Page 98 of The Hallows Queen

“What’s next, hmm?” his father continues. “Will you be buying a car for your orphan friend?”

Hayden stands up, pushing his chair out so hard that it falls behind him. “Don’t act like you know the things I do, Dad. Your assistant probably saw the charge and mentioned it to you, I know it’s too much hassle to check in on your fucking son, you may actually have to speak to him if you do.”

“Such adult words for a boy who acts like a child. Running around the beach with foster kids, getting tattoos from your gangbanger cousin, having affairs with your teachers,” his father coos softly, making my stomach drop. “I know a lot more than you think I do, son, and you’d be wise to show me a little bit of respect unless you want to be out on your ass without a penny to your name. You are eighteen now, after all.”

Hayden’s fists clench at his sides, and I stand up to step between them, putting my hands on Hayden’s chest. “Let’s just go, okay?”

His gaze finds mine for a moment before it travels over my head once more. “Good to see you, Dad. Pick up the bill for us, will you?”

He slides his hand in mine, then starts dragging me through the restaurant until we’re out the front doors. My back is sweating, and my chest is heaving for fresh air, but none of it matters. I rush Hayden and grab his arms. “Are you okay?”

He pulls from my hold. “I’m fine.”

“Hayden…” I say, stepping toward him again.

“Don’t.” He steps back so I can’t reach him. “We need to go meet Travis and Olivia at Savage.”

“Why don’t we just go back to the hotel, H?” I suggest, and he shakes his head.

“I told you; I’m not letting him ruin our evening. Please, let’s just forget this ever happened and try to have a good time with Travis before we have to go home tomorrow.”

I nod, holding my hand out. “Let’s go, then.”

He slides his fingers between mine, then we start walking back uptown to find the club where we’re meeting Travis and Olivia.

* * *

If there’sone thing I know about Hayden Monroe – it’s that he’s ahurricane.

Out of nowhere, he picks up speed and destroys everything around him. Any moment with him can quickly turn deadly, and I should have known the exchange with his father would trigger anepisodeof Hurricane Hayden.

It doesn’t matter who’s in his path when he gets like this. Anyone is fair game for destruction.

Savage is nothing like our familiar club back home, Amethyst. It’s massive, the entire room electric. The lights hanging over our heads are constantly changing colors to the beat of each song, and there’s easily 500 people plastered together on the dance floor. Travis and Olivia have been dancing for a while, rolling their bodies together and getting lost in each other’s embraces on the middle of the dance floor, and I’m standing next to Hayden at the bar while he dances and laughs and swallows down shots of tequila.

He'sfunHayden now, but I’m vividly aware that, at any moment, he could flip the switch. That’s why I’m nursing the same Jack and Coke I’ve had since we got here – because if something happened to him, I would never forgive myself.

I lost count after his tenth drink, and now I’m just standing by his side and letting him self-destruct.

Maybe it’s how he’s going to get through the conversation with his father, maybe it’s what he needs to feel okay. I don’t know. I’m exhausted.

I kiss Hayden on the cheek, pulling his body against mine. “You wanna get going soon, H?”

He nods, taking another shot. His voice is slurred and unrecognizable when he responds, his breath hot against my ear. “Yeah, baby, whatever you want.”

I squeeze his waist. “I’m just going to grab Travis and let him know we’re leaving, okay?”

He simply nods again, his eyes fluttering as he dances mindlessly to the popular trap song that’s shaking the building. I sigh as I make my way through the crowd, hoping Hayden will be okay by himself, eyes wide as I look for Travis and Olivia.

I spot them in the center of the room, and when I reach them, I stand on the tips of my toes to shout into Travis’s ear. “I’m going to take him back to the hotel.”

Flicking his eyes over my head to look at Hayden, he shakes his head in disappointment. “Text me later so I know he’s fucking alive.”

“I will,” I shout, hugging him, then Olivia, then I make my way back to Hayden.

“Ready, H?” I ask, and he grabs my arm.

“I love you, P,” he slurs, his red eyes finding mine. “You know that?”

---