Quarterback Dare

7

When we reached the restaurant Annalise got out first. I followed her out of the car. Annalise grabbed my arm and interlocked it with mine. We walked into the restaurant together. Hayden came to my side and Myles went to the waiter who was getting menus.

"Reservations for Byron," Myles said with his low, deep voice.

"Of course. Your table is ready. Follow me, Mr. Byron."

We all followed the waiter to the made-up table with a white tablecloth, champagne glasses, and a lamp with a pink lampshade in the middle of the table. There were delicate, quaint-looking plates and silverware. Myles was holding Annalise's hand and he squeezed her fingers. Hayden grabbed my hand. I looked at him surprised and he squeezed my hand.

The waiter brought out a chair for Annalise. She sat down "Mrs. Byron." Myles sat next to her and smiled at her. Hayden took out a chair for me and smiled as I sat down. "Ms. Matthews."

"Thank you, Mr. Anderson," I said, smiling.

Hayden sat by me and looked around. "This is a fancy place, Myles."

"Well, we need the best for our ladies." He said. "So, Lily are coming to the campout Tuesday?"

I looked at Hayden in surprise. "It's this Tuesday?" I asked, kind of annoyed.

"Uh, yeah," Hayden says causally.

"Hayden, in two days Tuesday?" I exclaimed.

"Yeah."

I groaned loudly.

After we got back to Hayden's house he nudged me to follow him. He led me to his backyard where revealed a garden, gazebo, and swing. He and I walk up to the swing and I circle the swing.

"Alright. I know you're mad at me. Get it out." Hayden says.

"I just—I was going with my dad somewhere but he's very understanding." I sighed. "Some sightseeing will do me good."

He smiles. "Great, I'm glad. It's around a lake so bring a bathing suit," he mumbled.

I smirked. "Okay, Quarterback."

"Would you like to stay for a while?"

I nodded slowly.

When we walked in Hayden's Callie attacked me again. This time I kneeled and petted her. She was soft and silky. "Good girl, Callie." I saw Hayden looking at me mesmerizing-like.

"What?" I asked.

Hayden sat down on his couch and sighed deeply. "Nothing. I need to tell you something." He said.

I sat down by Hayden waiting for him to talk but he looked at me. "You seem lost in thought. I murmured.

He looked at me and his eyes were watery. He looked down. " you know how you told me about your sister and accident?" I nodded. He scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably. "I need to tell you something that I haven't told anyone other than Myles."

I looked at him. "You can tell me, Hayden."

He took a deep breath as if he was steeling himself. "A few years ago, I was engaged. Her name was Emma."

My eyes widened slightly, but I kept silent. Letting him continue. I put my hand on his shoulder when I saw a sad expression.

"Emma was my everything," Hayden said, his voice tinged with sadness. "We met in college and fell in love quickly. She was kind, smart, funny, and had this incredible way of making everyone around her feel special."

He paused. Staring at Callie. "One evening, she was walking from home to work. She always insisted on walking, saying it gave her time to clear her head. I was supposed to pick her up that day, but I got caught up in a meeting and was running late."

Hayden's voice cracked. "She was hit by a truck. A hit-and-run. The driver never stopped, never slowed down. She was left there, alone. By the time Myles and I got to the hospital, it was too late."

I reached out and hugged him. "I'm so sorry," I mumbled into his shoulder.

He looked at me. "I blamed myself for a long time. If I had been on time, if I had insisted she take a cab...maybe things would have been different."

"Hayden, you can't blame yourself for that," I said, softly. "It was a terrible accident, and you couldn't have known."

He nodded, though his eyes seemed haunted. "I know that now, logically. But the guilt...it never really goes away. I vowed to never let anyone else I care about be in harm's way again." He said, looking at me gently.

"That's why you're protective over everyone around you," I said.

"Yes," Hayden admitted. He grabbed his bangs and pulled them back. "It's why I take my responsibilities so seriously, why I always try to be there for the people I care about. It's also why I felt such a strong need to be here for you, even if I can't explain it."

I grabbed Hayden's hand and he looked down. I squeezed his hand. My eyes were filled with sympathy and empathy. "Thank you for sharing that with me. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you." I stood up, walking towards the window overlooking the garden.

"It helps, talking to you," Hayden admitted. "Being with you...it feels like I'm finding a part of myself again." He walks up to me.

I leaned against the wall by the window as he put his arm above me leaning into me, towering over me. He looked at me softly with a glimmer of hope igniting in him. My breathing intensified. "We both have our scars, Hayden. Maybe we can help each other heal."

"Maybe we can." He smiles hopeful.