You’re an easy sell.
 
 Hadley
 
 No, you just happen to have the sweetest baby girl and I may or may not have enjoyed pottery lessons with a certain goalie.
 
 Rowan
 
 I hope you’re not throwing clay with anyone else.
 
 My breathing hitches and the butterflies in my stomach begin to stir. Is he asking what I think he’s asking? He constantly throws me off-balance to the point that it’s becoming difficult to distinguish what is up or down anymore.
 
 Hadley
 
 I’m not.
 
 Rowan
 
 Good.
 
 Hadley
 
 I think I’m going to get ready for bed. It’s getting pretty late and we both have busy days tomorrow.
 
 Rowan
 
 Okay. Let me know how tomorrow goes then.
 
 Hadley
 
 I will.
 
 Rowan
 
 Can I tell you something?
 
 Hadley
 
 Always.
 
 Rowan
 
 Lucy isn’t the only one who misses you.
 
 My heart stumbles over itself, a cascade of unsteady beats as my breath quickens. I know my heart will never survive the destruction Rowan Taylor can lay upon it, but my sense of self-preservation isn’t enough to stop me from telling him the truth.
 
 Hadley
 
 She’s not the only one I miss either.
 
 Abandoning my phone on the bed, I head into the bathroom to brush my teeth and get ready to sleep. I check my phone one last time, disappointment pricking my skin when I see he still didn’t respond. Closing my eyes, I settle against the down feather pillows and just as I’m about to fall asleep, a message from him comes through.
 
 Rowan
 
 I was hoping that would happen.
 
 Sweet dreams, outlaw.
 
 CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX