What I Wish You Knew | ꪜ

Chapter Forty Four

To Drayton,

44. I wish you knew how happy I was for you.

Hayley's POV

The front door creaked as it shifted on its hinges when I stepped through the threshold into the house. For a moment I forgot that sneaking back in was futile seeing as Drayton might be up already and I've left him a note informing him of my sneaking out.

Will I be in trouble? Maybe, maybe not. Regardless of the outcome, it'll be worth it. I closed the door behind me and slipped off my shoes, keeping my ears wide open for the sound of any movement around the house.

It wasn't a school day, and I wasn't sure if Drayton was off or not. Even so, this is usually the time he gets ready for work so I'll get an earful. Wish me luck oh mighty one, he might take away my food.

I made a b-line towards the kitchen, half expecting to find it empty and if not with Drayton sat at the table eating breakfast silently as he awaited my arrival. The only thing that would be missing would be a cat on his lap as he stroked it almost menacingly.

But the person who stood in our kitchen, leaned against the counter with a half-eaten sandwich in hand, my jar of Nutella left openly discarded on the island table was definitely not my brother. And this, ladies and gentlemen was the beginning of a war.

"Why the hell are you touching my food?" I nearly screeched at the girl staring back at me in shock. However, it quickly subsided and morphed into amusement. She motioned towards the slip of paper I left on the fridge, "you really don't know how to sneak out do you?"

"I asked you a question."

Her eyes flickered down to the sandwich, "I was hungry." She said nonchalantly before biting into it. "I know you, you're that girl from the grocery store right?" She smiled, "how'd you know?" I rolled my eyes, trying my hardest to bite bark a snarky remark. I couldn't lie and say I wasn't somewhat jealous.

She gets to have tattoos and my brother likes it but I can't get one!? What double standard bs is this!? "Your tattoos are very distinctive. You could have put a bag over your face and I'd still recognize you." Because I was fantasizing about getting identical ones.

"What are you doing here?"

"You're a tough shell to crack aren't you, Hayley? You know your brother warned me and I jumped right into the lion's den huh? Let's make a deal. I do you a favour by throwing away the note and not telling your brother you snuck out because that's suicide. Leaving a note doesn't make it innocent. And in return, you forget I ate your food."

The offer was tempting. As much as I hate to admit it leaving the note was mostly just my guilty conscience pushing me to do something to compensate for the fact that for the first time in forever I deceived my brother.

Shit.

But she needs to pay for eating my Nutella!

But. . .

"Fine, we have a deal." She smirked in triumph and strutted towards the fridge. The note disappeared in the palm of her hand as she crushed it up. Just as she did so, Drayton appeared before us, dressed in nothing but a pair of loose shorts, his bare chest out on display and his hair wildly dishevelled.