Page 60 of Latte Girl
“The entire world thinking you’re involved with someone else doesn’t have any effect on you and me?” she demands. “Does the way I feel about this even mattertoyou?”
“Of course it does! Please, Hailey, believe me when I say that the thought of hurting you rips meinhalf.”
She turns away from me and pulls her pants on. I stand there in silence, knowing all my words are falling short of the mark. When she faces me again she’s fully dressed, her hair still hanging downherback.
“Did you know about this all along? Was being with me just a way to rebel, a bit of fun before theinevitable?”
“No! I only found out a few days ago,” I protest, stepping towards her. “You were never just a bit of fun, Hailey. You make me feel—” I search the room, as if I’ll find what I want to say tacked onto one of the walls. “You make me feel like I can be better,” Ifinish.
Now she’s the one who won’t meet my eye. I stay where I am, hardly daring to breathe as she stares down at her feet. She still hasn’t put her shoes backonyet.
“So be better,” is her quietreply.
She looks up at me and whatever she sees in my face, whether it’s the hesitation, the pain, or the outright fear I feel racing in my veins right now, it’s not what she needs to make her step forwards intomyarms.
“I know I said I understood making your parents happy, but I have to draw a line somewhere, and if you do this, you’ll becrossingit.”
My heart drops through my stomach as she gives her ultimatum. I have to make herunderstand.
“It’s not just about making them happy. It’s...mymom,she—”
A lump forms in my throat, swallowing up the rest of mysentence.
“Tell me,” Hailey pleads. “I don’t care how bad it is. Just stop hidingfromme.”
I give her the most honest answer I’m capable of right now. “I don’t know ifIcan.”
She starts pulling her shoes on, her face now hidden behind a curtain of hair as she bends down to tug them over herheels.
“Hailey,please.”
I go to her, not knowing what else to do. She flinches when I put my hand on her shoulder and I draw it back. When she straightens up her blue eyes glisten with tears she hasn’t let fall, but underneath the shiny filmthey’rehard.
“I want you, Jordan, but I want the real you. Come find me when you’re ready tobehim.”
My hands hang uselessly at my side, neither they nor my words able to stop her as she picks up her apron and steps towards the door. When she pulls it open, the two of us jump at the sight of the man just reaching up a hand toknock.
“Hailey?” hegasps.
