did I think Karlene and Qasim could solve this mess for me? I’ve been a shitty friend lately, but I’ll make it up to them. Just not tonight.
“What are you going to say?”
“I don’t know. But if I see him, there’s zero chance I’ll do anything but jump into bed with him, enjoy every minute of it, and leave wishing I could stay. Wishing we could stay up all night talking. Wishing . . .”
Karlene leans forward.
“Wishing circumstances were different, and that he didn’t have so much to lose.”
She doesn’t say a word, probably because she knows I’m right.
I will not let Hayden make a mistake he’ll regret for the rest of his life. My future with Hayden is unclear, but if his father ends up forking in twenty-five percent of Angel, Inc., that will be forever. And having him around constantly, always questioning Hayden’s judgment, will be the worst thing that can happen to him. It’ll make him feel like the screwup he’s not.
“Whatever you do, we support you,” Qasim says, giving my shoulder a squeeze from behind. “Even if you make a colossal mistake and kick that impossibly sexy rich boy to the curb.”
I reach up and cover his hand with mine.
“Thanks. I think I’m gonna need it, because I’m about to make that colossal mistake you mentioned. Unfortunately, it can’t be helped.”
