Page 26 of Restrained

“I can. I just don’t.”

He stares at me, waiting for more of an explanation.

One I don’t want to give.

13

HAYDEN

That was a strange turn. For once, I was enjoying having a conversation, but she has an issue with swimming. One she doesn’t want to talk about, which only piques my curiosity.

I need to leave it alone. She doesn’t want to talk about it. Great.

I told her way too much at the second hotel yesterday. Maybe today I should just shut the fuck up and go back to work.

Only I can’t. My obsession to know is festering as we sit here, and she goes over plans on her iPad. She must feel my eyes on hers because she lifts her head and takes a deep breath, the delicate silver necklace resting on her chest rising and falling with the movement. “My brother drowned, and ever since then, I hate to go swimming. I hate water.”

Well, fuck me. I knew her brother died, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t dig that deep. “I’m sorry.”

Her shoulders lift, but the gesture isn’t as nonchalant as she wants it to seem. It’s forced. “I’ll eventually get back in the water, I’m sure.”

I nod my head, trying to be encouraging, but I saw the fear in her eyes when I brought up swimming.

Her shoulders droop, and she sighs. “Or not.”

“I can’t imagine what you went through. He was only eighteen?”

She’s not surprised I know that. She knows I looked into her background. “Yes. He never made it to college.”

“I’m guessing you were close.” I need to shut up. I’m not supposed to be interested in Lola. It’s Penelope I need to learn more about.

Her gaze is thoughtful, and I see guilt in her eyes as she lowers her head, her chin nearly touching her chest. “I thought we were. I thought our whole family was, but as I look back, maybe we weren’t.”

“What do you mean?”

Her eyes lift slowly, meeting mine. “He was going through something. Something I should have seen coming, but I wasn’t paying attention.”

I don’t want to care, but I have to ask. I should pick up my phone and go back to work, but I can’t. “Was it intentional?”

“No. He just, he was feeling too much pressure. He cheated on his girlfriend.” She tucks her unruly bangs behind her ear again. “Penelope.”

What? Penelope? As in her partner? I try to keep calm, hearing this information. “I thought she was with your brother, Lincoln?”

Lincoln is very much alive and works in real estate. She nods her head and then puffs out air from between her very full lips. “She is now. Kind of then too.”

Now I'm lost. “What?”

She lightheartedly laughs at that even if her eyes are full of tears. “C-Co...” She clears her throat and shakes her head, struggling to say her brother’s name. Colt. “My brother datedPenelope first. It was young love and looking back, they weren’t a fit.”

“Lincoln and she are?”

She nods, wiping away a rogue tear with the back of her hand. “They are.”

“Colt cheated on Penelope?” She flinches when I say her brother’s name out loud, and I feel like an asshole.

“He did. Once.” She forces a smile. “The girl got pregnant.”

I try to hide my surprise. “You’re an aunt?”

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