Page 29 of Kept in the Dark

He lifted a brow as if to say ‘I told you so.’ “I’ll give you a warning this time, but don’t let me catch you speeding again.”

Hailey rolled her eyes and waved him off.

“I thought you’d be gone by now, anyway,” he said as he leaned closer to her window, invading her personal space.

“Not that it’s any of your concern, but I ran into some family issues that I need to sort through.” She desperately wanted to keep the conversation short so she wouldn’t have to speak to him anymore, not when she was so unprepared. He didn’t seem to catch the hint.

He put up his hands. “I was just making conversation.” He paused for a moment and then said, “How’s life been since you left?”

“It’s…fine.” She shifted slightly, finding it hard to breathe around him.

Trey said, “Are you still so upset that you can't even talk to me?”

Fire burned behind her eyes. “You never said a word to me after that night so why do you care now?”

Trey winced. “Okay, we’re really doing this then?”

“You started it.”

Trey chuckled cynically. “Wow, I see you haven't stopped being dramatic.”

Hailey shot him a look. “And you’re still an ass.”

“Right,” he said curtly. “And for the record, I’ve always cared about how you’re doing. But since you’ve never been back, I haven't exactly been able to ask.”

Hailey balked at him. “Oh, yeah, you really care, seeing as how you’ve never tried to contact me. It’s been thirteen years, and the only time I hear from you is when you happen to pull me over? If I hadn’t come back, would you have even tried to check on me?”

He didn’t answer.

“I didn't think so.”

He stared at her for a moment, and she felt as if he were peering into her soul. As much as she wanted to look away, she didn’t.

He sighed and said, “Well I’m here if you need anything. See ya ‘round, Princess.”

She wanted to yell at him for being so irritating and charming at the same time. She was mad as hell at him but still found herself soothed by his calmness, even in the middle of an argument.

He started to walk away but she stopped him. “Trey, wait.”

He paused and turned back to face her.

Despite not wanting to talk to him at the moment, Hailey knew she was only prolonging the inevitable. Swallowing her pride, she said, “I need your help.”

A sly smile crept on his face. He knew first-hand she would rather eat dirt than ask for help.

“Does this have to do with why you haven’t left yet? Because, from where I’m standing, you don’t tell people goodbye before you leave.”

Ouch.

As much as she wanted to get out of her car and berate him, she took a deep breath and ignored his slight. “Get in.”

She regretted her request as soon as the words left her lips, but still motioned to her passenger side. He hesitated for a moment then climbed into her car, the smell of his cologne filling the small space.

He still smelled the same as he did thirteen years ago, a scent that conjured up both good and painful memories. She wanted to run away, but Hailey steadied her breathing and wondered if he could hear her heartbeat.

At the wedding, she had been too angry to pay much attention to him. Now, though, she studied every part of him. She was surprised by the beard that covered his jawline. She found it rather sexy, much like everything else about him.

She wanted to crawl in a hole at those thoughts.

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