Page 51 of Here's to Now

I raise a curious brow. “Projecting much?”

“Nah. My girl’s perfect.”

“Perfectly crazy.”

He shrugs, not arguing in the least. “So…” he prods.

I stare blankly at him. His deflating shoulders tell me he gets the message.

“You still don’t want to talk about it.”

“Nope.”

Hudson huffs a laugh. “Your guard’s gotta come down at some point, Gaige.”

“Bullshit it does.”

He claps me on the shoulder once. “Good luck, man. I wish whoever your mystery lady is all the luck in the world in breaking through the enigma that is Gaige Addams.”

I want to laugh at his words, because in this case,I’mnot the mystery, it’s her. Haley is the most confusing woman I’ve ever met. I have no idea where to even begin with her—not that I’m a walk in the park or anything. I have my fair share of ambiguity surrounding me. Secret past? Check. Hidden talents? Covered. Quiet, mysterious, handsome guy? I play that card frequently.

But here’s the deal: I’m notthatcomplicated. I’m a rather simple man. I like what I like, I do what I do. Judgments are passed few and far between and I don’t see fit to butt into other people’s business. My life is just that—mylife. I don’t share a lot about me because I don’t feel the need to. If I wanted people to know my sob story, I’d tell them. Oversharing is not on my radar. I much prefer silence.

Or I used to. Before her, before I knew how good it felt to laugh again. To have fun. To just…be. But this is what we agreed on. Simple. Easy. Friendship. Coexisting. I can do coexisting.

A rush of annoyance hits me again because wedon’tcoexist. We don’t…anything. Not anymore.

I can’t help but think back to when she warned me she was crazy. I just never thought she’d drivemecrazy too.

“Ten ’till go time!” Tucker announces loudly, the same as he does every day.

Excitement mixed with worry rolls through me.Haley.I’m irritated to the max over the entire scenario with her, yet Iwantto see her…I think.

I also want to ask her what the hell happened, what caused us to go from smiles and me sneaking out every morning before she woke to nothing, from cute little notes to nothing. Was it something I said or did? Did we rush our friendship? Misstep somewhere? Was there a line I crossed?

I feel lost, like I’m floating out in the middle of a vast ocean, nothing around me for hundreds of miles. That’s how it was before a lifeboat drifted my way. Before Haley. Before I knew I could feel again.

Might as well just feed me to the sharks now.

Shoving my thoughts aside before I get too worked up, I begin cleaning my workstation, readying to close down for the night. Five minutes later, Hudson gives a wave and heads home. He’s not even two steps out the door before Tucker’s begging me to hurry up so he can split since he has a gig to prepare for. We wash up, change back into our street clothes, and clock out.

“See ya later, man.”

“Unfortunately,” I deadpan.

“You love me and you know it!” Tucker singsongs over his shoulder.

I ignore him as I climb into my Civic, suddenly a little sad tomorrow is going to be the last day I work with Tucker for a few months since he’s going on tour. The best part from this last year was moving out of my hellhole apartment and in with Tucker. For the first time in years, I’m living somewhere I feel comfortable enough to leave my bedroom door unlocked at night.

I crank the engine and hesitate, unsure if I should head home and shower before I go to Haley’s or go straight there.

The shower wins out.

The drive to the apartment is quick. I burst through the door, thankful I no longer have to worry about finding a roommate naked on the couch with some girl’s mouth wrapped around his dick. I don’t have that issue now that I live with Tucker.

I shudder at the memory and briskly make my way back to my bedroom. Glancing over at my bed, there’s a sharp stab to my chest. Images of Haley and me flow through my head like a raging river. The last—and only—time she was at my place, we were snuggled up on my bed together watching whatever it was she brought over. We were full of laughter and light and fun.

That was the last time we wereus.

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