Page 53 of Protecting Hailey

“What? How… that was all a big misunderstanding.”

“I’m not bringing it up to judge you.”

He snickered. “Then why?”

“I’m letting you know that I have my eye on everyone. I’m here to protect Hailey. Even from those she trusts.”

He turned to me. “I’m not going to hurt Hailey. You don’t have to worry about me, man.”

“That’s good,” I replied, “because you don’t want to have to worry about me.”

He swallowed, but stared out into the crowd. I hoped it was enough warning for him.

Hailey pulled up a chair and sat with her guitar. “This next song is about finding love in unexpected places.”

She played the first chord, and I recognized it as the one she played in the living room earlier that caught my attention. She sang the song in a lower chord, her voice deeper, sultrier than in the other songs. The tone flowed through my veins and my chest swelled. I’d been her bodyguard for a little over a month and her lover for less than a day, and yet, I felt like I’d known that voice forever.

“Christian,” one of the bodyguards called over the radio.

“Yes. I’m here. What is it?”

“There’s someone at the front door. His ticket isn’t scanning. But it looks legit. Should I let him in?”

“Absolutely not. If it’s not scanning, it’s fake. Send him on his way.”

Then a thought popped into my head. “Send me a picture of the guy before he leaves.”

I wanted to know what he looked like in case I saw him hanging around Hailey again.

“Will do.”

The next forty minutes went by without any incident. The guards all performed their duties as instructed and the audience remained on their side of the room without attempting to rush the stage.

Everyone was told they would be kicked out immediately, along with the rest of their party, if they attempted it. No questions asked.

That seemed to have worked. No one wanted to risk leaving one of the biggest secret concerts of the year.

After the last song, Hailey bowed to the audience and waved. Her face beamed with relief and she gave one last low bow and shouted. “Thank you and good night!”

Sam rushed past me and hugged Hailey. “That was perfect! Oh, I’m so happy it went so well. We’re going to post this on social media and everyone is going to be talking about it.”

“Not until I get Hailey home,” I warned Sam.

She waved me off. “Fine. Fine.” But then, with a hand on her hip, she gave one final warning. “I mean it, you two stay away from each other. At least in public.”

She rolled her eyes and walked away.

Frankie came up to Hailey. “You looked great out there, Hailey.”

She smiled. “Thanks, Frankie. But we need to talk.”

“I know. Your mom warned me about Trey. I did it for you, Hail.”

“Everyone keeps saying that without asking me if it was what I wanted. The next time you want to do something for me, Frankie, ask me first. Got that?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Good. Now, I’m going home to celebrate.”

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