Falling For Hadley

Chapter 7

HADLEY'S POV

"Hadley," his voice pricks my skin and I whirl around with a starfish in each hand.

"Dylan?" surprise lines my voice and he smiles.

"Nice accessories," he comments, eyeing the pink and peach starfish in my hands. I growl slightly and he raises his hands in the air.

"They aren't accessories, they are living and breathing creatures," I take a stab at him and he backs off hurt.

"I'm sorry. I was joking," he frowns and takes a step back.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you. Now are you here to try and make out with me again or what are you here for?" I look at him expectantly and he laughs.

"I'm sorry about that too. I'm not used to being shot down," he rubs the back of his neck and I roll my eyes. Go figure, playboy never got turned down back where he was before this.

"Let me guess, your old friends and all the girls back in your old home never turned you down when you asked?" he gapes with his mouth wide open and I chuckle while I put the starfish back in the display tank.

"How is that you can see right through me?" he takes a step closer and watches as I brush the starfish with my gloved fingers.

"Because you're just like the rest of the rich population," I reply quietly. 

"No, I'm not," he says, his eyebrows furrowed angrily.

"You are. You think that the world revolves around you, you think that you always get what you want, and you have the biggest house on the block with as many cars as Daddy can buy," I state and he gapes again.

"That doesn't mean I'm like them," he says, and I could see that he was doubting his answer.

"Oh, and you're also taking over Daddy's business when you're older, right?" I poke at him again and he almost growls.

"I'm not like them," he hisses.

"You are. You just don't want to admit it," I respond harshly. Someone had to say this.

"Then give me a chance to prove to you that I'm not," he suddenly blurts.

"Why would I give a playboy a chance?" I ask him and he begins to pace in front of me. I notice his rolled up sleeves giving way to expose his muscular arms. His intense blue eyes lock with mine, he was serious.

"Just give me a chance," he was on the verge of begging.

"I don't know," I watch as he turns in a circle and runs his hands through his perfectly styled hair. His hair looked more like flames than anything. They were blonde tipped with brown roots. It was almost unnatural. More like he dyed it to look like that. 

"Give me till the end of the summer to prove it to you," he pleads.

"Why would I give you a chance?" I ask sharply.

"Because, you intrigue me. You shot me down when nobody else did," I almost drop the container of urchin food in surprise. Why was he intrigued by me? I was a nobody compared to him.

"I still don't know," I say as the protective walls I spent years building, begin to go up around my heart. 

"I will show you that I'm different," he says as he grasps my wrist. And it tingles from his touch.

"You have til the end of the summer," I say before I can take it back. What was I doing?

"That's all I need," he says as he hands me a slip of paper with a set of digits on it.

"What's this?" I say as I flip the paper over.

"My number," he says grinning. This is ridiculous, I think to myself. 

"How will you contact me?" I ask him and he laughs.

"Well, I was hoping you would give me your number in return...." he rubs the back of his neck and smiles charmingly.

"Fine," I say, a small smile playing across my lips. grab his wrist and pull out the pen from my pocket. His hands were muscular and strong, he must work out. I scribble down my number on the back of his hand and he smiles.

"I won't let you down," he squeezes my hand and I pull it away.

"You have til the end of the summer," I say seriously and he heads towards the door.

"You'd be surprised what I can do with one summer," he smirks and heads out the door. I take in gulps of air, realizing that I was breathless. No one has ever left me breathless. Except for Trent. And I wasn't going to let it happen again. Not after what Trent did. 

"Who was that?" Dr. Harriot suddenly asks and I jump.

"Just some guy who is intrigued by me," I say, trying to smile. But it seemed impossible at the moment.

"Oooh! That's great. You should get back out there," Dr. Harriot pats my shoulder and slaps on a pair of gloves smiling. 

"No, I shouldn't," I state quietly.

"Hadley, it's been two years. Trent is long gone. Maybe this will be good for you," she says kindly and I look down into my reflection in the water.

"Or it could just turn out to be another disaster," I say coldly, as memories of my past flood my mind.

"How will you know that if you don't take the jump?" Dr. Harriot smiles at me.

"Because boys like him are never faithful," I state sharply.