Page 157 of California Wild

She shot a glance at the others, but they were still walking, talking amongst themselves, oblivious.

She turned back to Caiden, trying not to stare at his black eye. “What?”

He searched her face, his usual cocky ease missing.

“Where the fuck did you disappear to last night?” His voice was low, edged with something that sounded too much like concern.

Hayley’s pulse kicked up.

“I—”

“Look, I went over to your place after the gig,” he pressed. “I texted. You weren’t at home.” His brows pulled together. “Are you okay?”

Hayley exhaled, rubbing a hand over her neck.

She hadn’t told anyone she’d been holed up at Jesse’s.

And Caiden—Caiden knew her better than most.

Knew her patterns, her tells.

She forced a smirk. “Damn, Galway. You getting clingy on me?”

His jaw tightened. “Don’t. Just tell me the truth.”

She hated how well he could read her.

And maybe it was the weight of everything, the exhaustion, the fact that she was standing here pregnant with Jesse’s kid and she hadn’t told a soul—

But she snapped.

“I’ve been taking care of myself, okay? Not that I need to report to you.”

Caiden’s expression darkened. “That’s not what this is about, Hayley.”

“Then what is it?”

For a second, he just looked at her.

Then, softer, lower— “You know what it is.”

The words hit, hard and unresolved.

The way they had left things—the night at The Holding Company, the way they made out on the dance floor, the way he looked at her like he was claiming something he never had the right to claim.

And they had never talked about it.

Because she didn’t want to.

Because she didn’t feel the way he wanted her to.

But now?

Now she had bigger fucking problems.

So she steeled herself, meeting his gaze. “Caiden, we can talk about this later.”

Something flickered in his eyes. Hurt. Then—his mask went on. He let out a rough exhale, shaking his head with a small, bitter laugh.

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