Page 205 of The Compass Series

AIDEN

I was officially losing my mind.

The mental war taking place in my head had been nothing but exhausting after running into Hailee over the past few days. And now seeing her emotional and covered in mustard in my room? Fuck me sideways, and just let me love you, Hailee Jones. Except don’t. Don’t let me love you.

See what I mean? I was going insane. I felt like a tug-a-war was happening between my emotions, and I had no control over them. I hadn’t felt so much in such a long time.

A part of me wanted to be able to forget what went down between us, but it was still so fresh in my mind, even after all these years.

Nip it in a bud? Bite me, Hailee Jones. Honestly, I’d probably like that.

I hated how great she looked. She was a more grown-up version of her always beautiful self.

Her hair was done up in micro braids that fell below her waist, and her skin still glowed in the sun without a drop of makeup.

She didn’t wear sweats like she did when we were kids.

Nope. She went with the much more form-fitting dresses and tight jeans that made her ass that much more apparent.

And even with the pathetic hate I had, my eyes still wandered.

My dick still twitched. If only my dick could’ve gotten the memo that Hailee Jones was off-limits, then I’d be a happy camper.

Hailee had a newfound confidence, too, that was new to me. She was more than comfortable in her own skin, and that was such a turn-on to me. I wished it hadn’t been, but seeing her authentically happy in her body, in her life made me proud of her. Even if I hated her.

Hated her. I wondered if that hatred would be real one day. It didn’t seem likely. My stubborn heart still beat for her.

I tried my best to shake off my nerves when Mom texted to request I bring her some baked bread for dinner that evening. She sent me the address, and the moment I arrived, I stood in front of the storefront in a state of shock.

Hailee’s Bakery.

Because of course, my mother sent me to the Jones’s bakery for a few loaves of sourdough.

Why was I starting to think Mom had her own motives for sending me out for bread?

I walked inside to find Penny behind the counter, ringing up a customer’s order.

She looked up at me when she finished, and the biggest smile fell against her lips.

A smile that was identical to her daughter’s.

“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Hollywood himself,” she said, walking from behind the countertop. “I hope you have a hug to offer up.”

I pulled her in for an embrace. Penny’s hugs always felt like fresh baked cookies on a Sunday morning. I didn’t know how much I’d missed her hugs until that very moment.

She pulled back and patted my cheeks with her hands. “You’ve grown up a bit. Facial hair and all.”

I chuckled a little and rubbed the stubble against my chin. “I should probably shave soon.”

“Don’t. It looks good on you.” She walked back around the counter and rubbed her hands together.

“Your mother told me you’d be stopping in to pick up her order.

I have it all packaged and ready to go. Let me run in the back and get it.

” When she came out, she had a brown paper bag wrapped with yellow ribbon and a sticker with their logo on it.

“How much is it?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Friends and family discount. It’s on the house today.”

“Penny, I can’t let you?—”

“You can, and you will, young man,” she ordered.

I smiled and looked around the shop. “It’s good to see you guys doing so well. The shop looks amazing. I’m happy for you and Karl. I know how long this dream has been in the works for you both.”

She glanced around with a smile filled with pride. “It’s not much, but it’s ours.”

“Trust me, it’s a lot. It’s more than most people could ever dream up.”

She crossed her arms and kept giving me that gentle grin. I didn’t know smiles could feel like home. “How are you, sweetheart?”

“Me? I’m alright.”

She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “How are you, sweetheart?” she asked again.

I couldn’t lie to her again.

“Yeah”—she nodded—“I sense that. You know, your mother worries about you. I do, too.”

“I guess that’s what mothers do.”

“It’s the hardest part of the job. Worrying about our babies.” She shifted in her shoes. “I heard you’ve crossed paths with Hailee since you’ve been back in town.”

I felt my body tense up at the mention of her. “We’ve had a few run-ins.”

“How did that go?”

“She didn’t tell you?”

“She did, but we all see situations from different viewpoints. I’d love to hear yours.”

I grimaced. “It hasn’t gone the greatest.”

“You two have a very strong history. It’s no surprise that your first interactions after all these years are a bit rocky. I hate to see you kids struggling through it.”

“Yeah, well, she made it clear as day all those years ago that she wanted nothing to do with me. It’s probably best I keep out of her way.”

“Oh, Aiden.” Penny shook her head and sighed. “You don’t really think my daughter wanted nothing to do with you, do you?”

“Of course, I do. She broke up with me.”

“Yes, but it wasn’t as if she wanted to. Her hands were tied, and your father made a very solid selling point when Hailee was dealing with her own issues, and?—”

“My father?” I asked, alert. “What do you mean?”

A look of shock found her eyes as she realized that I lacked a few key details in Hailee’s and my break-up. “Sorry. That was a slip of the tongue. You better get that order to your mom and?—”

“Penny,” I urged. “What are you talking about?”

She looked down at her hands and swallowed hard before speaking. “Your father asked her to stop seeing you. Hailee only told me after she had one too many drinks on her twenty-first birthday. She made me promise not to tell anyone, but my big mouth just let it slip.”

My dead heart found a few faint beats. “Why would he do that?”

“He figured it would damage your career after Hailee’s issues.

He thought you were focusing too much more on her than your own career, so he told her how selfish it was of her to stand in your way.

” She shook her head with defeat. “I’d never seen Hailee struggle so much with a decision, Aiden.

I need you to know that giving you up was the hardest thing she’s ever had to do.

She loved you more than you’ll ever know, and?—”

“My father did this? Told her to stay away?”

She frowned. “I didn’t mean to let that slip out, Aiden. I wouldn’t have told you if?—”

“Sorry, Penny, I have to go.”

“Aiden, wait.”

“Yes?”

She sighed before rubbing her hand against the back of her neck. “Hailee lives in the apartment right above the bakery.” She gestured toward the ceiling. “If you need to have another run-in with her.”

“Thank you.” I grabbed the paper bag and stormed out of the bakery. I felt sick to my stomach as I replayed Penny’s words repeatedly in my mind.

When I arrived at Mom and Dad’s place, I pounded on the front door. Mom opened it, giving me her wide smile. “Hey, sweetheart. I see you’ve got the bread?—”

“Where’s Dad?” I cut in, marching past her into their foyer.

“He’s in the kitchen. What’s going on?”

I didn’t reply to her as I headed through their house. The second my eyes spotted my father, I barked his way, “Is it true?”

He turned to see me with the same kind of smile that Mom had.

“Is what true?”

“About Hailee. Did you tell her to break up with me because it would’ve damaged my career?”

The smile evaporated from his face, and his eyes grew somber. That was enough of an answer for me.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked down to the floor before looking back up at me. “Now, listen, Aiden…”

Mom stood in shock. At least it appeared she wasn’t in on this bullshit. “That can’t be true, Samuel. You wouldn’t?—”

“He did.” I gestured toward my father, the man I trusted most in my life. The man who’d betrayed me. “Tell her what you did.”

He sighed and crossed his arms. “I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought having you involved with her while she was going through her own issues when your career was taking off would’ve been detrimental to your success.”

“You told Hailee to break up with him all those years ago?” Mom questioned, flabbergasted. “Sam, that broke his heart. You’ve watched it, too. How could you?”

“I was trying to do the right thing. You must understand, Aiden. I was doing what I thought was the best and?—”

“Fuck you,” I blurted out, rage building inside me as I realized what really happened between Hailee and me.

“Aiden, watch it. I’m still your father,” he ordered as if that meant anything to me anymore.

“No. You’re nothing to me.”

“Now, Aiden. Wait. We need to clear our heads before we say something we don’t mean,” Mom warned, trying to keep the peace, but there was nothing to be kept.

I loved Hailee.

I loved her to my core, and my father stepped in, thinking he knew better. Then he’d watched me be heartbroken over it for years, but he didn’t care because career-wise, I was at my best. Even if that meant my soul was dying.

I shook my head. “I mean everything I’m saying. I’m done with you. She was my world, and you convinced her to walk away from me. You forced her to close that door when she was already vulnerable, and then you kept that secret from me for years!”

“Aiden,” he pleaded.

“ I’ve been drowning !” I shouted as my voice cracked. Emotions overtook me as the realization settled into me more and more. “I’ve been drowning for years, lost and confused, and you could’ve pulled me up, but instead, you shoved me deeper under the water.”

He cussed under his breath.

Mom stepped toward me, but I held a hand up. “I can’t do this right now. I have to go.”

“Where are you going?” he asked.

I thought that was an easy enough question for him to figure out on his own, so I walked out and slammed the door behind me.

Where was I going?

To find her.