Page 82 of Reckless Storm
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Reed
It turns out, Hayley was right. Fake dating is not all that different from being her friend. Unless you count the fact that we’ve seen each other three times this week when it’s usually only once.
During our talk on Tuesday, we decided to wait until the weekend to go public. With Christmas coming up, it made sense to go shopping together, because that’s what couples do. Right? I mean, that’s what my parents used to do, so I figured all couples were like that.
As far as ideas go, it seemed like the easiest way to present ourselves to the world. We wouldn’t be making a statement or doing anything formal. It would be casual and relaxed. And it was the best idea we had.
Granted, it was the first andonlyidea we’d come up with, but it was a good one. At least, itwasuntil we arrived at the mall and I remembered how much I hate shopping, especially around Christmas.
“Goddammit.” I take off my cap and run a hand through my hair, messing it up. “What was I thinking?”
“Come on, boyfriend,” Hayley grins as she links her arm through mine, giving me an encouraging tug. “Who should we buy for first?”
Someone bumps me from behind, and I rush out a sorry before pulling Hayley to the side of the walkway, waving apologetically when the guy looks back.
Hayley frowns, her eyes bouncing between me and the guy, watching as he walks away. “What just happened?” she asks curiously.
“What do you mean?”
“Some dick bumped into you andyouapologized.” She points at me in case I don’t understand who she’s referring to.
“We were standing in the middle of the walkway, Hayls. It’s our fault.”
“So, it’s not the people?”
“What’s not?” I frown, confused.
“The reason it looks like your life is over.”
“Oh. No.” I huff out a laugh. “It’s the stress. What if I find the perfect gift but someone grabs it a second before I do, or a little kid stares at it longingly, having saved up his entire allowance to buy it for his special someone. Or what if I don’t find anything at all?”
“Wow.” Hayley bites back a smirk, taking a deep breath before she responds. “That’s… I don’t even know what that is.”
“That’s why I shop online.”
“Maybe so. But you’ve got me now, and I’m ruthless. How many people do you have to buy for?”
“Ahh.” I quickly do the math before relaying the information to Hayley, realizing happily that it’s not that many. “My mom, my dad, mybrother, hiswife, and you.” I can’t help the mild disdain in my tone when I mention my brother and his girl,but thankfully, Hayley doesn’t say anything about it. Instead she focuses on herself.
“Me?” she questions, rocking back on her heels with a giddy smile.
“Of course.” I roll my eyes and Hayley laughs, giving my arm another tug, prompting me to start walking.
“So five people? That won’t be too hard. But…I didn’t know you had a brother.”
“I do. We don’t talk much, but he exists.”
Hayley pauses, spinning me to face her when I try to keep walking. “But you likeeveryone.”
“I never said I didn’t like him.” Although that’s the truth, he’s one of the few people I want nothing to do with. I frown thinking about the distance between us. The distance that’s been there since I was a kid.
Hayley’s previously happy expression falls and I hate that I did that. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, her voice soft.
“What for?”
“There’s a story there.” She releases my arm but grabs my hand as it falls to my side, giving it a squeeze. “I’m not going to push it, but please know that I’m here for you.”
