Page 59 of The Stalker

Tatiana led the way back through the bus but halted in her tracks as she was walking through the corridor past her room. Hayden was clearly unprepared for her to stop, and he walked into her when she did.

“Shit, sorry,” he apologized.

Tatiana spun on her heel and was faced with his broad chest, far too close for her liking. She pushed past him and walked back up the bus until she reached the door to his room. She spun again and frowned at him.

“Where are the bunks, Hayden?”

“Oh, they got removed as part of the shuffle around so I could fit your room in.” He shrugged.

Fucking clients.

She realized all too late that she should have been involved in the tour bus stuff, after all. She’d never imagined he might remove the bunks from the floor plan.

“Where is Jesse going to sleep, Hayden?” She raised an eyebrow at him.

His face fell into a shocked ‘O’, and then he cringed. “Shit. I didn’t think of Jesse.”

“No, you didn’t. Fuck. There’s not even room for that sofa to pull out into a bed, even if it is a pullout sofa.”

“I’m sorry. I was just trying to make sure you were comfortable.” He had a worried frown on his face, and he was chewing his bottom lip.

Tatiana sighed. “I appreciate that. I just wish you’d told me what you were planning to do. We could’ve made it work.”

“Does this mean we can’t use this tour bus?” Hayden looked as though his disappointment was immeasurable and his day was ruined.

Tatiana began running through possible options in her mind. There was one very obvious one, but she didn’t like it. Either she or Jesse would have to sleep on the sofa. She didn’t want to have to ask Jesse to do it, but she didn’t particularly want to do it, either.

“No, we have to use this bus. I don’t even need to ask anyone to know there’s no way they’d have another one more appropriately fitted out in time. We’ll just have to make it work.”

“I am the biggest asshole,” Hayden sighed.

“No, you’re not. You’re just too nice for your own good. It was nice of you to think of me like that,” she told him as she walked toward him to leave the bus.

“That’s not why I’m an asshole, Tatiana,” he frowned at her.

“Why are you an asshole?”

He turned away from her and began walking down the steps, so he wasn’t looking at her when he said, “I was so busy thinking of you that Jesse didn’t even cross my mind.”

-

Dear Hayden,

As you stand on the precipice of this tour, it feels as though everything has happened for a reason. As though all of the trials and tribulations that we have been through have had their purpose, and that is to lead us to the moment when we can be together.

Stay strong, my love. It is only a matter of time before we can live our lives together, love as deeply for one another as we do, and laugh together in joy for the rest of our lives.

I long for you every hour of every day. You will always be my love.

XOXO

---