Page 33 of Behind the Cascades
"You look like shit." Olivia says with a grin, teasing me.
I roll my eyes, but still laugh. I have no doubt I look rough right now. No makeup, hair thrown in a messy bun, and my shirt already has a coffee stain.
"Couldn't sleep."
"Anything to do with a certain someone that you mentioned may be home soon? I'm waiting for the day he shows up and swoops you out of this office."A thought I've fantasized about a million times.
"I talked to Connie yesterday. They'll be in Heartsville sometime today."
Olivia's smile falters. "Are you going to call them? Or is she going to tell them?"
"I told her she could tell them if they asked, but that we should all take some time to digest the situation."
"Do you think they'll do that? They don't exactly seem like 'wait and see' kind of guys."
I shake my head and then shrug my shoulders as I throw the contents that spilled out of my purse back into it. "You know what? Not my problem. I'm safe here. If they want to waste their time trying to find me instead of being patient foronemonth, then that's on them."
Her mischievous grin lights up her face. "Well, I hope he decides to pull his head out of his ass and come riding in on that white horse with the biggest apology known to mankind."
"Ugh. Me too. Even though I'm pissed and want to make him suffer."
Olivia knows everything—all my struggles. How much I still love Hayes. How annoyed I am at Drew for ignoring me. How scared I am that things won’t go back to normal. She's a best friend through and through. There to talk shit about them when I need it, push back when I'm too irrational in my feelings, but no matter what, she always has my best interests at heart.
"Nothing wrong with making him sweat it out a bit. But I know how much you love him and how much time has already been lost. Whatever you decide, I've got your back."
"He may not even ask about me and all of this stress will be for nothing."
She scoffs in my direction but continues to type on her computer. "I bet the first thing he asks about is you."
One can only hope.
“Doesthis bring up any of the Carter stuff? I know you’ve tried to bury the situation down deep but I can only imagine how Hayes being back will resurface it all.”
My stomach churns at the thought. “Yeah. Everything is officially coming to a head. Carter’s probably lucky he’s in prison. Two trained snipers with a vendetta and he’d be dead within twenty four hours of them getting back.”
One of her shoulders raises slightly as she nonchalantly says, “Probably wouldn’t be a bad thing in that creeps case.”
Agreed, Liv. Agreed.
Chapter Twenty-One
Hayes
The smell of fresh cinnamon rolls mixed with bacon hits my nose as I open the door to my mom's house.
"Ma!" I bellow as she comes out of the hallway.
Drew shoves me from behind, trying to get to Mom first. I hook my left leg around his right before he can, though, effectively tripping him.
I throw my arms around my mom, pulling her into me while she laughs. "Missed ya, mom!"
Drew takes her from me and plants a kiss on her cheek. "But I missed you more." We've always been like this, pretending to fight to be my mom's favorite.
"Come on, boys! You two are as thin as a fiddle string." She brings us into the kitchen and shows off the entire feast she's made. Sausage links, patties, and bacon fill up an entire tray. Scrambled and fried eggs rest on another. Waffles, hash browns, cinnamon rolls, and muffins are placed throughout.
"You invite the neighborhood?" Drew asks mom incredulously.
"Nope, just know how much you two can eat, and I haven'tbeen able to cook for anyone for a while. I was too excited this morning to sleep, so I made all your favorites!"
