Page 110 of The Hallows Queen

Two and a half months later

Hayden:

I’m moving to California today. Carson is playing football for UCLA and I’m going with him. Say the word and I’ll come back. Call me. Please. I love you forever.

Chapter39

One year later

Hayden:

I relapsed today.

Hayden:

You posted on your Instagram, after a year and a half. You’re dating someone. Did we not mean anything to you?!

Hayden:

Please don’t love someone else.

Hayden:

I’m going to New York to go back to rehab. I’ll try to reach you again when I get out. I love you.

Chapter40

Hayden

Three years later

Ringingthe bell of Carson and Logan’s house in L.A., I balance the flowers I have for Logan in one hand and the present I have for Carson in the other. They leave next week for Carson’s first official game with the NFL, so the whole gang is getting together to have one final dinner before distance separates us.

I’m the last to arrive, of course, because being on time isn’t part of who I am.

When Logan opens the front door, she levels me with a look that screams sass. Her hair is curled, and she’s wearing a dress that hugs her body, but her feet are bare.

“You’re late.” She narrows her golden eyes at me.

I hold up the flowers in my hand. “Yeah, but I brought you sunflowers.”

She holds back a smile, stepping to the side and holding the door open. “Come in, everyone’s in the living room.”

I kiss her on the cheek as I pass her, and she takes the flowers from my hand. “Don’t leave me. Let Carson go by himself.”

She laughs, smacking me on the shoulder. “And let him take care of himself? He won’t last the season.”

I chuckle, and she closes the front door before she follows me through the house to the living room.

Levi and Carson are on the couch, both holding bottles of beer and laughing over whatever they’re talking about. When Logan and I walk in, they turn their heads to look at us.

“What’s up, man?” Carson says, and they both stand up to greet me. After I’ve clapped hands with both of my best friends, Logan clears her throat to get our attention.

“Can we eat?” she says, leaning against the doorframe.

We all follow her to the dining room, which she has littered with candles, and find our seats at the table. Logan goes around, setting plates in front of us and bringing me a glass of water before she sits down next to where Carson is at the head of the table.

“This is nice.” She sighs, taking a drink of her beer. “One last family dinner.”

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