Page 13 of Take My Hand

Hayden hasn’t spotted me, and I turn my attention back to my dad as his phone rings and he checks the caller ID.

“I gotta take this quick, Cars. It’s my plumbing guy and I’ve been trying to get a hold of him all week.”

I wave him off. “Of course.”

Finishing off the last few bites of my wrap, I observe Hayden. He must be waiting on food to-go because instead of sitting down, he leans against the wall in the far back of the café, head buried in his phone.

“Will,” an employee calls out from behind the counter, holding a few plastic containers.

Hayden grabs the food. Was he not paying attention? That definitely wasn’t his name…

“Hayden,” I call out and wave as he starts walking to the door, right past my table.

His head jerks up, eyes startled.

“Hey,” I say, a bit awkwardly. His posture tenses as he comes over to where I’m seated.

“Hi,” he says, his usually calming voice lacking, more on edge.

“Are you sure you grabbed the right order there?” I ask, nodding toward the food.

His eyes narrow.

“The order was for Will,” I clarify.

“Oh. Yeah, uh, I use my brother’s name sometimes for orders. I can be easily spotted with all of this.” He gestures his hand toward his tattooed legs and hands. “So it helps keep me under the radar a bit more.”

“Makes sense. Will is your younger brother, right?” He’s mentioned his brothers when we were on tour.

“Yeah. Lucas, too. I’m the oldest of three.”

I throw my arm over the back of my chair, angling my body toward him. “That’s right. I’m sure your household was lively growing up.”

He cracks a grin, and it feels like a victory.

“Do you live around here?” I ask.

“No, my place is in The Hills. Just came over here to grab some food. Are you around here?”

Of course he lives in The Hills. Stupid question to even ask.

“Yeah, I just signed on a place down the street.”

A small smile touches the corner of his mouth as he says, “Good for you.”

I fiddle with the napkin next to my plate. “Yeah, thanks. It’s my first place on my own here so I’m excited about it.”

“Was your old place around here?”

“Nope.” I needed to add a good chunk of traffic between my new apartment and old one I shared with Daniel.

“The fresh start you needed,” he says knowingly.

I nod.

“Do any of your friends live on this side of the city?”

It takes everything in me not to scoff at the question.

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