Page 27 of Reckless Storm (San Francisco End Game #3)

Reed

I t turns out, Hayley was right. Fake dating is not all that different from being her friend. Unless you count the fact that we’ve seen each other three times this week when it’s usually only once.

During our talk on Tuesday, we decided to wait until the weekend to go public. With Christmas coming up, it made sense to go shopping together, because that’s what couples do. Right? I mean, that’s what my parents used to do, so I figured all couples were like that.

As far as ideas go, it seemed like the easiest way to present ourselves to the world. We wouldn’t be making a statement or doing anything formal. It would be casual and relaxed. And it was the best idea we had.

Granted, it was the first and only idea we’d come up with, but it was a good one. At least, it was until we arrived at the mall and I remembered how much I hate shopping, especially around Christmas.

“Goddammit.” I take off my cap and run a hand through my hair, messing it up. “What was I thinking?”

“Come on, boyfriend,” Hayley grins as she links her arm through mine, giving me an encouraging tug. “Who should we buy for first?”

Someone bumps me from behind, and I rush out a sorry before pulling Hayley to the side of the walkway, waving apologetically when the guy looks back.

Hayley frowns, her eyes bouncing between me and the guy, watching as he walks away. “What just happened?” she asks curiously.

“What do you mean?”

“Some dick bumped into you and you apologized.” She points at me in case I don’t understand who she’s referring to.

“We were standing in the middle of the walkway, Hayls. It’s our fault.”

“So, it’s not the people?”

“What’s not?” I frown, confused.

“The reason it looks like your life is over.”

“Oh. No.” I huff out a laugh. “It’s the stress. What if I find the perfect gift but someone grabs it a second before I do, or a little kid stares at it longingly, having saved up his entire allowance to buy it for his special someone. Or what if I don’t find anything at all?”

“Wow.” Hayley bites back a smirk, taking a deep breath before she responds. “That’s… I don’t even know what that is.”

“That’s why I shop online.”

“Maybe so. But you’ve got me now, and I’m ruthless. How many people do you have to buy for?”

“Ahh.” I quickly do the math before relaying the information to Hayley, realizing happily that it’s not that many.

“My mom, my dad, my brother , his wife , and you.” I can’t help the mild disdain in my tone when I mention my brother and his girl, but thankfully, Hayley doesn’t say anything about it. Instead she focuses on herself.

“Me?” she questions, rocking back on her heels with a giddy smile.

“Of course.” I roll my eyes and Hayley laughs, giving my arm another tug, prompting me to start walking.

“So five people? That won’t be too hard. But…I didn’t know you had a brother.”

“I do. We don’t talk much, but he exists.”

Hayley pauses, spinning me to face her when I try to keep walking. “But you like everyone .”

“I never said I didn’t like him.” Although that’s the truth, he’s one of the few people I want nothing to do with. I frown thinking about the distance between us. The distance that’s been there since I was a kid.

Hayley’s previously happy expression falls and I hate that I did that. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, her voice soft.

“What for?”

“There’s a story there.” She releases my arm but grabs my hand as it falls to my side, giving it a squeeze. “I’m not going to push it, but please know that I’m here for you.”

“Thanks.” I smile reassuringly, hoping that will help ease her mind.

It’s not that I don’t want to talk to her about it, but now is not the time or the place.

And it’s a long, depressing story. I’d like to keep things happy and fun between us.

“How many presents do you have to get?” I change the subject.

“I have a few.” Hayley releases my hand, raising hers to her chin in thought.

“Amelia, Luke, Juliet, Paige, Isaac, and if I’m getting something for him, I should probably get something for his dad too, so add Easton to the list. Then there’s Keeley and Lainey, Thomas.

You, of course, I would have done that regardless, and on that note…

maybe I should get something for Bria. Right?

In case she does ‘welcome me into her life.’ Ooh, and my agent. ”

She looks up from counting on her fingers and I stare at her in shock.

“You buy for all of those people.”

“Yep.”

“What about your family?”

“I do that online and send it to them directly.”

“Of course.” I shake my head. Apparently I forgot that Hayley’s Australian. Not sure how that happened with her cute little accent constantly reminding me. “So…” It suddenly hits me that we could be here all day and I groan. Fuck . “Do you have any ideas for the hundred people you’re buying for?”

“Shut up. It’s not a hundred.”

“Well, it’s not five, like I have.”

“I’m curious about that.” Hayley’s brows rise in question. “You didn’t list Bria.”

“Good observation. I did not.”

“Why? I mean I listed her.” She frowns, crossing her arms over her chest, and honestly, it comes across as though she’s girl-coding me right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if the words “typical men” release under her breath.

“You did.” I bite back my laugh. “But you don’t have to get her anything either. Bria and I decided a few years ago that we wouldn’t do Christmas presents. Instead, we’d make a bigger effort for our birthdays.”

“Oooh. Okay. Okay.” She nods multiple times before shaking her head.

“Yeah…that’s not happening for us. In this relationship, we make an effort for all occasions.

Christmas, Easter, Birthday, Valentine’s Day.

Hell, I’m not opposed to exchanging gifts for Halloween. A cute little pumpkin mug or a candle.”

I rush out a low chuckle, grabbing Hayley’s hand as her excitement bubbles over. “Don’t ever change, Hayls. I love your energy. And rest assured…I’m taking mental notes. Next Halloween, I’m getting you a mug.”

She giggles and it lights up her features, confirming that we’re doing the right thing. If I can bring even an ounce of her spark back, it will all be worth it.

“This will be well and truly over by then,” she adds with a grin.

“Maybe so, but we’ll still be friends. That’s a promise.”

“I can’t wait.”

Since it’s mayhem at the mall, we walk around relatively unnoticed for the first hour or so of shopping. But when we break for lunch, the whispers start, followed by photos—that are not at all subtle—a few people approaching us, and it’s then we get the attention of an obvious paparazzo.

He tries to hide it at first, but when he has to move to get a better angle, he throws caution to the wind and stands in our direct line of sight, unapologetically getting his shots, making his money.

“How long do you think we have before that hits the media?” I ask Hayley, subtly motioning to the camera.

She snorts as she pointedly stares his way. “A day, if we’re lucky. An hour, if we’re not.”

“And you’re good with that?” There’s no going back after that.

“Of course I am.” She smiles brightly, tossing her long hair behind her shoulder before posing. “It’s all part of the plan. And in case you haven’t noticed, I look pretty damn amazing today.”

“I was going to mention that.” I nod appreciatively.

“Thank you.”

After shoving the last French fry into her mouth, Hayley jumps up and grabs my hand, pulling me to stand next to her. “Four presents down. Ninety-six to go,” she jokes with a wink. “We better get moving.”

“Who’s next?” I ask reluctantly, ready for this day to be over.

“Your parents. They should be a priority.”

“Uh.” I groan. “I have no idea what to get them this year.” Or any year for that matter.

“What do they want?”

“Grandkids.” The word shoots out of my mouth without thought and I burst out laughing. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I hear about it every time we speak, so it’s ingrained in my mind. I don’t expect us to give that to them.”

“Well, it’s impossible to arrange by Christmas, but we could definitely have fun trying.”

My airway closes and I choke, an unexpected image of a naked Hayley working its way into my mind. I slam my eyes shut, but that only works to strengthen the visual and damn …

“You’re thinking about it, aren’t you?”

“ Fuck , Hayley.” I groan under my breath. “You sure know how to mess with a guy’s head.”

“What did I do?”

“You know exactly what you did.” I shake off my thoughts and wrap an arm around her shoulder, directing her toward the store selling indoor plants. “This way.”

She pulls back with a frown, grounding me to a halt. “You are not giving your parents an indoor plant. Come on. Let’s get them a giant-ass TV.”

“They have a giant-ass TV.”

“A car?”

“I can’t give them a car.”

“Why? You can afford it.”

“It’s—” Fuck. I throw my head back and sigh. “It’s easier if I don’t. Subtle is best. Things that might cost a lot but aren’t in your face.”

“Are your parents too proud to accept things? Mine have asked me for a new house. As though I can already afford it.”

An incredulous chuckle bursts from within me and I subtly shake my head. “No. It’s not my parents. My brother causes trouble anytime I do something he considers ‘showy.’ It’s easier if I don’t.”

“Asshole.”

“Yep.”

“You know he’s jealous, right?”

“If only. It’s a lot more complicated than that.” My stomach sinks just thinking about it, but I smile through it, just like I’ve always done. “Can we take a raincheck on this conversation?” I ask, not wanting to dampen the mood.

“Of course. What about a holiday then? You could hand over a two-hundred-dollar travel gift card as well as an all-expenses-paid trip. They show him the gift card and pretend they booked the holiday themselves.”

Her idea pulls me up short and I seriously consider it.

If I could make that happen, it’s actually kind of perfect.

“I’ll chat with Mom about that one. A vacation might work.

” I wink, making a point of enunciating “vacation” and Hayley pokes out her tongue.

But joking aside, I’m grateful for the idea.

“Thanks, Hayls.” It sucks that I still have to be cautious even though he won’t even be there, but he’ll call on Christmas Day and it will be the first thing he asks. He always does.

“Anytime.” Hayley bounces her eyebrows at the use of my catchphrase, pulling me out of my head.

“Seriously, though, I appreciate it.”

“I know. You don’t have to thank me. In fact, I doubt you’ll want to after my next question.”

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

“What should we get for your brother?”

“A car?” I joke and Hayley laughs out loud, curling herself into my shoulder, giving me a side hug.

“Come on. I’ve got a better idea.” She smirks, directing me back to the indoor plants.

T wo hours later, Hayley’s panicked gaze bounces between a pink, frilly dress and a white one, deciding which to add to the other million things she’s already bought for Juliet.

She occasionally glances my way while I smile and nod, essentially no help at all.

We’re nowhere near finished with our Christmas shopping, but… I. Am. Done. After she makes this decision and the item is in her bag, I’m taking her home.

It’s another couple of minutes before she finally selects the pink dress and scurries off toward the counter.

I could let her go—we’d be done faster—but guilt hits me and I call out for her to stop.

“Go with the white,” I tell her. “You wanted that first and then talked yourself out of it. Go with your gut.” I’m not sure her indecisiveness is even about the dress, so the least I can do is help.

She frowns, glancing down at the tiny piece of material in her hands. “But white will be impossible to keep clean. She’s crawling.”

“True, but it’s adorable and nothing you buy is going to stay clean. You said so yourself. She’s crawling.”

“Okay. Yes.” Her eyes blaze with happiness and it makes my chest light.

“White it is.” She rushes back to get the white, flashing me a wide smile as she passes, and I feel significantly better.

I don’t usually run out of patience so quickly, but the sheer number of shoppers is doing my head in.

It’s like people can’t be civil anymore.

No one’s saying thanks or using any basic manners. It’s time to exit the building.

“Everyone else is getting cash in a card,” I tell Hayley as we’re walking toward the parking lot. “How do people do this all the time?”

She giggles, and it’s obvious from her expression that she’s judging me. “Would you believe some people find shopping fun? Therapeutic even.”

“Well, they are welcome to their opinions, but it’s not for me. Let’s go.”

“Wait.” She grabs my bicep, pulling me to a stop. “We didn’t get anything for each other.”

“I’m good. I have an idea.”

“You have?” Her lips part in a gasp. “What is it?”

“It’s…a surprise.” I wave my hands around with exaggerated excitement and she pouts.

“I hate surprises.” She jokingly crosses her arms over her chest. At least I hope she’s joking. “I’m an in-the-moment kind of girl, remember?”

“Too bad. So sad.”

Her eyes bulge in disbelief but she can’t hide her smile. “Too bad? So sad?”

“Yep.”

“Wow. I’m learning a lot about you, Reedy boy. And it ain’t all as pretty as advertised.” She gestures from my head to my toes with a sweeping motion and I chuckle.

“Too late to back out now. We’ve already been outed.”

“I can deny it. Throw around the ‘just friends’ tag.”

Ouch. I’ve heard that before. “You could. But then you’d have to find yourself another ‘golden boy’ and let me tell you, we are rare.”

Hayley suppresses her smile while I chuckle. “You’ve been spending way too much time with Luke,” she tells me. “His cockiness is rubbing off on you.”

I glance away, pretending to be lost in thought before faking a gasp. “You’re right. What was I thinking? I’m sorry, Baby,” I joke. “Please tell me how I can make it up to you?”

“You could tell me your present idea.” She hits me with a pleading grin, and a little part of me hates that I’m about to refuse her, until I remember that’s the entire point of gift giving.

“Not a chance. Come on. Let’s blow this joint.”

“Only if you carry my bags.” She hands over the one bag she’s holding and laughs to herself. I’ve been holding her bags all day. “Thanks.” She glances up at me like I’m her hero. “Let’s go.”