Stuck on You

Chapter 16: Ready to Talk

“So why are you on this boy detox?” she asked after a week was up. I tried to make it seem like nothing was wrong, but she saw right through it.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied. She only rolled her eyes at me.

“Jojo, you’ve been avoiding Hayden for a week now. I mean, you both dance together at practice but it looks… stiff; like he wants you back, and you don’t even want him to touch you,” she explained. I only shrugged.

“I was never his in the first place,” I muttered. We were at her apartment, lying on her bed. She sat up and looked at me.

“That’s a god-damn lie and you know it. You two were crazy about each other; even if you didn’t want to admit it to yourselves. Why are you being so cold to him?” she said a little louder. I sighed and closed my eyes.

“It started with Sophia,” I started. I told her everything. I told her about Fiona and my visit to Lewis’ apartment. I told her about the practice and the fight at his car. I told her how I admitted that I was falling for him and his proclamation as well. “I was being naïve, Quinn. We can never be like that… He can never be like that,” I finished. She rolled her eyes.

“You’re not naïve, Jojo, just stupid,” she said. I looked at her confused. She shook me. “Read the damn signs! He loves you! Maybe he’s too afraid to admit it, but he does. Why else would he get jealous so easily, or get so angry, or try to apologize for something that he didn’t have to apologize for? He loves you, Jordyn. Just… go talk to him,” she said. I sighed and shook my head as I sat up.

“I can’t,” I argued. She threw her head back in frustration.

“Ugh! Jordyn, guys make mistakes; it’s how they’re wired. They can’t help it, but it sounds like Hayden tried to apologize… many times. So you’re going to get out of here, right now, and go talk to him,” she said. She started pushing me off of her bed.

“Alright, alright,” I finally agreed when I caught a foot in my spine. She smiled and crawled to the end of her bed.

“Love you, babe,” she said. I sneered at her before I rolled my eyes. She laughed. Back at my apartment, I knocked on Hayden’s door. He answered it almost immediately. I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at the floor.

“I’m ready to talk,” I said quietly. He rested his hands on my shoulders and bent down to look me in the eyes.

“I am so sorry, Jordyn. I really am. I wish I’d never done… that. Will you please forgive me?” he asked sincerely. I nodded.

“I forgive you,” I said softly. He leaned forward to kiss me. I turned my face at the last second so that he kissed my cheek. I sighed before I turned to go to my room. Hayden spun me back towards him and I ran into his lips. I froze for a moment before my eyes fluttered close. I felt my heart pounding almost painfully against my chest. I missed his kiss. His hands held my waist firmly. I missed his touch. I found myself bringing my hands up to his neck.

“Sleep with me tonight,” he muttered against my lips. I pulled away and searched his face for a moment. I thought he meant sex, but looking at him, I could tell that he meant the literal sense. I nodded. He attached his lips back to mine fiercely. My breathing was starting to speed up. He walked us back into his room. I pulled away from him again.

“We’re just sleeping,” I clarified. He smiled lightly and nodded. He went to sit on his bed and I went to go change into some pajamas. Walking back into Hayden’s room, I noticed that he was just in his boxers now. He was lying on the bed watching his TV. I got into the bed and crawled up next to him. His eyes were on me the whole time. His hand went to my face.

“I do care about you, Jo,” he said softly. I believed him. I laid down beside him and pressed my back up against his chest as his arm went round my waist.

“I care about you too,” I mumbled as my eyes started to close.