Page 51 of Right Number, Wrong Man

HAILEY

The morning after the wedding, I drive home at first light. It feels like I’m floating through dense fog.

Like last night didn’t happen.

Like I didn’t get my heart broken.

Like Andrea didn’t stop me in the lobby, sobered up by the blood on my nightdress. She should’ve been mad at me for ruining her party, but of course, she understood when I blurted out what happened. Of course, she hugged me and told me to get some rest.

But I couldn’t sleep a wink in the cozy hotel bed. It felt too empty without Colt and every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was him bleeding out on a stretcher.

Not to say he didn’t deserve to get shot. He did.

It’s payback for the pain he put me through, because even though I didn’t take a bullet, my chest hurts like I did. Like he cut me open and ripped something from me, leaving me hollow.

Andrea texts me from the airport, but I tell her that I need some space and wish her a nice honeymoon. I hole up in my apartment with the curtains drawn, eat ice cream, and watch all the Wraithface movies in a row.

My phone lights up with calls from Colt until I turn it off. He doesn’t leave voicemails and I wouldn’t have listened to them, anyway, but a tiny part of me is glad to know that stupid liar didn’t bite the dust.

I just have to wait things out until he leaves me alone forever. That’s what I want, right? It’s what I told him.

I should let him disappear.

No more lies. No more fights.

But my chest tightens every time I think about Colt packing his stuff and I hate myself a little more for it. I hate him , too. For making me believe in the once-in-a-lifetime love you see in the movies, just to take it from me again.

On the second day, my doorbell rings at noon.

I don’t open. I don’t even look through the peephole. Holding my breath, I stand by the door, listening as slow steps fade down the hallway.

When I peek outside, I find a bouquet of gorgeous pink peonies on my doormat. I snatch it up and rush back into the apartment.

There’s a white card in the middle and I recognize Colt’s handwriting from labeling on the film rolls. My brows draw together. Did the stubborn bastard discharge himself from hospital to buy flowers and deliver them to me?

My pulse stutters as I read the card.

One flower for each year I’ve loved you in secret. I wanted one for each day, but that came out to exactly 5512 peonies and the florist said they wouldn’t fit through the hallway .

I’m so sorry for everything. For the lies. For being a coward. For letting Mike have you. For the pain I caused.

But I’ll never be sorry for loving you.

I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just want you to know that everything I did—even my mistakes—was born of my affection for you.

I miss you. Gracie misses you, too.

There’s a tiny paw print next to his signature, and I don’t want to smile, but I do. Tears run down my cheeks as I put the flowers into a vase and center them on the kitchen table. I sit, turning the card over in my hands, staring at the pink petals until night falls.

On the third day, I distract myself by scrolling through movie news when I get an order confirmation email from a food delivery app. Green curry from my favorite Thai restaurant, an iced raspberry macchiato, muffins, and basic groceries. Meat, veggies, and snacks for at least a week.

There’s an order note, too.

You got every right to be mad at me, but don’t punish yourself by starving. Yeah, I’ve been watching and I know you haven’t gone out for groceries. Sue me.

I throw my phone on the sofa, but the edges of my anger soften ever so slightly.

Ignoring Colt would be easier if he wasn’t this sweet, but he can’t even do that for me, can he? He can’t just be a dick. No, he has to apologize and send gifts and be cute. I can’t tell if I hate or love him more for making it so hard to get over him.

On the fourth day, a letter is pushed through under my apartment door. My hands trembling, I stand in the hallway holding it for God knows how long. Maybe hours. Then I grab a lighter from the kitchen, march to the bedroom window, open it, and give the middle finger toward Colt’s apartment.

Bawling, I set the envelope on fire and throw it out onto the street. Unopened.

The fifth day is quiet.

The sixth is limbo.

On the seventh day, Andrea’s name pops up on my phone, but I let her call go through to voicemail. I appreciate that she wants to be there for me, I’m just not ready to talk yet.

A few minutes later, I get a text from her.

Andrea

Omg Hails, you have to see this!

Me

I’m busy wallowing in my misery. And shouldn’t you be busy enjoying your honeymoon?

Andrea

I am enjoying it! But they have internet and phone lines in Italy, too, you know?! Am I not allowed to check on my bestie?

Me

That’s sweet but I’m okay.

Andrea

I gave you space like you asked and I’ll give you more if you need it… but first I have to show you so mething.

Me

What could be more important than gorging yourself on wine, pasta, and gelato? And you know… your new husband?

Instead of an answer, she sends a link to a picture—a social media post from one day ago—and my eyes nearly pop out of their sockets at the like count.

120k likes for the front of an old movie theater? But it’s not any random movie theater.

It’s the Retro Reel .

We normally announce movies on the marquee, but not today. Up there, in big, fat letters and surrounded by colorful lights, is my name. And not just my name, either.

It’s a whole message for me.

Hailey, I’m sorry. I’ll leave you alone like you asked, but my heart will always belong to you. As long as I live, you’ll never be unloved. You’re my first love and you’ll be my last.

My mouth dries.

He’s giving up. He’s really leaving like I told him to.

I run to the bedroom window and the curtains whoosh past my face as I rip them open.

It’s true. Right there, for everyone to see, is Colt’s viral love confession. A small group of people stands in front of the theater, taking pictures and videos of the marquee.

My phone rings again. It’s Andrea and I pick up.

“Girl, what are you doing?” her voice booms in my ear.

I stammer, untangling my tongue. “What do you mean?”

“Why aren’t you with Colt right now?”

My eyes fill with tears. “I told you why! Were you too drunk to remember? He lied and pretended to be Jax, the masked guy I was hooking up with!”

Andrea laughs. “So, he’s great in bed and he cares about you. You mean to say he’s literally the perfect man for you?”

“And a liar!”

“Well, did you ask him why he lied?”

My eyes roll. I already know what she’s going to say when I tell her. “Because he thought I hated him and he was afraid of losing me if I knew the truth.”

Andrea hums smugly. “Did you talk to him since your fight?”

“No... I ignored his calls, his card, and his letter.”

“That explains the massive, lit up love confession. Did you read the comments on the post?”

I sigh. “Hold on.”

I open the app again and tap on the comment icon. My heart pounds faster the more I read.

I don’t know what he did, but he deserves a second chance!

Fck, I’ve never felt so single… When is it my turn?!

He seems truly sorry. I hope she talks to him.

If she doesn’t want him, I’ll happily change my name to Hailey lol

God, I see what you’ve done for others. I pray that this kind of love finds me, too.

If you ask me, that Hailey woman is an idiot for rejecting him.

I sniffle and raise the phone to my ear again. “Am I an idiot?”

“Listen, I’d be mad about the lies, too, but he had a good reason to protect his brother. And as Jax, he just didn’t want to lose you. Can you blame the man for being crazy in love? I mean, has he ever been unreliable before? Did he ever lie before?”

“Not that I know of. Just about the prank and being Jax.”

“Then yes, you’re an idiot,” Andrea quips.

A heavy sigh rushes from my lips. “Fuck. ”

“It’s not like everything is lost, Hails.”

“No, it’s done because I told him to leave town!”

“How about you talk to him instead of jumping to conclusions?” Andrea suggests.

“And what if he doesn’t want to talk to me?”

“Don’t do that thing where you stand in your own way because you’re afraid of being vulnerable,” she scolds softly. “The man has been into you since he was a boy and he literally declared his everlasting love for you to the whole world . He’ll talk to you.”

I rub a palm across my face. “If he breaks my heart a second time, I’ll hold you responsible.”

“Sure, but I think you’ll be thanking me during your wedding speech.” Andrea giggles. “Colt is a good guy. Those years of pining just messed with his head and his moral compass. He made mistakes, but he deserves another chance. Now stop overthinking. Go get your man, Hails.”

She hangs up so I can’t talk back. Smart idea. If she didn’t, I’d rope her into a two hour discussion, trying to find excuses for myself. It happened before over more mundane things.

I trot into the bathroom and turn on the shower. While I peel off the gross pj’s I’ve worn for the past days and untangle my messy hair, my thoughts circle around Andrea’s words.

My man, huh ?

The mirror is already fogged up when I step into the shower. Hot water hits my skin and goosebumps ripple in waves across my body.

I’ve ignored and hated Colt for half our lives, but he’s still crazy about me. I can’t imagine the pain he went through, hiding his feelings and seeing me in his brother’s arms.

The bad shit he’s done—the lies and the deceit—it was all for me. It was out of love.

Plus, he did save me from a serial killer, and though he never said it directly, I’m positive he committed murder for me when he took care of The Eyesnatcher.

That’s a pretty big deal.

I suppose the least I owe him is a conversation… and maybe an apology for shooting him.