Page 28 of Blinded By Hate

“I have work.” I smile back. “I won’t be able to.”

Not to mention I won’t be with Junior.

And the thought of that alone scares the shit out of me.

Since I had Junior, I’ve been with him every single day. There hasn’t been one day where I was without him.

“Tell your boss that you are going on a business trip. It will be for research purposes. You can tell her that you are going to Hayden Night's wedding, the famous world champion boxer, and you will get an interview with him and details about everything. Your boss won't say no to that and I'm sure my brother will happily accept.” Natalia gives me a mischievous smile that I know means bad news.

Jules has been pissed off with me lately and if I tell her about this opportunity she will without a doubt let me go.

One big con is just seeing Hayden.

Why the hell would I want to say ‘yes’ to go and see him?

That’s screaming for trouble.

But my heart can’t help but say yes.

So like a fool, falling I say, “Yes.”

Thirteen

Jaclyn

Past

Hayden’s friends from high school invited us over to the club that Hayden used to fight at.

Thanksgiving dinner was tense. When I found Hayden standing in front of a broken mirror with glass on the floor, I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head on his back while he begged me not to leave. He told me if I stayed with him any longer I’ll get hurt, and with Hayden I know I will.

But I don’t care.

I love him.

I can’t express how in love with Hayden I am. It almost scares me how much I love him. He told me that he knows he will mess up and there will be ups and downs but as long as he has me, he’ll be okay.

It’s like I’m his armor, the only thing to protect him, when in reality he is the one who is protecting me.

He was vulnerable with me that night. He’s never been vulnerable or expressed his feelings or concerns to me. It meant a lot that he did that.

Today when we were at the mall he saw his friend as we were walking out of the store and he invited us to the club that Hayden used to fight at.

Lately, Hayden hasn’t been fighting much. He is hiding something from me though. I know he is because sometimes when I ask to hangout he says he is busy and doesn’t explain. I can’t help but think it has to do with Marco, even though Hayden assured me that everything is fine.

I know when Hayden is hiding things and I can’t help but worry. My overthinking has been going into overdrive because of everything he isn’t telling me. I can’t help the thoughts of cheating running through my mind even though I know he would never do that.

“Stay close,” Hayden whispers in my ear, bringing me back to the present. He holds onto my hand tightly as we manage to pass through a crowd of dancing people in the club. The song “I Wanna Be Yours” by The Arctic Monkeys is blasting throughout the club. This club looks similar to the one in Arizona. A bar on the side, a fighting cage in the middle, tables, and a dance floor off to the other side. “If you need to use the restroom, tell me so I can go with you.”

“Why?” I ask loudly.

“Because I don’t want to leave you alone. Understand?”

I squeeze his hand twice and he kisses my forehead before looking ahead. Hayden brings us to the bar where we see the guy, Adam, from earlier today who invited us.

Natalia and Chris are grabbing us tables to sit at. Even though Hayden’s friends invited him, he said he’d rather stay with me, Natalia, and Chris.

“Hayden! Glad you could make it,” Adam says before standing up from the bar and giving Hayden a small handshake. Hayden still keeps his arm around me and holds me close to his side. Adam smiles down at me. “Glad you could make it too, Jaclyn. It’ll be a fun fight to watch. Definitely different from Arizona.” I smile and nod my head. “Let’s go to the table that Alexa reserved.”