Page 123 of Take My Name
And I know it’s only been a week since Warren and I have been going on these “dates” but being back here has reminded me to slow down. Enjoy life again.
Minus the chickens currently chasing after me.
“Stop runnin’!” Warren calls out, but he’s crazy if he thinks I’m going to stand around and let them get me.
I’m not sure which one I pissed off, but she didn’t like Warren kissing me. The moment he did, she came after me and I booked it.
The gate is closed, so I quickly open and shut it behind me once I’m on the other side.
My heart’s beating out of my chest as I try to catch my breath.
“Maze…” Warren stands on the opposite side of the fence and I swear he’s laughing at me. “They’re not gonna hurt you.”
“That one wanted to…” I point to the one trying to peck its way through the chicken wire to get to me.
“They’ll get used to you.”
I give him a look like he’s insane for thinking I’m ever willingly going back in there.
“They’re possessive of you in some weird chicken kinda way.” I walk backward toward the house. “I’m goin’ where it’s safe.”
He pinches his lips like he’s holding back. “Gimme a few and I’ll meet you inside.”
I wash my hands as soon as I’m in the kitchen and wait for my racing heart to slow down. As I dry them off, a text alert pops up on my phone. I never replied to Hayes’s last messages because it was right before Bodie told me about Warren, and I haven’t figured out how to respond.
Hayes
Hi, darling. I know you must be upset with me or maybe you just need time with everything going on, but I wanted to make sure you knew how much I miss and love you. I’m so close to writing the end of this book and I can’t wait to celebrate with you and spend quality time together.
My stomach drops.
I have conflicting feelings about our conversations from this past week. To finding out he hired a PI, to him knowing I was married this whole time, to proposing to push me to get a divorce, and then the back and forth of saying I needed to make a decision or he’d make it for me but that he’d fight for me.
It’s a lot.
But I don’t have room to complain when I didn’t exactly tell him the truth either.
We’re both at fault.
Not really a way to start a marriage.
I’m still wearing my engagement ring because it feels weird to take it off after all this time. Not because I’m doubting my decision, but I need to give it back when I see him in person.
Assuming he won’t chuck it at my head.
These new circumstances have me thinking about my favorite book even more since Warren asked me about it. How one decision or chance meeting can change everything and it’s not always about the choices you make, rather the ones you don’t, that can haunt you.
Maisie
Glad to hear your book’s almost done. I have a lot to say, but I prefer to do it face-to-face when you come here.
Hayes
That’s fine. I can’t wait to see you.
There’s no way to respond to that, so I don’t. I lock my phone and set it down on the counter.
If I didn’t keep most people at arm’s length, I’d have girlfriends to talk to about this. Most of my friendships from my industry are surface-level. We talk shit mostly, but it rarely turns personal. Even if it did, I probably wouldn’t share much anyway. One of my biggest fears was people associating me with my parents’ money and assuming everything got handed to me instead of putting in the hard work to get where I am. Their financial support helped, but it’s not why I’m good at my job.
