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“Care to enlighten me?”

“Hayden,” she clarified, and my cheeks turned warm.

“What about her?”

“She’s so into you.”

Chapter twenty-six

The Past Follows

Hayden

“Seeyoutomorrow,Vee!”Frankie called, waving as Vanessa got into her car and drove off.

She finished locking up, double and triple checking the locks and security system out of what looked like habit.

The sun was beginning to disappear behind the horizon, casting long, cool shadows stretching out to swallow up more and more of the city. Glancing around, I took a deep breath, relishing in the crisp breeze whispering through the buildings. I closed the last few feet between us, calling out to her as soon as I was close enough.

“Done for the day?”

My voice caught her off guard, but the warmth in her answering smile sent a pleasant thrill through me.

“Just locked up,” she answered, turning with her hands shoved deep in her pockets. “Out for a walk?”

I looked around, up into the few trees that had slowly turned amber in the dry heat. “It’s finally cool enough to walk without sweating through my eyeballs,” I joked. I swallowed a little before asking: “Want to join me?”

Her eyes widened a little and her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “Sure,” she said, walking towards me. Her steps were cautious, as if she wasn’t sure of herself.

I waited until she stood in front of me. “Wonderful.”

We fell in step together, the silence so different to what it once was. Where it was once tense, awkward, and charged, it was now calm. Comfortable.

As much as I wanted to hear her voice, hear about her day and everything that might have happened while I wasn’t there…

I was happy to just enjoy the warmth of her company.

I shook my head.

“Something on your mind?” she asked, her head tilted toward me. Her voice was quiet.

I frowned and lifted a shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. “Usually,” I admitted, mouth tugging into a smile. “But it’s boring stuff; I don’t want to darken the evening.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said flatly. “I’m not asking out of courtesy. If you want to talk about it, go ahead.”

“Really?” I smiled. “Usually people just ask because they’re expected to, out of social etiquette.”

“I’ve never really been great at taking social cues.”

“Lucky for me.”

“So, what is it?” she asked. “You don’t have to talk about it if you really don’t want to, but I don’t mind. Think of me as a free therapist.”

“I’ve been around for far too long to think anything is ever trulyfree.” I laughed. “What do you want in return?”

“Do I have to want something in return?”

I paused at that, unable to keep my eyes off her serene face. She meant it.