Page 29 of Nodus Tollens
On an aggravated huff, he rose to his feet and studied me for a moment. I couldn’t figure out what exactly he wanted from me. Advice? Encouragement? Whatever it was, I wasn’t providing because, with a shake of his head, he started walking off.
“Just wait a fucking second.” I growled, halting his movements without thinking of a reason to why he should stay. That was my problem, though. Impulsive words and actions would be the death of me because I knew the second he did look back, I would have nothing to say. Nothing meaningful, anyway, but I couldn’t let him walk all pissed off and looking down in the dumps. Even by just stopping him, it would at least show him that I cared and that I was fucking trying.
He could at least give me that.
“I’m sure you find this whole thing fucking comical, don’t you?” He let his hand fall from the top of his head and tilted his chin in my direction. “Finally wanting a chick who doesn’t want me.”
“Thought you said she did?” I teased, knowing I was only adding kerosene to the fire.
“You’re making me second-guess myself.” He groaned and fell beside me. With his body now slouched against the cushion of the couch, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“How? I’m not doing anything.” I spun half my body around until I could fully brace whatever words were going to fly out of his mouth and hit me.
“I just feel like tonight was a dream. Like none of it actually happened, and it was all in my head.” His tone was gentler than anticipated. I watched closely as his palms latched onto the back of the couch and squeezed.
“I could pinch you. You know, just to double-check.” I gave him a spirited grin, hoping to alleviate some of his turmoil, but in response, he gave me a blank stare. There was more than annoyance in his unwavering gaze that eventually had me cursing under my breath and sighing.
I hope he wasn’t expecting any life-changing guidance from me because I could almost guarantee the nonsense that was about to come out would only piss him off more.
“If you really like this girl, and think she feels the same, then why not just go for it? What’s there to lose?” I’m surprised by the words that were flowing out of my mouth like I was a goddamn natural at it. Normally, my ability to speak in long, full sentences was subpar. It wasn’t that I couldn’t, but it was more like I chose not to. I was a listener. Not a speaker or motivator, but on the occasions I did speak, it was very minimal. At least with others, it was, but with Hayes, he unknowingly put me in situations like these where I’d be forced to talk no matter how uncomfortable I got.
“If I forgot about her now, it wouldn’t hurt as much as if I did try.” He spoke calmly, but I could immediately sense that wasn’t an option he was leaning towards. For him, there was no forgetting a girl like that, and even if he did try, he wouldn’t be able to stick with it. Not in the least when he wanted her as bad as he said.
The gloomy bastard looked worse with each passing second as he contemplated what to do. His now downcasted eyes were hit with a sudden wave of sadness.
“Then you’d be wonderin’ what could have happened.” I said. “And I know you, Hayes. You wont be forgettin’ about her. Not if she’s already got you like this.”
A sigh escaped as his shoulders slouched from my words.
“I just…” He paused for a second while taking in a breath. “As crazy as it sounds, I feel like I was meant to find her. Like we were bound to cross paths because by no means was that an accident.” He leaned forward with his elbows planted onto his knees. “It couldn’t have been.”
“Then don’t let her go.”
It was simple as that.
I fucked up once already with that. Letting the girl of my dreams slip through my fingers and now I couldn’t let Hayes make the same mistake.
“Don’t let her go.” He repeated as he peered over at me. I nodded and he once more repeated it and fell back into the couch.
And I knew now he wouldn’t.
7
WREN
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” Kate’s overly-chipper voice ringed way too close to my ear as she patted my ass. Groaning, I dug my face further into my pillow and tried drowning her out.
“Uh uh, get your ass up because you have some serious explaining to do.”
Oh god, that didn’t sound good.
My eyes sprung open, and Hayes immediately came to mind. The blonde-haired stranger who so very rudely took up residence in my dreams last night. As much as I didn’t want anything to do with him, my body had a mind of its own. Even now, the mention of him had me flushing from head to toe with the remnants of his rugged smile and adorable laugh.
“I guess you want to do this the hard way.” Kate huffed and swiftly pulled the comforter off my body until I was exposed. “Why are you naked?” Her voice lowered suspiciously, and on a squeal, I spun around and ripped the blanket from her hold and covered my nude self.
“Wrenley Anne Baker, did you do what I think you did?”
Oh my god, please, kill me now.
