Page 123 of Right Number, Wrong Man
My brows pull together. Hold on. What?
“I always worried I judged Mike too harshly because he was a troubled man. But it turns out he was really just an asshole with no redeeming qualities, except a surprisingly nice brother.” She gasps. “Shit, sorry. I shouldn’t talk ill of the dead.”
Nice. She called menice. Might as well shoot me now.
I bark a laugh. “Don’t hold back on my account. Mikewasan asshole.”
“You truly think that?”
“With the fights and pranks and drugs in high school, I figuredfine—youthful rebellion. But he never grew outta that stuff. I tried to put his head on straight so many times, I lost count.”
“I wanted to leave him, you know?” Hailey asks and the wobble in her voice makes my chest tight. “Every time I caught him high again, he promised he’d do better. When I had enough of the lies and told him I wanted a divorce, he threatened to hurt himself if I filed.”
My stomach coils into knots. While I was away, the woman I love was held hostage in her own marriage.
“I’m sorry, Hailey. I didn’t know how awful things were between you.”
And if I found out the truth earlier, I would’ve put down that miserable weasel a long time ago.
“Do you think I’m stupid for staying with him for so long?” she asks, voice thin.
“No, you’re sweet and generous for giving him more chances than he ever deserved. But I thinkhewas stupid for treating you like he did. More than plain stupid. Despicable.”
Something warm and soft touches my palm.Hailey’s hand. She squeezes my fingers. “Thank you, Colt. For saying this, and for sending me coffee and muffins and flowers. Oh, and I love the plush. It’s still my favorite.”
I squeeze back. “Don’t thank me. What I did wasn’t good enough. I should’ve told you that you didn’t have to put up with Mike’s shit. But I figured cause you hated me, I’d be way out of line sticking my nose into your private business.”
“You’re right. I would have thought you were talking out of your ass.”
“I don’t wanna see you get hurt again and that’s why Iasked you about dating. You have that glow of a woman in love.”
Her hand jerks away. “Nonsense. I don’t… I don’tglow!” She giggles hysterically.
“That sounds like a lie, Spitfire.”
“No, it doesn’t! It’s not your concern who I’m dating!” She clicks her tongue and adds quickly, “Ornotdating!”
I smirk. Her flustered reaction tells me I’m close. Once I have a name, I’ll get the competition out of the way and then she’ll want Jax back.
“Who is it?” I press.
“Nobody!”
I give her arm a playful nudge. “C’mon, tell me.”
“Fuck off!” she spits and pulls away.
Nowshe sounds angry. Madder than a wet hen would be a more fitting description.
“Hailey, I didn’t mean anything by it! I was just teasing you.”
The mattress bounces violently before the light comes on. She scowls at me as she gets up to put on her boots and wraps a red shawl from her bag around her shoulders.
“My love life is not your concern!” Hailey grabs her clutch from the bedside table and points it at me like a gun. “Now I’m going for a stupid mental health walk to clear my head and when I come back, you’d better be asleep or our truce is off!”
She takes the keycard from the table and rushes out, the door slamming behind her.
I jump out of bed and race to my bag. Knowing my stubborn Spitfire, I came prepared in case she needed some extra convincing.
