Page 48 of Blinded By Hate

God.

I always knew that Hayden was intense and had a way with his words, but Jesus, I didn’t know that he somehow became more smooth.

Even the way he looks down at me like he wants to grab me by the neck and show me that I’m his makes me feel weak in my knees.

But you’re not his.

You never will be, remember? He’s getting married.

I push myself away from him and glare. “Stop doing that.”

Hayden smirks down at me. “Doing what, princess?”

My face softens at the pet name he would always call me.

I was his princess and he was my knight who would always fight for me.

But then that one night happened and ruined everything.

Hearing that nickname after so many years does something to me. It makes me want to run into his arms and forget about the past.

Pretend like nothing ever happened but it did.

I wish sometimes I could just forget everything and not remember what it felt like to finally fall after flying.

“You need to stop flirting with me when you have a fiancé. You’re practically cheating on her.”

Hayden’s smirk vanishes and instead he has on a mask. It’s like the ones he puts on in fights so that no one knows what his next move is.

“You need to stop assuming things.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Assuming things? You are literally having a wedding in Italy.”

Hayden shakes his head lightly. “How was your shower?”

“Fine,” I say, while gripping onto my towel together as if it will fall right off. “Can you leave so I can change?” Hayden chuckles lightly as a knock sounds on the door. I leave Hayden standing in the middle of the room as I go to the door. I open it a little and see two familiar faces. “Alex! Carter! How are you guys?” I ask while bringing Alex into a hug. Carter was never the type of person to hug people.

“It’s so good to see you sweetheart,” Alex says before I let her go. “How have you been? We’ve missed you so much.”

She has a wide smile on her face while Carter just has his regular straight face on.

Even though he isn’t Hayden’s biological father, Hayden and him are so similar it’s almost creepy.

I smile while saying, “I’m doing great. Just busy with work mostly.”

“That’s good. What are you doing right now?” Carter asks before his eyes move to Hayden who comes up from behind me. “I didn’t know you were in here.”

Hayden pulls me behind him and it’s only now that I realize I’m in just a towel.

I need to change asap.

“I came to check on her. She loves sleeping in and well we are in Italy. We can’t be sleeping in when we have such little time here, yes?” Hayden says and Carter just glares at Hayden.

So they still don’t have the best relationship.

Alex smiles, looking up at Carter. “Isn’t that sweet? It’s great that both of you are here actually.” Alex looks back at Hayden and I. “I need you guys to go to the store for me and grab a couple of things if that’s alright?”

“Of course, Alex,” Hayden smiles down at her before looking at me. “You aren’t doing anything anyways right?”