Page 49 of Wicked and Ruthless

It was another reason to put distance between them. In fact, maybe she ought to think about doing it for good because sooner or later, he was going to shatter her heart. And she wasn’t sure how—or if—she’d survive.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Present Day

After a hectic day, Nash was exhausted when he sat down with a cheeseburger near nine p.m. and opened the lid on his laptop.

The disappointment on Haisley’s face this morning had haunted him all day. His best read on her mood? While it was possible she’d awakened grumpy, she’d clearly been confused when he’d refused to engage with her beyond the professional. Did that maybe mean she missed him?

“You’re finally home, asshole?” Garrison padded barefooted and bare-chested into the kitchen, a discarded T-shirt slung over his inked shoulder.

“Hey, fuck face.”

“Aww, I love our pet names for each other. They’re almost romantic,” he quipped as he poured himself a glass of milk.

Nash rolled his eyes. “I’m eating here. Don’t make me hurl. I’d never want to be romantic with your hairy ass.”

“Same. So…do you know where your girl is tonight?”

That taunt made Nash freeze. “Haisley?”

“Who else?” Ethan quipped with an I-know-a-secret smile. “I ran into her less than an hour ago.”

If she’d been at Highrise flirting—or worse, sneaking around the mall—he’d spank her ass a spectacular shade of red. “And?”

Ethan chortled. “Listen to you, trying to play it cool. Dude, your face is telling me you’re desperately worried about what she’s up to…”

Nash tossed down his burger and stood. “Okay. Ha ha. You’ve had your laugh at my expense. You want me to tell you that woman drives me crazy? I admit it. She does. You got me. Now tell me where you saw her.”

“Chill, bro. I ran into Haisley at Matt and Madison’s. She stopped in to check on her bestie, who’s apparently having a real bitch of a time with morning sickness. She was worried.”

“Oh.” Nash sat again, relieved that he didn’t have to chase her down and have it out tonight. “Did she say anything about me?”

As soon as the words fell out, Nash wished he could bite them back. Fuck, that sounded so junior high. But he was out of restraint.

Not flirting at full throttle with Haisley went against everything in his nature. Being so close to her this morning while forcing himself to behave like she was nothing but a counterpart in this case—rather than the woman he loved—had almost killed him. Changing tactics with her had seemed like the best option after she’d confided in Jasper that their past relationship had felt like nothing more than an extended hookup. She genuinely fucking believed that she hadn’t been his everything. That he’d merely viewed her as a good time.

She’d be shocked to know he’d been ready to propose.

None of that helped him now. Jasper couldn’t tell Haisley that she had everything wrong. But Nash could. And he could win her back, starting by respecting the boundaries she’d set yesterday—no matter how much it killed him.

He’d use Jasper as recon, to check in with her, make sure she was staying safe, getting the emotional support she needed…and then hope like hell that when the time to come clean rolled around, she understood he’d been trying to help and support her, not bullshit and hurt her.

But either way, he refused to lose her without putting up the fight of his life. Somehow, someway, he would convince Haisley Rowe that he loved her. Once she knew the truth… Well, what happened next was up to her.

Ethan laughed. “She might have mentioned you once or twice. What’s it worth to you?”

Nash slanted his roommate an annoyed glance. “What do you want?”

“You do my laundry for a month, and I’m an open book.”

“You’re a rat bastard. I’m not washing your sweaty underwear or sticky sheets.”

“That’s the deal. Take it or leave it.”

“Motherfucker.” Nash wasn’t looking to be the kid’s bitch, but he would absolutely bend his pride for help in winning back Haisley. “Fine. But I’m not folding.”

Ethan laughed. “Sucker.”

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