“Maybe. I was almost fifteen when we went back to my mom, I just needed to get through the next three and a half years. I knew once I turned eighteen I could convince the courts that I could take care of Nick.”
“You went to court?”
“No. I didn’t have to. My mother didn’t fight me and was lucid enough to know it was the right thing to do. To let him live with me.”
Her jaw was set tight as she rinsed her plate. So much anger and sadness radiated off her in silent waves. She grabbed a dish brush and began scrubbing at the plate with enough force to leave scratches.
“Hailey…”
“No, you wanted to hear it all, right? You wanted every dirty little detail of my life. Well, hey, you’ve got it. That time between fifteen and eighteen was like walking on eggshells. Every day I lived in fear that Mom would screw up. That she wouldn’t be able to pay the bills.” She grabbed the plate from his hands, scraped his leftovers into the garbage disposal and started scrubbing. “Or that maybe I wouldn’t be able to protect myself every time.”
His jaw clenched. “Elaborate on that?”
“There were a lot of men who came and went through her door. Dealers. Boyfriends. Random guys. And of course they noticed the pretty teenage girl in the house and made all kinds of offers.” She gave a harsh laugh.
His heart sank and he knew where she was going with this.
“‘Yo, Miss Hailey, how about fifty dollars for a blow job?’ or my favorite when I was sixteen, ‘Hey, princess, are you still a virgin? I know a lot of men who’d be willing to take your cherry for a couple hundred dollars. You could buy yourself some nice clothes’.”
Christ, he didn’t want to hear this anymore. He wanted to go drive to her mother’s house—because he knew exactly where it was—and rip her a new one. And then maybe at the same time beat the living shit out of every man he saw lingering around the dump.
“I didn’t do it. Any of it. I would’ve rather gone back to foster care, and was damn close to it. So when Sarah’s dad offered me five hundred dollars to just pretend I’d slept with Ian, it was the easy way out.” She tossed the brush into the sink and choked on a sob. “Even if it meant getting judged and hated by people like you the rest of my life.”
Shame hit him with the force of a tsunami and he was left standing alone at the sink as she turned and walked away.
When he’d encouraged her to open up about her family life, he hadn’t expected it to be this bad. Perhaps a little dodgy, but nothing like this.
He was utterly clueless on just how bad she’d had it. He’d seen stories like this, even dealt with people in her situation while he was on the job. Only it was different putting a face to the situation. Not just a face, but the face of the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about. The woman he’d recently slept with and still wanted more than any other woman out there.
She was absolutely right. He’d judged and condemned Hailey, even after knowing she hadn’t committed the act. It was only when he’d had the backstory as to why she’d done what she’d done…
Shite, she was right. He was a complete asshole. Why wasn’t he more like Kenzie and Sarah? Why had he been so hard to forgive?
Turning on his heel, he strode after her and caught up to her in the living room.
Catching her elbow, he swung her around and into his arms. Any protest she made he smothered with his lips.
She yielded to him, her body falling into his as he swept his tongue deep to find hers. Her tiny sigh ended on a sob.
With a strength that surprised him, she shoved him away.
“No.” She shook her head violently. “You can’t just kiss me and think everything is going to be okay. It doesn’t work that way.”
He drew in a ragged breath. “Which way does it work?”
“I don’t even know, but not like that. You don’t get to come in here, ask me to bare my soul and then feel sorry for me and the life I’ve had.” She shoved a finger into his chest. “I know you feel bad for the way you’ve treated me and you damn well should.”
How did he explain what he was feeling? That, yes, he did feel like a complete arse, but this wasn’t about pity? That he just needed to touch her? To comfort her?
He took a step forward, lifting his hands just slightly to reach for her. “Hailey, just listen—”
“Get the fuck out.”
Stunned at the vehemence in her eyes, he fell back a step. The anger vanished in an instant, replaced by glittering tears of exhaustion and regret.
“Sorry. I’m sorry. I just… Please go, Colin. I don’t really know why you came here tonight. Whether to sleep with me again, or warn me away from Kenzie and Sarah, but I just can’t deal with it right now. Those were some serious emotional scabs I just ripped off for you. I don’t talk about this. Ever.”
The instinct to stay and comfort her was alive and roaring inside him. And maybe that’s part of the reason he’d kissed her in the first place, but clearly he was out of line.
What he needed to do was walk away and respect her wishes, even if every part of him demanded he stay and not leave her alone.
“If that’s truly what you want, then I’ll leave.”
She bit her lip and nodded, folding her arms beneath her breasts.
What had he done to her? His teeth snapped together and he heaved a sigh. “Fuck it all but I’m sorry, Hailey. I never imagined the night would end like this—”
“No, I’m pretty sure you imagined yourself boning me and on your way home by now.”
He was just digging himself into a deeper hole. It was likely best if he just left as she’d asked him to.
“Call me if you need anything, all right?” He pulled out a card from his wallet and laid it on the table near the door. Shite, how ridiculous was it that they’d slept together, had this emotionally intense conversation, yet she didn’t even have his number? “Text me. Whatever you want, all right?”
She walked him to the door and opened it, not replying as he stepped out onto the porch.
Finally, she gave a soft, tired sigh. “I’ve been taking care of myself for as long as I can remember. If I ‘need anything’ I’m sure I’ll be able to handle it on my own.”
She closed the door on him, giving him no opportunity to form a response. Maybe it was a good thing, because he didn’t actually have one.
Why the hell did she feel like she had the hangover from hell?
Hailey rifled through her medicine cabinet, digging out the bottle of ibuprofen. She’d had four sips of wine last night, so any hangover had to be of the emotional kind.
After Colin left she’d gone to bed and cried for probably an hour, until her pillow was soaked and her body was weak with exhaustion.
Thankfully she’d slept like the dead and had woken to a quiet house. She’d stared at the empty space on the bed beside her and been struck with a wave of sadness that she was alone.
Usually it didn’t bother her—being alone was just how her life functioned.
Last night she knew Colin would’ve stayed without her even having to ask. She could’ve taken comfort in those strong arms, maybe chased away her awful memories with some amazing sex, and woken with him beside her. Maybe it would’ve been from pity on his side, but did it really matter?
He hadn’t stayed because she’d driven him from her house with an emotionally violent outburst that had shocked him as much as it had her. And so he’d left. She hadn’t given him a choice.
Hailey walked to the sink and filled up a glass with water, then swallowed two of the painkillers. She drank the rest of the water—it was important to stay hydrated on these hot days—and then dropped the cup into the sink.
A quick glance in the mirror showed she didn’t look quite as awful as she felt.
She’d left her hair down to air-dry after the shower, and now it fell in loose, dark waves over her shoulders. Her makeup—as always—was minimal. Just a bit of mascara and gloss.
Her outfit was cute enough, but then
she’d felt the need to dress up a little bit for the lunch. The turquoise skirt fell to her ankles, where her brown-leather-sandaled feet peaked out. Her toenails were a glittery gold, still looking decent after a pedicure two weeks ago. Her top was a white tank top; a braided leather belt around the waist completed the ensemble.
Overall, she managed to pull off summery and somewhat put together. Which meant she looked exactly opposite of the mess she felt like on the inside.
After grabbing her purse and keys, Hailey locked up the house and climbed into her car.
It was time to meet the girls, and her stomach was in knots.
The drive to the island took about a half hour, just enough time to let her nerves double. When she pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant she was almost trembling.
Sure, she’d seen Sarah and had a pretty good conversation, but now it would be Sarah and Kenzie. What if Kenzie was awkward? What if they both decided to scrap the idea of rekindling the friendship?
The thoughts kept coming. What if Sarah meeting her for drinks the other night had just been a ruse? A reason to draw her out so the two of them could lambast—
“Oh my God, you’re being paranoid.” After turning off the engine, Hailey made herself get out of the car and walk to the front door of the restaurant.
Sarah didn’t have a vicious bone in her body. Deep down Hailey realized that, and knew this lunch was exactly what it had been touted as. Still, it was easy to let the fear creep in. The what-ifs.
Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention, and she glanced over to see Sarah in a corner booth, waving.
Smiling faintly, Hailey made her way over to them. She slid her gaze to Kenzie, curious to see the other woman’s reaction.
The pretty strawberry blonde was sitting quietly, her gaze on Hailey as she arrived at the table.
“Hey, you made it.” Sarah patted the seat next to her in the booth and gestured for her to sit.
“I did. Sorry if I’m late.”
“Right on time, actually.”
Kenzie’s light reply had Hailey’s gaze flitting over toward her again.
Their gazes met, and though there was a bit of discomfort in Kenzie’s eyes, there was no anger. No judgment.
“I’m glad we’re all meeting for lunch today,” Kenzie said. “Thank you for meeting us.”
They were thanking her? Really? It should’ve been the other way around.
“We’re adults.” Sarah shrugged. “There’s no reason we can’t move forward and just let nature take its course.”
“Exactly.” Kenzie folded her hands on the table and leaned forward. “And, right now, the natural course is for me to ask you where the hell you got that skirt? Because it’s pretty fuckin’ cute.”
The three of them laughed and any tension that might have been lingering vanished.
“I got it at the Coupeville Festival a couple years ago.” Hailey referenced the street festival in the small town on the island. “Now, I didn’t even have breakfast, so I’m starving.”
Kenzie grinned. “Me too, in fact I’m totally in to splitting some mozzarella sticks as an appetizer.”
Sarah glanced at her, arching a brow. “I thought you were giving up fried food?”
“Aye, absolutely I am.” Kenzie gave them an impish look as she laughed. “Someday. Today not being that day.”
“You’re terrible.” Sarah snorted delicately. “I’m totally in, though.”
“Me too. And I think while we’re at it,” Hailey countered, “maybe we should split an Oreo milkshake?”
“Oh my God, we’re going to walk out of here five pounds heavier each!”
Their laughter and banter came as easily as it had over a decade ago. Which kind of blew Hailey’s mind. It was such a relief she couldn’t bring herself to trust it a hundred percent. She just kept waiting for things to get awkward. For the resentment to return.
“Well, if we’re feeling guilty about the food binge, we could just counter it with some hiking. Or something,” Sarah suggested after they’d placed an appetizer order.
“Ew. Hiking? That’s like bugs, sweating and the sorts.” Kenzie wrinkled her nose and glanced back down at her menu. “Swimming maybe?”
Hailey grimaced and lifted a shoulder in apology. “Damn, I didn’t bring a bathing suit.”
The three exchanged knowing glances and then burst into a juvenile fit of giggles.
“So skinny-dipping it is?” Sarah voiced their thoughts aloud.
“And why not?” Kenzie asked. “It wouldn’t be the first time we did it.”
“No, it wouldn’t. Though we should be careful—” Sarah leaned forward, her eyes glittering with mischief, “—or Colin may just arrest us all for indecent exposure.”
“Ew, yuck.” Kenzie wrinkled her nose. “Don’t really need that disturbing visual of my brother busting us all in our birthday suits.”
Hailey could feel her face go hot in an instant, she lifted her menu, hoping to hide it.
Colin had already seen her naked. Done a lot with her naked body, actually, but there were a couple reasons she couldn’t really just announce that. One, she was just getting back on friendly terms with these girls and it just didn’t seem appropriate. And, two—hello!—Colin was Kenzie’s brother.
She could just imagine dropping that announcement.
Oh, too late for me on that one, Kenzie. Your brother nailed me last week.
The waitress came, delivered their appetizer and then took their lunch orders.
Kenzie was the first to grab a stick of fried cheese. “So you’re a nurse now, Hailey?”
“Yes, I’ve been one for the past seven years.”
“She’s amazing.” Sarah reached for a mozzarella stick too. “You heard how she helped keep Emily stable and calm when she fell climbing that cliff the other day.”
“I did, and I’m glad that you were there to help my niece. So where do you work?”
Unable to resist the greasy appetizer any longer, Hailey took a piece. Hopefully her stomach wouldn’t hate her later.
“I work at Skagit Valley Hospital. I’m a float. Which basically means I work wherever they need me.”
“Kudos to you. I couldn’t deal with body fluids and cranky patients.” Sarah gestured with her mozzarella stick. “Which is why I stick to graphic design.”
“And, Kenzie, you work at the pub, right?”
“Aye, but I’m in school as well. I’m currently taking some online courses to finish up a paralegal degree.”
“Nice.” Hailey leaned back, one greasy indulgence more than enough. “Tell me what made you go into that?”
Conversation remained easy and constant the rest of lunch. Two hours passed and soon it was time to head out. The skinny-dipping would have to wait—if they ever got so bold—because Sarah had to get back to work on a project that was overdue.
They paid their bill and made their way outside, the discussion now on the infamous Bid on a Bachelor auction coming up.
Sarah stopped midspeech and stumbled to a halt. “Crap. It’s him.”
“Who?” Kenzie asked.
Both Kenzie and Hailey followed Sarah’s gaze to the truck across the parking lot.
The blood drained from Hailey’s face. She curled her fingers around her keys, subconsciously, ready to use them as a weapon.
Curt again? Had he followed her here?
“Who is that?” Kenzie asked, clearly confused.
“He used to be friends with Ian.”
Hailey swung her shocked gaze to Sarah. Sarah and Ian knew who Curt was? Curt and Ian had even been friends? That couldn’t be true. Could it?
Then she remembered Curt had certainly seemed to know who the McLaughlins were.
Sarah hesitated and then shook her head. “He’s bad news and has made several threats in the past. And he’s obviously here right now watching us. Maybe he was even waiting for us.”
“We should go back inside.” Kenzie caught Sarah’s arm and
nodded to Hailey. “We’ll call Ian.”
Hailey’s heart had begun pounding harder while she held Curt’s glittering glare. Finally she turned and followed the other two inside.
Right now she wasn’t sure if he’d come for her or for Sarah. Regardless of the target, Hailey knew Curt’s reason for being the parking lot was intimidation.
And, damn him, it was working all too well.
Chapter Eleven
“That is a sweet ride.” Colin circled the 1963 Corvette Stingray.
Ian glanced up from the car he was busy restoring in the popular auto repair and restoration shop he owned.
“Isn’t it, though? Customer brought it in a couple days ago and I’ve been drooling over it since.”
“I think he should buy one for me,” Emily agreed. She sat on a stool nearby, swinging her legs as she watched her dad.
“Do you now?” Ian stopped what he was doing and gave her a big grin. “But you’ll not be driving for several years yet, ya little lass.”
She nodded and moon-eyed the car. “Five and a half. And I want a sweet ride like this.”
“Sweet ride?” Colin arched a brow. “My, you pick up on what we say quite quickly.”
“’Course I do. Mom says I’m like a sponge.”
Colin smothered a laugh and shook his head. “Ah, well, I knew I should’ve just stuck to walking the beach and not brought you by today.”
“But you love me and that’s why you gave in?”
“Absolutely.”
“You spoil her rotten.” Ian waved a wrench at him. “The whole lot of you.”
“Aye, you’re right.”
A cell phone went off and Ian paused to pull it from the pocket of his coveralls and answer.
Colin kept his attention on his niece, who was quite adept at getting herself into trouble. The change in Ian’s tone, and his promise to be there as soon as possible, had Colin glancing at his brother again.
“Is there a problem?” Colin asked when his brother ended the call.
He shook his head, his gaze on the ground. “Emily, go and sit in my office for a moment, please. I need to talk to your uncle.”
“Ah, really? Why? I wanna stay with you.”
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