Page 134 of When the Storm Breaks
Like the lake.
Like an ending.
Haiyden hasn’t looked at me once since we pulled out of the lot. He sits rigid, elbow braced on the door, eyes locked on the passing streets. Like he’s already somewhere else.
I don’t even realize how hard I’m gripping the wheel until I see the leather imprinted onto my skin.
I have to say something.
“What happened with Tyler, Haiyden?”
His hand twitches against his knee. Just barely. Like he knew thiswas coming.
He shifts, dragging a rough hand down his face, exhaling like the question physically exhausts him.
“I told you—he came to the bar.”
“And?”
He flexes his fingers, stretching and curling them again. “And I handled it.”
I shake my head, heat rising under my skin. “That’s not an answer.”
His jaw tightens. “Calla…”
His voice is low. Tense.
A warning.
I ignore it.
“What did he say?”
Haiyden’s head drops back against the headrest. His fingers tap restlessly against his thigh. He lets out a laugh, but it’s hollow. Flat. A sound with no humor, only frustration.
“It’s always about fucking Tyler, isn’t it?”
The venom in his voice stuns me.
My heart whines. I go still.
“What?”
His fingers dig into his thigh, knuckles pale. “Jesus, Calla, I’m not doing this.”
Something inside me snaps. I turn to him fully. The car veers slightly, but I don’t correct it right away.
“What. Did. He. Say?”
Haiyden exhales hard, his head lolling toward me, eyes flat—done with this conversation before it’s even started.
But beneath the anger, something’s fraying.
His voicedrops—cold, mocking.Mean.
“I. Handled. It.”
He’s trying to hurt me first.
