Hung Up on Hadley (Red Maple Falls, #5)

by Theresa Paolo

“Great.”

  “Give it time. I’m sure it’ll come to you.”

  “What if it doesn’t? What if I’ve lost him forever?” She tried so hard to be strong, but suddenly she felt like a little girl, looking to her father for the answers. Her resolve broke and a tear fell free, causing a river to follow. She choked on a sob as her entire body shook with the sting of the raw emotion.

  “Come here,” he said, wrapping her in his flannelled arms the scent of Old Spice, comforting her in a way that nothing else could. He held her tight, running a soothing hand over her hair. “Now, now, it’s going to be okay.”

  She had no idea how long she cried in her father’s arms, but he didn’t once make her feel like less of a person for letting her emotions get the better of her. Instead he held her, whispered reassurances, and rubbed soothing circles on her back.

  When she finally felt like she couldn’t shed another tear, she sucked in a deep breath and straightened. She swiped at her eyes and laughed. “I’m sorry that was such a girl thing to do.”

  “Hate to break it to you, Hads, but you are a girl.”

  “I know, but not in the way that Kate and Daisy are. I don’t let my emotions get to me.”

  “It happens to the best of us, and it doesn’t make you weak. If anything, it makes you stronger.”

  “You really think so?”

  “How do you feel right now?”

  She sniffed and swiped a hand under her nose. “Better.”

  “See?” He smiled. “You’re stronger already.”

  He patted her on the shoulder then jumped right back into business, pointing out things that needed to be done in the next few weeks, and he was right. She did feel stronger, better, more alive than she had in days.

  She listened to all the things that needed to be done, but her mind was stuck on Sam. She had no idea how to convince him he wasn’t his father’s son, but she wasn’t going to give up. That’s what he was expecting, and she refused to be just another notch on his bedpost.

  ***

  Wednesday afternoon Sam picked Missy up from school and brought her to Calhoun’s for a burger. It was the first time in days that he’d gone somewhere other than the firehouse, and he was already regretting it. As soon as he walked in the door his eyes swept across the pub to the far-right corner where he took Hadley only a few short months ago.

  Visions of her long creamy neck against his lips, the feel of her bare stomach beneath his roughened hand, and the erotic moans that poured from her mouth filled his mind. He took a deep breath, wishing he could order a beer, but he promised himself a long time ago that he wouldn’t drink in front of Missy, and it wasn’t a promise he was about to break.

  Sam guided Missy to an open table, avoiding the far corner. Chase waved them over and pointed to the two empty seats at his table. Sam slipped out of his coat and Missy and he sat down.

  Sam nodded to Chase who was washing down a bite of burger with a soda. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was hungry,” Chase answered.

  “Don’t be a smartass. You were supposed to help your sister pickup furniture today.”

  “Drove all the way there, and the dresser is on back order for another week. Layla was pissed.”

  “Can’t say I blame her.”

  “Wasted her one day off in over two weeks. I figured I’d get out of her hair and let her have the house to herself for the rest of the afternoon.”

  Layla was a nurse’s aide at the nursing home and worked ridiculous hours to help pay the bills. Chase and his two sisters all lived together ever since their mother died when Chase was sixteen, leaving them with an unpaid mortgage and a stack of bills. His older brother, who was serving overseas in the Marines, sent money home whenever he could. They were a close-knit family like the Hayes’, except their upbringing wasn’t as picture perfect.

  A waitress walked over that Sam had flirted with on many occasions before he ever hooked up with Hadley. She cozied up to the table, making sure to brush an arm against him. “What can I get you all today?” she asked with a quirk of her bright red lips, her eyes basically undressing Sam with every calculated glance.

  “How about some space?” Missy said, and Sam choked on a shocked laugh.

  The comment seemed to go over the waitress’s head.

  “How about two root beers, and two burgers and fries. One medium and the other well done. Sound good, Little Miss?” he asked Missy, calling her by her original nickname that had eventually morphed into her current one.

  “Sounds good to me.” Missy turned to the waitress who was still staring at Sam and cleared her throat. “Goodbye.”

  The waitress’s lip curled in annoyance, and she turned on a high heel before strutting away. Sam didn’t even bother to look. He couldn’t care less about what she had to offer, not when Hadley was still all he could think about.

  “You don’t have to be rude,” Sam said to Missy, still feeling the need to teach his sister right from wrong.

  “She was practically humping your leg. It was disgusting.”

  “Watch your language.”

  She shrugged, putting her hands up in defense. “I’m just saying. I’ve seen Labrador's with better manners.”

  Chase snorted then gave Missy a high five. “Good one.”

  The dog reference caused a thick, unmovable lump to form in Sam’s throat. His eyes drifted back to the forbidden corner, and once again he was lost to the visions of Hadley that wouldn’t stop haunting him.

  He thought of the adorable paw prints on her boyshorts, and how even when she opted for sexy lace they still had a little tiny dog marking on the hip. He missed waking up to her in his arms and missed Lady pawing at his side of the bed so he would get up and take her for a walk.

  The thought of never having that again ripped at his heart, but he reminded himself that it was for the best. It didn’t matter what he wanted; what mattered was Hadley would get the chance to be with someone she deserved and who deserved her all the same.

  His jaw tightened just thinking about some other guy with his hands on Hadley. The muscles in his neck tensed as he imagined her walking down the aisle dressed in white toward someone who wasn’t him.

  The waitress came back and brought their food, once again lingering too long until Missy cleared her throat repeatedly. After a flirtatious wink, the waitress finally walked away.

  “What do you guys have planned for later?” Chase asked. “I was thinking of going to the six o’clock showing at the movie theatre. They’re playing Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Haven’t seen it in a long time. Layla used to watch it on repeat when I was a kid.”

  “Never heard of it,” Missy said. Sam and Chase turned to her with furrowed brows and opened mouths.

  “You can’t be serious,” Sam said. “I have failed you as a brother.”

  “I don’t think it’s that serious.”

  “Oh, but it is. You can’t go through life never experiencing the Sausage King of Chicago.”

  “The what king?”

  “Just trust me.”

  “It sounds dirty.”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

  Chase shrugged. “She has a point. Kinda does sound like a…”

  Sam held his hand up before Chase could finish that thought. “Stop right there.”

  “When are they going to start playing new movies people actually want to see?” Missy asked before tossing a fry in her mouth.

  The movie theatre didn’t have any new releases since the industry switched over to digital, and the theater couldn’t afford the upgrade. The theater basically played whatever they still had on the old fashioned 35mm films.

  “Probably never, but Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a classic.”

  “I’ll go to keep you out,” she said. “Who knows, maybe I’ll even like the movie.”

  “You will,” Chase said with confidence.

  Confused Sam turned to Missy. “What does that mean? To keep me out?”

  Mi
ssy swirled her fry in the pool of ketchup on her plate. “You haven’t left your house in days.”

  “I went to work, Chase can vouch for that, and I went to Mrs. Sanders to clean out her gutters.”

  “You should call her,” Missy said.

  “Mrs. Sanders?”

  “No… Hadley.” He knew he would regret telling Missy about Hadley, but she caught him in a vulnerable moment, and he’d let a few things slip out.

  He took a sip of his soda, wishing it were something stronger and looked away. “There’s nothing left to say.”

  “Maybe if you keep telling yourself that, you’ll actually start to believe it.”

  “You’re fourteen. What do you know about relationships?” She had no idea what was going through his head, the sacrifice he was making to ensure that Hadley wound up with someone who would never steer her wrong, who would never choose fear or the thrill of the unknown over her.

  “Enough to know that you’re making the biggest mistake of your life.”

  Her words hit him like an uppercut to the chin. There was truth in what she said, but it didn’t change the fact that the choice was made. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I think she does.” Chase’s eyes met Sam’s as if he was challenging him to deny it a second time. He was the first to look away, proving that his conviction was lacking.

  Missy shrugged. “At least think about it.”

  Sam swiped his burger off his plate. “Fine, I’ll think about it. Now finish your burger. We have a movie to catch.”

  Chapter 20

  For the first time in Hadley’s life she hesitated before going into her parents’ house. Silly really, since at thirty-one and having moved out over six years ago, this beautiful house at the top of the hill surrounded by farmland would always be her home. But today wasn’t like any other Sunday night dinner, because any other day her entire family didn’t know she’d slept with Sam.

  And while the news didn’t rattle the rest of the family that she knew of, she still hadn’t faced Matt. After everything she was still furious. He made her lose the love of her life, all thanks to a promise made twenty years ago between two fifteen-year-old boys.

  With a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped inside, finding comfort in the smell of fresh basil and garlic that permeated the air. She closed the door and stepped inside, making her way with slow strides.

  Her grandmother was the first to greet her, wrapping her in a big, warm hug. She pulled back, taking Hadley’s face in her hands. “How are you?” There was concern in her bright blue eyes, and the familiarity of that look had Hadley sucking in a jagged breath and fighting off tears.

  “I’ve been better,” she managed.

  “Oh sweetie.” Betty took her back in her arms, rubbing soothing circles on her back. “It’s just a bump in the road. It’ll all be better soon, you’ll see.”

  “I sure hope you’re right.”

  “I’m always right.”

  Hadley smiled, and it felt good—a huge contrast to the lonely, sad frown that had become a part of her.

  “Now come on. Everyone is already here, and dinner is on the table.”

  Betty took Hadley’s hand and looped it through her arm, guiding her toward the dining room. They walked in and all speaking ceased and every set of eyes landed on her.

  She gave an awkward wave and tried to ignore the thick cloud of tension in the air. “What?” she finally asked.

  “Nothing,” her mother said. “We’re just happy you’re here.”

  “Mason, you owe me twenty bucks,” Cooper said, and Sarah elbowed him in the ribs. “Ow!”

  “Well, what are you waiting for?” Betty asked. “Sit before my stomach comes out my mouth in search of food.”

  “We wouldn’t want that,” Hadley said and sat between her father and Kate. Matt was at the other end of the table, but she couldn’t find it in herself to glance in his direction.

  There was an awkward tension in the air that Hadley couldn’t stand, but at the same time she had no idea how to disperse it. Her family wasn’t helping, the forced conversation, the hushed tones when someone would say something that someone else assumed was inappropriate given the circumstances… It was too much for her to handle.

  She stared at her plate, pushing her food around like she used to do when her mother wouldn’t let her leave the table until all her vegetables were finished. She thought maybe if she’d pushed them to different sides of the plate it would look like she’d eaten more than she had. It’d never worked, and right now it wasn’t helping ease the tension either.

  “Why the hell is everyone so damn quiet?” her grandfather barked, and Hadley watched as everyone looked down at their own plates.

  “Dad,” Carol said beneath her breath as Betty swatted at him.

  He dropped his fork on his plate, the noise of metal against ceramic ringing out in the quiet space. “For crying out loud, is this because Hadley bumped uglies with Sam, and Matt has his panties in a bunch over it?”

  “Harold!” Betty exclaimed, but he waved her off.

  “I do not have my panties in a bunch,” Matt gritted through clenched teeth.

  “Could’ve fooled me,” Shay muttered.

  “It’s bad enough you’re making me sleep on the couch. Now you have to embarrass me in front of my family?”

  “You’ve embarrassed yourself,” Shay said, forking a piece of eggplant and putting it in her mouth.

  Matt pushed back from the table, his eyes focusing on Hadley. “You happy now? You turned my own wife against me.”

  “Sit down, you ogre,” Shay said, yanking on his arm. “Hadley had nothing to do with this. It was your overreaction, and quite frankly, overstepping your boundaries on the matter. Maybe if you got your head out of your ass long enough, you would see that.”

  “Please stop,” Hadley begged. Not only was her life spiraling out of control, now she was responsible for Matt and Shay fighting. She pushed out of her chair. “Excuse me,” she managed before a sob broke free. She hurried away from the table and toward the bathroom.

  “Good going,” Cooper said before more arguing ensued.

  Hadley slammed the bathroom door, blocking out the rising voices and accusations. She rested her hands against the cool granite and took a deep breath. Tears pressed against her eyes, a hot burning sensation slipped down her throat, but she fought the overwhelming emotion, refusing to cry.

  She looked up, meeting her eyes in the mirror and wondering where the hell she went wrong. She was a good person, who never broke the law or intentionally hurt anyone, yet her chance at happiness was ripped out from under her in a quick sudden flash that she barely had time to register. Everything around her was crumbling, and she was helpless against the destruction.

  She splashed cold water on her face and closed her eyes, forcing the sadness away. She patted her face dry with one of the blue hand towels then found the courage deep inside her to rejoin her family.

  She made it to the end of the hallway and stopped, wondering if her family even wanted her there. She shook the ridiculous thought from her head and was about to push on forward when Matt whipped around the corner in a hurry and almost knocked her over.

  He grabbed her arm before a collision and looked down at her for the briefest of seconds. It didn’t take long to see the utter disappointment on his face. “Sorry,” he said, letting his hand fall back to his side and stepping around her.

  “I hope you’re not leaving because of me.”

  “No, there’s a structure fire in a residential area, possible victim trapped inside.”

  “Oh no,” Hadley said, trying to think of whose house it could be. “Is it really bad?”

  “I won’t know how bad till I get there, but it doesn’t sound good.”

  “Shit,” Hadley exclaimed as she reached into her pocket, pulling out the round worn pewter charm that she had given Sam all those years ago. It wasn’t until recently that she had found out he h
adn’t gone into a fire without it since, but now she had it, when he needed it most. She held the charm out to Matt. “Please give this to Sam.” His eyes narrowed, but she didn’t have time to explain. She knew Sam was on his way to that fire without his lucky charm. If anything happened to him… “I beg you.” Desperation filled her tone as she met her brother’s gaze. “Please, Mattie.”

  Matt opened his hand, and Hadley pressed the silver circle to his palm, the word ‘loved’ facing up. He closed his fingers around the charm and shoved it into his pocket.

  “Be careful,” Hadley said, lifting to her toes and kissing her brother’s cheek, because despite the tension between them, the unspoken anger and disapproval, he was still her brother and she loved him, flaws and all.

  “I have to go,” he said.

  “Okay.” He went to move around her, and she called out to him. When he looked back she met his gaze. “Please make sure Sam is safe.”

  “He’s a trained professional; he doesn’t need me to protect him.”

  “That’s never stopped you before.”

  Matt met her eyes one last time before rushing out the door and leaving Hadley with an awful pit in her stomach.

  She was never one to fear the worst, but for some reason, she couldn’t quiet down the uneasy feeling consuming her every thought. Sam wasn’t in a good place. His best friend, partner in crime, who made sure Sam was always safe, wasn’t speaking to him.

  “You okay?” Kate asked as she found her in the foyer. “It was getting a little tense in there.”

  “I’m worried,” Hadley said, her voice cracking.

  Kate took her hand and looked at her with a curious stare. “About what?”

  “Sam.”

  “Because of the fire Matt just got called to?”

  Hadley nodded, unable to form words. Every fear was weighing her down, and she felt like she was drowning beneath its weight.

  “Why?” Kate asked. “You’ve never worried before.”

  “I don’t know.” She didn’t know how to explain a feeling that was cutting deep inside her. “I just am.”

  “Sam has been fighting fires for almost two decades. He knows what he’s doing, and you have to trust in that.”