Page 112 of Fair Catch

A gentle half-smile tugs at my mouth. “Of course.”

“No, seriously.” His tone is earnest with eyes to match as they gaze into mine. “After what happened at Thanksgiving, I wouldn’t blame you for never setting foot within a mile of this place. It means a lot to me that you’re here.”

There’s something in his expression I can’t quite get a read on, but it’s the softest and most vulnerable I’ve ever seen him. Almost like he’s finally removed that last piece of armor from around his heart.

Maybe because he’s used to people wanting him for his money or the connection to his family, and he never considered it could have the opposite effect.

“There’s not much in this world I wouldn’t do for you, Hayes.” The words come out in a gruff whisper, and I smile. “Including taking on your extremely intimidating parents who literally hate my guts.”

He winces. “They don’t hate you—”

“They don’t like me, either, and you know it,” I counter. I’m not looking to spend the night arguing with him, though, so I quickly tack on. “But they’re just gonna have to get over it, because I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

I might as well have hung the moon and all the stars from the way he smiles at me, and it’s all the confirmation I needed to know coming tonight was the right call.

“I’d do the same for you, you know.” His fingers lace together, twining through the hair at my nape. “I know you said things with your father will likely never change, but with your mother. My family has connections. Private investigators who can—”

“No,” I whisper immediately, shaking my head. “I don’t want to taint this with people I’ve left in my past, especially the ones who’ve left me. I’ve accepted they have no place in my future.”

He smiles gently, nodding in concession. “The offer stands, if you ever want to take it.”

I know I won’t, but the gesture is more than enough to have my heart crawling in my throat. The fact of the matter is, neither of my parents deserve to know the person I’ve become. Because I’m not that same cowering boy I was a decade ago, just searching for a way to be enough for them. To be worthy of their love, because I don’t need it anymore.

Because now, as Hayes and I move slowly together with the music…I have his.

And I swear I can see him thinking the same thoughts currently running through my mind; three little words sitting on the tip of my tongue like a naughty secret, pleading to spill from my lips.

One monumental sentence, just waiting to be spoken into existence.

Yet no matter how much I might feel them, I can’t quite bring myself to say them, so I rein them in and lock them down. Box them up and push them to the back of my mind.

Except it’s impossible for them to be entirely out of sight when he’s still right here, in my arms, staring at me like he’s doing everything in his power not to say them too.

“Do you mind if I step out for some air?” I whisper as the song comes to an end. “I think I’m still a little overwhelmed by all this.”

The half-truth tastes bitter on my tongue, only growing worse when he nods and presses a kiss to my jaw.

“Of course, baby. I’ll be here when you get back.”

Twenty-Nine

Kason

The cool, winter air hits me as I step onto the terrace off the living room, and it’s exactly what I needed to release some of the tension knotted in my back and shoulders.

My fingers wrap around the railing overlooking the yard at the back of the expansive estate, the sculpted gardens covered in snow only serving as another reminder that I don’t belong here. That I’m nothing more than Cinderella at the ball, waiting for the clock to strike midnight.

The only difference is my Prince Charming is inside, knows exactly who I am down to the marrow of my bones, and I can’t seem to find the courage to face him. To tell him that, while catching feelings was never part of the plan, it happened anyway.

That there’s no doubt in my mind about him.

It’s the questions lingering in the background that have me stumbling; the ones put there the first night I came to this house by the woman who—

“Kason. I thought I might find you out here.”

All the tension I just released is back in spades as my boyfriend’s mother steps out closer to where I’m resting against the railing.

“Mrs. Lancaster. Sorry, I didn’t see you.” A tight smile pulls at my lips as she approaches. “I was just grabbing some air and thought I was alone.”

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