Page 55 of Make Your Save

“What about the outside?”

“Grab a brush,” I instruct, motioning to a small container on the table. “We’ll do a coat now and then it will need two more, spaced out over the next few days.”

She bobs her head, pulling out a brush as I wrap myhand around hers, dipping it into the glaze. I guide her hand to the vase, moving the brush in sweeping motions, showing her how to evenly coat the dried clay.

“I can do that while you’re gone,” she says softly, her eyes fixated on the vase. “After you get home next week, I’m going to California for a few days to look at apartments while you’re home.”

My entire body takes a pause and my hand stills before I immediately recover. Our hands continue to move together again, although my spine is board straight and my heart feels like it’s going to fall onto the floor. “That’s not a problem. I’ll see if Mia can watch Lucy during practice and games.”

“It won’t be long,” she tells me, the words tumbling from her lips in a rush. As we finish glazing and I pull my hand from hers, I feel her gaze immediately on the side of my face. “I made a few appointments to look at places, so I’m planning on only being gone for three days.”

I swallow roughly, carefully picking up the vase as I force a smile onto my face. It doesn’t come close to reaching my eyes and goddammit, it feels unnatural. “You don’t owe me an explanation, Hadley. It will be good for me to establish some kind of a routine for when you’re not here.”

The thought alone feels like a dagger severing my aorta.

“You’re right,” she murmurs softly, the words barely audible as she plasters her own fake smile on her face. She walks over to the bench as I move to the kiln and it feels like we’re already miles apart. She picks up hermug, staring down at the hot chocolate that has since grown cold, a conflicted look in her eyes.

“We’ll manage, Hadley,” I assure her, watching her as her eyes find me again. “I promise, you don’t have to worry about Lucy and me.”

“I know.” She jerks her chin, the same plastic smile lifting her lips again as sadness encapsulates her gaze. She shifts her weight, almost as if she doesn’t know what she’s supposed to do. “I think I’m going to head in and get ready for bed.”

I want to tell her to stay. I want to sweep her into my arms and never let her go.

I know I can’t do that. It isn’t fair to her.

I will not be another person in her life who holds her back. She lived that life with my brother and if I kiss her again...if I sweep her into my arms, I know I’m never going to let her go.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” I tell her, the words feeling foreign as they roll off my tongue.

Hadley gives me one last lingering stare before she picks up the mugs without another word and leaves me alone with my pottery and my thoughts.

Hadley Reed was only ever meant to be temporary...so why the fuck does she feel so permanent?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

HADLEY

Istare out the window as the car rolls to a stop, looking out to the horizon. My eyes travel across the water that shimmers in the sunlight. The temperatures here have been a shock compared to what I’ve grown used to in Aston. I’ve been comfortable just walking around in a short-sleeved shirt, not having a need for my thick coat I brought along on instinct.

The hospital I’m supposed to be working at is located in the center of the city that borders the coast. On the outskirts of the city is where I’ve spent the day looking at apartments. With a handful of papers, I climb out of the car, tip the driver, and head toward the small hotel nestled along the sea.

It’s a quiet and quaint little place, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s like the best of both worlds here, with the Pacific Ocean and the startling warm temperatures.

I’m not sure I could see myself making this mypermanent residence, but it’s been a nice little escape from the frigid temperatures in Aston.

My return flight to Aston isn’t for two more days and I’ve been enjoying exploring the city, but there’s something about it that just doesn’t feel right. Like there’s something missing. I miss the way Rowan’s house smells like warm vanilla bean and the comfort it provides. I miss accidentally kicking Lucy’s toys under the couch and having to blindly reach for them, not sure of what I’m going to find under there.

I miss the familiarity.

I miss them.

As I settle back into the motel for the night, I end up ordering delivery and settle on the bed to eat after showering. It’s a small room with one bed, a dresser and TV, and a full bathroom. I don’t need any more space than this while I’m here and there isn’t anything about it that feels like home.

The only thing I enjoy is being able to have my windows open and the smell of the salt air drifting in from the sea.

I tried to watch the Archers game on the TV, but for some reason I wasn’t able to find it. Instead, I ended up settling for a rerun of an old rom-com that I found instead.

My phone vibrates from beside me on the bed and I move quickly to retrieve it as I open up my messages. Yesterday I talked to Rowan when I got here, just to let him know that I made it safely and to check in on Lucy. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t checking in on him too.

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