Page 43 of Reckless Storm (San Francisco End Game #3)

Hayley

M outh agape, I stare at the TV, alone in my hotel room, stunned as tears prick my eyes.

They lost.

Storm lost their final playoff game and I’m on the other side of the goddamn world when Reed really needs me. Twenty-four hours before I’m due to fly home.

My phone buzzes on the desk beside the bed, and I dive across the mattress to check it, crying out when my wrist hits the wooden edge.

My heart pounds as I check the screen, desperate to speak to Reed. But of course it’s not him. It’s Amelia. Reed’s barely even walked off the field.

Amelia: They lost, Hayls. They lost

My stomach sinks as the reality of the loss sinks in.

Hayley: I’m watching and I feel sick. I’m not there, Amelia. I should be there. What do I do?

I picture Amelia’s soft smile as she types her response, and I know before I’ve even received it that she’s going to say it’s fine. But it’s not. It’s far from it.

Amelia: Reed understands, if that’s what you’re worried about. You can’t beat yourself up over this. Who knows, maybe Bria will step up and reach out?

Bria? I groan and immediately curse myself for reacting that way. I should want Bria to step up. I should be hopeful of that, for Reed’s sake. Because deep down, it’s what he wants. I have a strong sense that he’s in denial about his feelings, hoping it will help him move on.

And if that’s the case, I’m terrified she has the power to hurt him even more.

She had her chance.

When Reed told her about us, that was her time to step up, to show herself as the true best friend she always claimed to be.

But she failed. She pulled back the second their friendship stopped going the way she wanted it to go.

She’s supposed to support him through everything .

She should be the one picking up the pieces.

We shouldn’t be questioning if she’s going to reach out.

She should be there. On the sidelines. Ready .

She should have always been doing that.

Hayley: If she doesn’t? Can you give him a hug for me?

Amelia: Of course. We’re all here. We’ll make sure he’s okay

The tightness in my chest builds until I bite my cheek to shift the pain, finding it more comfortable to focus on the physical than the emotional. I can’t do anything from here. But when I get home, I’m going to make it up to him.

M y eyes roll into the back of my head, but I force myself awake. I’m almost at Reed’s. So what if I haven’t slept in the last eighteen hours. He needs me, and if I’m being honest, I need him too.

The second the Uber pulls up to the curb, I rush out a thanks and grab my bags, power walking up Reed’s driveway, knocking with the urgency I feel in my chest.

When I’m met with silence, I bounce on my toes and pray that he’s home. “Come on, come on, come on.”

A female voice calls out, and I freeze, a chill running through me as I instantly regret not giving him notice. I consider turning around, but in the short space of time before she gets to the door, I conjure up so many scenarios that I’m no longer worried. I’m livid.

We may be in a fake relationship, but we had rules and not fucking around was one of them. Just because I was on the other side of the world doesn’t—

“Hi. Can I help you?” A striking young woman opens the door, her long, dark hair pulled off her face, highlighting her sharp features and resting bitch face.

Her cruel dark eyes appraise me from tits to toes, and when she finally makes it to my face, she smiles coldly, undoubtedly registering my tired expression, marking me as harmless.

No competition.

But she’s wrong. I will stake my claim and slap a girl if I have to. Reed is mine, bitch. No one-night stand is going to—

“Hayls?” Reed calls out from the end of the hall, his voice full of wonder. “You’re home?”

He takes off in a slow jog, gently brushing past the woman without even glancing in her direction and pulling me into his arms. “Fuck, you’re a sight for sore eyes. I can’t believe you’re here.” He leans close and whispers in my ear, “Exactly when I need you.”

My brows furrow as he pulls back, but when Miss Thinks-she’s-better-than-me frowns, I smile.

“Who’s your friend?” I ask Reed and the woman scoffs.

“Hayley, this is my sister-in-law, Megan. Megan, this is my girlfriend, Hayley.”

Megan judges me again before her callous eyes widen. “You’re that actress.”

“I am.” I fake a grin, remembering that this woman and her husband are the only two people in the world that Reed can’t stand. Which means I can’t stand them on principle.

Reed hits me with a tight-lipped apologetic grin and I smile back, turning to the woman whose name I’ve already forgotten. “No offence, but were you leaving? I want some alone time with my man.”

She scoffs again before calling out for “Jace,” her voice whiny as another giant of a man steps into view. A guy that looks a hell of a lot like Reed, but also doesn’t. He’s more like the discount version of the great specimen standing before me.

“You’re not ready to go yet, are you, honey?” the bitch asks Reed’s brother, folding her arms over her chest as she grins my way.

“I said what I needed to say,” Reed cuts in before his brother can answer. “I’m not going to change your mind. Why bother staying?”

“Aww.” The woman fakes a pout and a little part of me wants to slap it off her face. “We were just getting started.”

Oh, hell no. Who does she think she is? “Sweetie,”—I put on my most innocent voice, gently squeezing her arm—“you say that like your opinion matters, and yet, you were the one that answered the door, all while the conversation continued without you.” I’m making baseless assumptions, but I roll with it, hoping she’s insecure enough to believe me.

“In fact, judging by your man’s bored expression, I’d say he’s not happy you called out just now. It’s men’s business. Am I right?”

“Fuck off,” Jace says, moving quickly down the hall to reach us. “Don’t talk to her like that. You little—”

“Get the fuck out of my house.” Reed’s booming voice echoes through the room and all eyes dart his way.

Silence ensues as he points to the door, and I smile proudly, watching as Jace and his wife pick their jaws up off the floor.

I think it’s safe to assume Reed usually keeps the peace.

“You are not welcome here anymore,” he continues, and this is yet another version of him that impresses me.

“I don’t give a fuck about your opinions.

I will be civil to you in front of our parents, but otherwise you are dead to me, and I wish they felt the same. Get out.”

Reed’s sister-in-law gasps while his brother scoffs, but before he can respond, Reed grabs his bag and tosses it outside, motioning for them to follow.

“Goodbye. Hope you have a safe trip.”

A laugh wants to burst out of me but I bite my lip to stifle it, holding my breath as I wait to see what they do.

And it catches me off guard when they do as he asked, sulking as they leave.

I step farther inside as they pass, and when they’re out of the way, Reed slams the door shut before stumbling back into the wall, his face in his hands.

“Fuck. I’m so sorry about that.”

“Sorry? That was beautiful.”

“What?” He huffs out an incredulous laugh and stands tall, his ashen expression lifting.

“How long have you wanted to stand up to them?”

“Forever.”

“How many times have you done it?”

“Just this once.” He lets out a grunt as he curses himself. “He gets me so worked up all the time and then… the way he spoke to you and… Fuck. I’m going to regret that.”

“Don’t. He deserved it.”

“I know.” He runs a hand through his hair, clearly worried. “Fuck. I know. But he’ll take it out on my parents.”

Shit . My stomach sinks as guilt consumes me. I didn’t think about that. “I’m so sorry. I should have kept my mouth shut. That’s never been my strong suit and—”

Reed steps forward, covering my mouth to silence me, pulling me into a hug. “What you said was perfect. I wanted them gone and they’re gone. I’ll make it up to my parents. They’re desperate to meet you, so maybe that will work.”

I smile at his reassurance, but can’t shake the pit forming in my stomach. I really need to stay out of other people’s business.

Starting tomorrow .

I’m already invested now.

“What did they want? Have they visited before?”

“Never. That’s not saying they’ve never been to California—or San Francisco for that matter. But they’ve never visited me. This one and only visit was my doing. I laid down a challenge and my brother accepted it. He’s never been one to let anything go.”

I raise a brow, impressed. “Call me intrigued.”

“My parents politely declined the vacation I gave them.”

“They what? Why?”

Reed opens his mouth to speak, but he doesn’t have to answer as realisation hits me. “Motherfucker. Your asshole brother.”

“ Yep . That’s why I invited him here. To talk to him about it.”

“Rightly so. But how did you get him to come?”

“They were in LA for work, so I wired him some money and told him if he used it to visit me, I’d wire him some more, telling him we needed to talk.”

“Wow. Okay.” My mind processes that and I laugh when a thought hits me. “Wait. He took your money?”

“He did.” Reed smirks.

“After telling your parents they shouldn’t?”

“Yep.”

My lips lift and I can’t hide my beaming smile as I pull him into another hug. “You’re brilliant.”

“You’re only just figuring that out?”

“Maybe.” I wink until I remember the brothers’ tension just now. “I’m guessing it backfired?”

“Nope.” Reed shakes his head. “They both listened and took the extra money, but they were assholes about it and I doubt they’ll change. I’m hoping it doesn’t matter though. It was only ten grand, but it should be enough for me to convince my parents they can do the same without feeling guilty.”

“How very civil of you.” I smile. “Not the way I would have handled it but I understand your approach.”

“If I could ensure they never saw a cent of my money, I would. But on the flip side, if I knew they’d fuck off and never see my parents again, and that my parents would accept that and be better off, I’d give my brother everything I’ve got.

Only it’s not that easy.” He huffs in disbelief and turns away from me, running a hand down his face.

“Enough of the bullshit.” He spins back around, his light-filled gaze meeting mine.

“You’re here. My Hollywood star is back. I want to hear all about it.”

“And you will.” I grin though it doesn’t reach my eyes, and when he notices, a bit of his light dims. “First,” I continue, my lips now curling into a sympathetic smile, “will you tell me about your family? About your past? I’m here to listen if you want to get it off your chest.”

And I kind of need to know .

A strained breath releases from the back of his throat as both his head and shoulders drop in resignation. “It’s a long story, Hayls.”

Lifting his chin, I stare into his weary eyes and wink. “Good thing there’s nowhere I’d rather be.”