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With a frown, he said, “I disagree.”
“That’s it?” I asked, incredulous. “You disagree?”
Slowly, he walked over to our bed and pulled back the covers on his side, sitting down. “I think it was a great idea for them to date.”
My eyebrows crept up my forehead. “You do?” How could he think that?
“I’ve never been prouder of Hayes than I have here lately. He’s put his heart on the line, thought consistently of someone else, communicated his feelings. I would be torn up too if I were in his shoes. The woman he loves is about to leave and didn’t even tell him.”
Fletcher lifted his legs under the covers and then tugged them up to his waist while I sat there in disbelief...
“He’s in love with her?” I asked. “Really?”
Fletcher nodded. “He’s so far gone, you’d need a map to find him.”
I frowned, trying to reconcile it in my mind. I knew Della said they exchanged I-love-yous, but I wasn’t sure Hayes understood what that meant in a romantic relationship. “But he ran out on her,” I finally said. “He found out the truth and didn’t fight for her to stay.”
“He held it together just long enough to fall apart,” Fletcher said, his voice raw. “You should have seen him out there. If they break it off, I don’t know if he’ll ever recover.”
My heart ached with guilt and regret. If this thing with Della and Hayes is something that lasts, I might have ruined my friendship and hurt my relationship with Fletcher’s family.
“I think I really messed up,” I admitted to him, tears pricking at my eyes. “I love Hayes, you know I do, but I just couldn’t believe he was in so deep, for real. And Della... she deserves the world.”
Fletcher scooted over, taking me under his arm. “It’s ironic, isn’t it?”
I rolled my head on his shoulder to look at him. “What is?”
“That your brother was so nervous about you and me dating because of my past. You were so mad at him, and yet...” He tilted his head at me.
“It’s different,” I argued.
He raised his eyebrows doubtfully.
I sighed. “Shit.”
He kissed the top of my head. “Let them sort it out. And then you and Della will have a chance to talk too.”
45
DELLA
When I woke up the next day after hardly sleeping, I really didn’t feel like going into work. But staying at home and stewing with nothing to distract me from what happened the night before sounded like torture.
I kept replaying the night in my mind—how close Hayes and I were. How happy I felt. And then the anguish in his voice. The way he shut all the softest parts of himself away from me, leaving only the rough stony edges I used to know.
My heart ached as I went into the office, wondering what our conversation tonight would bring. Was last night my first and last time with him in my bed? How could we move forward when he felt so betrayed by me? I couldn’t blame him for being upset and needing space. Putting myself in his shoes, I would have felt the same way.
I went back to the break area, making coffee for Edna and me, then brought it to her desk just in time for her to breeze into the office. Today she had on a pair of white capris, a teal-blue shirt and a gauzy neck scarf held in place with a golden brooch.
“Looking good,” I told her.
She smiled. “Look good, feel good.”
I dipped my head in acknowledgement.
“I sent that job description to a few candidates last night. I know they won’t be as good as you, but fingers crossed they’ll be half as good.” She set her purse down on a chair in the corner of her office and then sat at her desk. “See you for our huddle in fifteen?”
I nodded despite the painful twist of my heart. Time was running out for me to ask Edna to keep my job, but with any luck, I’d have more clarity tonight.