Page 194 of Reckless Storm
“You are?” Hayley’s brows furrow as she glances away, but when she rests her hand back in mine, I relax a little.
“I am.” I nod. I have a memory of her saying she’s in love with me, but I know that’s never happened. It makes me wonder if she said it while I was unconscious.
Hayley nods back at me but doesn’t continue for a beat, clearly nervous. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I know the last couple of days have been hard on you and—”
“I love you, Reed,” she blurts out, and my heart races as my entire body heats. I always knew I’d like it when I heard those three little words, but nothing could prepare me for the euphoric happiness consuming me.
I knew how she felt. Iknew. But this is everything.
“Actually… That’s not enough for how I’m feeling. I’m in love with you. And it turns out that I’ve been in love with you for a while.” She laughs to herself and my smile widens, but I work hard not to let it turn cocky. “You can gloat.” She playfully rolls her eyes. “You knew, didn’t you?”
“I had a feeling.” I glance away to hide said gloating, but she sees it.
“Of course you had a feeling. I’m not mad about it. I love the way you can read me and the way you see me better than anyone ever has. I love the way you deal with my crazy, never making me feel like I’m hard work. And I love the way you make me laugh. I just loveyou. Period.”
“Fuuck. I may have known, but God, I love hearing that. Say it again.”
“I love you.”
“Again.”
“I love you.”
“Aga—”
“Now you’re making it less meaningful.”
I want to laugh but think better of it, squeezing her hand before lifting myself up the bed, forcing myself to sit up. The pain’s excruciating but I endure it. I have to, because… “I love you too, Hayls, and I’m gonna need you to kiss me. Since I can’t fucking do it for myself.”
And I’ve never needed to kiss her more than I do right now.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Reed
Two by two, our friends and my teammates pop in to say hello ahead of their chartered flight home, and I spend the entire time in awe of how amazing they are. I’m the guy that always checks in on the people I care about, and I’ve never held anyone else to that standard.
So to find out that they’re still here—for me—has me floored.
Keeley’s the last to visit and when she’s gone, I draw in a breath and smile. “We really do have incredible friends,” I say, my heart full as I turn back to Hayley.
“That we do. On top of everyone here, I’ve had Amelia and Paige blowing up my phone. And I texted Bria. She—”
“What?” I do a double take as Hayley cringes. “How?”
“Did you know face recognition works when your eyes are closed?” She cringes again while I frown. “Are you mad?”
“Mad? No. I’m in awe of you.”
Bria and I haven’t spoken since I visited her dad in the hospital, waiting until she was gone so we didn’t cross paths. After Hayley asked me to kiss her, I decided to distance myselfa little. Not that I told Hayley that. She would have felt guilty when she shouldn’t have. But still, letting Bria know I was in the hospital and unconscious was the right thing to do.
“Thank you. We may not speak anymore, but I would have wanted to know if roles were reversed.”
“Oh, good. We’ve texted a few times but I can’t see us being the best of friends anytime soon.”
“Good. Because you’remybest friend, Hayls. Don’t make me get jealous.”
“God, you’re corny sometimes.”
