Page 35 of I Always Will

Alexandria pressed her lips together between her teeth to stifle the surprised bark of laughter that wanted to escape from within her. That would only make things worse. Though, she couldn’t find it in herself to be too disappointed at her own reaction when Hailey looked so very happy at having gotten it from her.

This whole thing was needlessly complicated and ridiculous.

Susan was bright red, clearly searching for the right thing to say, some way to assure Hailey that she wasn’t implying her to be a bad boss, while also sticking to her foolish belief that Esme was throwing away all of Daniel’s money. The money they didn’t even approve of him having since it came fromnot a real job. With Daniel at the top of his field, Alexandria wondered what it would possibly take to convince their parents his job was real and valid.

“Besides, Daniel can make all that money back on one photography job,” Alexandria said as lightly as she could muster without laughing. “You know how well he gets paid for his photos, after all.”

She knew she was playing with fire—she had been since she’d crashed into Hailey—but she couldn’t help herself. There was something about the looks Hailey gave her that made her feel invincible, like she was soaring and would never come down.

She would, and she’d likely feel terrible for winding her mum up further, but, while Hailey was looking at her, her whole soul alight with mischief, Alexandria really couldn’t resist. It had always been that way. And this wouldn’t be the first time it had led Alexandria into emotional trouble.

It wouldn’t be the last either. Not when there were still two weeks before the wedding and the wedding day to get through.

What was worse was that Alexandria knew she was following willingly. Even knowing it was a terrible idea, that this whole thing was impossibly weird, and she was a grown-up who should know better. She knew she’d be willingly stepping through that door time and time again for Hailey.

For years, Farid, several other friends, and even some of her bosses had suggested she might benefit from learning to step outside the box and take a few risks. But she hadn’t been raised that way. It didn’t come naturally. Whatever Daniel had inherited or developed to make him the way he was, Alexandria had missed out on.

Except when she was with Hailey.

She was still the same person, of course, but something about Hailey made her feel safe on a deep level. Even now, after all they had gone through, she still felt as though Hailey would keep her safe and love her even if she messed up.

It was nonsense. She’d given up any hope or claim to Hailey’s love years ago when they’d said their excruciating goodbyes, but she couldn’t shake that feeling. And it was so freeing.

Even seventeen years and a whole load of heartache later, when Hailey looked at her like they had a shared secret, Alexandria felt more like herself than she ever had. And more like she could take risks, say the things she was thinking, be something other than ‘nice and polite’ because, no matter what, there would still be Hailey and, so long as that remained true, everything would be okay.

Fourteen

Present day

All afternoon, Hailey had been filled with frantic, restless energy. It wasn’t really a problem, given that it helped her get through all of her customers while seeming peppy and upbeat, but it felt uncomfortable. She liked feeling sure and steady, not off-kilter and edgy. And, all afternoon, she’d been telling herself she didn’t know what had caused it.

Of course, when said reason walked into Mash-N-Go unexpectedly, it proved difficult to continue pretending she didn’t know the reason.

Seventeen years and Alexandria Daley was still able to infiltrate her very person. Perhaps she’d never left to begin with.

“Ah, the Daley-Thompsons,” she called over the counter to them whilst attempting to stifle the fluttering in her chest. She looked at everyone else more than she looked at Alexandria while still making sure to look at her enough to seem casual, but not so much as to seem interested.

Even if she was interested.

Even if she had always been interested.

Had she ever lived in a world of knowing Alexandria where she didn’t want her? It had been different when they first met—they were kids and she didn’t even know she was a lesbian—but still, there had always been something about this woman. Annoying as that was.

Esme thrilled adorably. She and Dan were both hyphenating their names and she beamed brightly at the use of her future surname.

Hailey tried hard not to think about a conversation she’d had—more than once—with another Daley about hyphenating their surnames after marriage.

From the look on Alexandria’s face when their eyes met, she wasn’t the only one.

Celia giggled with her daughter before looking back at Hailey. “We were all getting hungry—wedding dress shopping is not for the faint of heart—and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to come to my little pumpkin’s workplace.”

“Mum,” Esme whined, obviously delighted.

Celia turned to her, pulling her into a tight hug. “Let your old mum have this one, hey? You know we’re all just so proud of you. Good job, wonderful fiancé, happy in your life… What more could a mum ask for?”

Hailey noticed Alexandria’s expression—furrowed and not nearly as soft as she’d have expected after such a warm moment. Alexandria’s parents had attempted to make her cold and serious, and she was serious, but she wasn’t cold. She was soft and delicate and couldn’t get enough of people telling their loved ones they loved them. Just, secretly. So it was odd seeing her reaction. Though, it did not take long to figure out why.

Susan’s expression had soured since they arrived, and it had already looked like she'd swallowed a lemon.

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