Page 36 of All the Promises We Break

“You’re so… It would have been painful not to. It was the easiest decision in the world.”

“What should I say? Thank you?”

Wes gives me a belly laugh that would put any toddler to shame. “It’s a compliment, believe me. What I’d like you to say is that you’ll stay. Stay the night if you want. Now more than ever, I think we have a few things to discuss.”

Chapter Fourteen

Wes

Hayley stayed the night, and the next. I kept true to my word for once. I didn’t touch her, but I did hold her. We did things that normal couples would do. I said that word to myself. Couples. We ate food and talked about anything and everything. I knew she was smart, but I didn’t know how smart. We talked about politics and she schooled me under the table.

She sat next to me through a full hockey game. One of my clients from the West Coast was on one of the teams playing. Hayley wanted to know everything about him. We’d talked about my job before, as in how it was going and where did you travel this week. She probed further into how I did my negotiating and if I gave them personal attention. I told her that she’d watched Jerry Maguire too many times, but in actuality, yes, I do.

I love the sports world. I always have. I was shit at most things but hockey and baseball. This gives me a way to live in every sports arena. I asked her what she wanted after graduation. I knew she would likely end up at AnSa, but I didn’t want toassume. She took out her laptop and showed me some of her latest work. We’ve never shared on this level before.

Hayley explained to me a social media campaign she created in one of her classes. She showed me how she built it into a website, design package with branding, and even files they could use. It’s remarkable. She’s remarkable.

About midnight, she fell over onto my shoulder. I sat still for a long time simply watching her. My arm was her pillow. The NYU sweatshirt I gave her to wear was her blanket. About two, I carried her to bed. I went round and round in my head forever if I should leave her on the couch or if I should stay there. In the end, I didn’t want to leave her. So, I stayed.

After breakfast on Sunday, she works on her senior show digital portfolio, while I call a few clients and hold a quick video conference with my boss. When the work is out of the way, we come up with plans for the wedding party weekend.

She’s instantly happy the trip is happening but equally terrified that we’ll be discovered before we decide what anything means. She knows, like I do, we won’t be able to be under the same roof and keep our distance.

I tell Hayley, when we were much younger, Eli and I came up with a pact. When we have guests come with us to Vermont, after a certain time, we split to our own wings until breakfast the next morning. We’re going to give them their end of the house and Hayley and I will share the other. Two bedrooms, two floors, one hell of a secret that could blow up in our faces.

I give her the privacy of my bathroom for her shower before she leaves. I’ve lain in bed and watched other girls get ready then they kiss me before they go. This is much different. I know it’s fast, but I don’t want her to leave. She makes me do the dishes instead of leaving them in the sink. She makes me pull up the sheets once we leave the bed. Simply, she makes me want to be better.

I press the call button for the elevator. Goodbyes usually don’t bother me, this one does. “I won’t be able to see you until we leave for Vermont. I’ll be in and out of town the next two weeks.”

“It’s okay. I get it. No promises.”

“I don’t want to make one then feel like I’m breaking it. I’ll call and I’ll text. I want to continue talking. I didn’t think I’d like it, but I do.”

Hayley smiles a bit. “I guess we’re both trying new things.”

“Yeah, a hell of a lot of restraint.” I lean in and kiss her soft, pouty lips. “Keep my sweatshirt with you.”

“I’m glad you said that. It’s in my bag already.”

“See ya, Hayles.”

“Later, Mav.”

Her hand is the last thing that leaves me. She disappears behind the elevator doors. In about twenty seconds, she reappears on the street as I watch her slip into the back seat of a cab and drive away. I never minded the silence before. Now, I do.

The last two weeks have been long as hell. I went from the East Coast to Denver to the Pacific Northwest and back again. I’ve been living out of a suitcase and in restaurants for so many days. If the date wasn’t on my return flight, I’d have no idea if it was March or May. The cab ride seems that long or even longer. As I’m cashing out, blonde hair blowing in the wind tunnel that is a New York street catches my eye.

Hayley’s in front of my building with a bag full of groceries and a smile. I set my suitcase on the curb, take her bag and set it with mine, and pull her immediately into my arms. There’s the coconut and vanilla I’ve missed so much. “What are you doing here?”

“You sounded kind of over it when you called from baggage claim, so I thought maybe a home-cooked meal would make you feel better.”

“You make me feel better.”

I make great use of my shower while Hayley prepares dinner. Italian chicken over greens never tasted so good. In the bottom of that grocery bag was a bottle of white wine. I pour a final glass for both of us, killing the bottle. We sit on opposite ends of my couch, facing each other. “How did you know Italian chicken is one of my favorites?”

“You told Gran one time she makes it the best you ever had, so I memorized her recipe.”

I reach over for her hand. “You forget nothing, sometimes the mouth of a sailor, give shit as good as I do,andyou have the soul of an angel. That Sawyer blood is an interesting thing.”

---