Page 5 of Kept in the Dark

“Not much happened, honestly. She got mad and left. I’m sure her mother’s death didn’t help any and then her sister gets hauled off to jail for the murder.” Trey shook his head. Hailey had been through so much in a short summer’s time.

Jason pointed at Trey. “People don’t just ‘get mad’ and completely uproot themselves, Trey. Y’all were going to get married. You’re telling me she wouldn’t stick around for you?” Jason crossed his arms. “Like I said: more to the story.”

Jason was now hardly able to keep his anger at bay, a rare sight for Trey. A vein throbbed on his forehead as he said, “And how could she do that to Angie? She was devastated when Hailey left. I just want to know what you did to make her leave like she did.”

Jason’s words cut Trey to the core, and he tried not to shrink at his friend’s accusation.

So that's what this was really about.

Jason was worried Hailey would hurt Angie again.

What Jason didn’t realize was that Trey didn’t like to talk about that summer because it still hurt him. Though the wounds Hailey left had healed, the scars still burned. And as much as he would deny it, that was the truth.

Trey spent a great deal of time being angry he wasn’t enough to keep her here. She’d never given him a chance to explain why he broke things off with her. He often wondered if he’d tried hard enough.

Feeling old wounds split open, his own anger gripping him, Trey said, “Well, she did. So, mind your damn business. If I wanted you to know, I’d tell you. I didn’t want to talk about it then, and I don’t want to talk about it now.”

“Why, Trey?” Jason flung his arms out, matching Trey’s anger. The two received glances from the other officers who took notice of the heated conversation. Jason lowered his voice and said, “If you’re over her like you claim, why won’t you talk to me about it?”

“Why do you care? It’s done and over so let it be.”

Jason shook his head. “Who are you trying to convince: me or you?”

Trey let the silence answer for him.

Not wanting to talk about Hailey any longer, he changed the subject. “Look, tomorrow is your wedding day. Don’t let Hailey Gallagher ruin it.”

Jason sighed and nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“And Angie is a grown woman who can take care of herself. Give her some credit.”

Jason smiled. “She definitely can. I shouldn’t worry so much, but I love her. Plus, that whole ‘protect’ thing kinda comes with the vows.”

“I know.” Trey smiled back.

Trey turned to walk away but Jason stopped him. “Watch out for Hailey. We don’t need a repeat of thirteen years ago. I don’t want to spend my days peeling you off the bathroom floor after your dates with Jim Beam night after night.”

“Don’t worry, she’s been a memory since the day she left.”

The two finished the conversation by promising to keep one another in the loop about Nicole’s case. Trey made his rounds and spoke to a few other officers and CSI techs, none of whom had anything helpful at the moment; something Trey wasn’t surprised by given how fresh the case was.

Trey left the old mobile home and headed toward his truck where his thoughts turned back to Hailey, much to his dismay. Even after claiming he’d long since forgotten about the woman, he couldn’t get rid of the conflicting emotions that were now surfacing.

He was angry at her for leaving without so much as a goodbye or an explanation. Then his anger toward her turned to resentment toward himself for not stopping her or going after her. Then it all turned into sadness as he mourned what could have been.

Yet, as infuriated as he was with her, he couldn't blame her for leaving the way she did. Her mother had been murdered and her sister was to blame for the violent act. So, instead of losing just one person she loved, she lost two that night.

To make matters worse, her father had never been kind to her and Sara, which had worsened a few months before her mother passed, so there was no more familial connection keeping her here. Trey suspected David had much to do with Hailey’s departure, despite his claims of not being involved.

It didn't help that Trey broke things off with her that night out of his own insecurities. He’ll never forget the way her face contorted in pain, the tears that streamed down her face as she ran off. He had spent the last thirteen years hating himself for it, though Hailey had never given him the chance to make things right, to tell her he loved her so much he thought his heart might explode.

He climbed inside his truck and quickly blasted the air, welcoming the coolness. Despite the sun having been replaced by the moon, the Florida heat never seemed to retreat along with it.

Before pulling out of the driveway, he took out his wallet and retrieved a necklace he kept within its fold. It was a small, gold locket with a single rhinestone embedded in the center. It was Hailey’s and she had given it to him the night he first told her he loved her. He never could find the nerve to toss it. It was the last piece of her he had left.

He ran his thumb over it, letting the memories rush through his mind.

As much as he hated himself for it, he still loved her. She was the one that got away and no woman had ever come close to outshining Hailey Gallagher.

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