Page 105 of Blinded By Hate

“You and your stupid mind.” Brandon raises an eyebrow at me.

I chuckle. “My mind isn’t always stupid. It comes up with great stories.”

“My stories are better. Even Junior thinks so.”

I roll my eyes. “Junior will tell anyone anything to get what he wants.”

“True.”

Forty-Five

Hayden

Present

I’ve met millions of celebrities.

I’ve been in more than hundreds of fights in my life.

I even met my biological brother and grew a relationship with him.

But I’ve never been as nervous as I am right now.

Jaclyn told me she wanted to do this at her apartment.

She asked me what I wanted to do today with Junior. I first asked her what kind of stuff he likes and she told me he likes going to the aquarium a lot in Brooklyn.

So we’re all going to be going to the aquarium as a family.

Like we should have been all along.

I got in from Italy about five hours ago. I couldn’t sleep the entire flight because I was nervous as well for today.

Right when I got to my penthouse, I worked out and then took an hour nap before heading over to Jaclyn’s apartment.

We both live in Manhattan, probably a twenty to thirty minute walk yet I’ve never seen her around. I still find it crazy how she was right under my nose, she could probably see my penthouse from her apartment but we haven’t run into one another since the fight.

Yesterday, I was busy doing some stuff with Rowan and Killian. I wanted to come to New York with Jaclyn but Killian and Rowan said I should give her some time with Junior before tagging along.

But since Jaclyn told me everything about that night, I’ve been overthinking non-stop. I feel like shit knowing I’m the one who blamed everything on her when in reality, what she went through was something she couldn’t control. Her mind wasn’t in the right place and she couldn’t see me after everything that happened.

We both still need to talk about a lot of things, for one, the pills she’s been taking, why she’s barely eating, because I notice she isn’t, and then her mental health overall. But one thing at a time.

When she’s ready, she’ll tell me.

I knock on the door, hearing laughing from a familiar voice and then a little boy, coming from the other side of the door. The laughing stops and a few seconds later, the door swings open.

Jaclyn is wearing dark blue cotton shorts and a white tank top. My hands start to feel clammy instantly.

After not seeing her for two days, my mind feels calm suddenly. Another thing I’ve been worrying about since she told me about that night, was if she is in any danger.

I feel like I should be with her at all times to make sure she’s protected and safe.

I just want to make sure she comes back to me this time.

That’s why I hired a personal guard and driver for her because there's no way in hell I’m ever leaving her alone again, not making that mistake again. If I’m not there, I sure as hell am having someone with her, someone that I trust.

We haven’t really talked about that yet but it will be happening, especially now that I’m more involved in Killian’s world.