Jenalyn: Crossing Lines (#4) [Complete]

Chapter 19: Hayden

Saturday, 11:30 P.M. EST

Ty doesn’t usually just pass out like this after sex. I mean, don’t get me wrong! He does the whole guy thing where he gets too drained to function after sex, but it’s never been like this!

I guess I should have anticipated this considering how lazy he was during it, pushing for me to do all the work… but damn! I guess I’ll just take it as a job well done. 

I crawl off the bed, mindful of the fact that Ty is asleep though a full-blown orchestra couldn't wake him at this point. He probably expected that I’d sleep in his bed after the “actual sex” we just had…

But no string attached, right?

It’d only make the fact that I have to leave the guy I used to dream about being with more unbearable.  And all because I ruin people…

Ugh. I don’t want to think about it. I’m in no position to go and get all depressed out here in New York. Hayden has work to do.

I lower myself onto my bed with a sigh and grab my phone from the nightstand beside me. 

Hayden: I should be
asleep right now 😢
Hayden: How am I 
supposed to get up at
7 tomorrow?

Gage goes online and responds moment after my text sends, just like I knew he would. 

Gage: You’ve done it
it before, I have faith in
you.
Gage: It’s part of the
lifestyle ! You better get
used to it 😉
Hayden:  Oh hush, you
😑 You’re supposed to 
make me feel BETTER.
Gage: I said I have faith
in you! 
Gage: What can I do to 
help?
Hayden: Sing me a 
lullaby 💗

He takes a few moments to answer. I’m sure he’s questioning how serious my request was and trying to figure out a way to respond. 

Gage: Hmm… want me 
to call you? I can get my
guitar from downstairs. It
won’t be anything special,
but I been working on this 
song…?

I wasn’t expecting that, but how am I supposed to turn him down? He’s so cute!

Gage fucking Robson is offering to sing me to sleep!

I text him yes and lower my ringtone. He tells me to give him a few minutes, so I use the opportunity to turn off the bedside lamp and lower the blankets to crawl under them.

He calls just as I get comfortable, and I answer with the excitement of a schoolgirl. 

“Hey,” he says in response, wasting no time before disclaiming. “Don’t get too excited, okay? It’s a work in progress… I’m going to sing the acoustic version for you.”

I laugh, keeping my voice quiet as I tell him to get on with it because I’ll love it either way.

Before I know it, he clears his throat and gently strums on his guitar.

His voice is soft as he sings about the secrets we carry, and the way our hearts break because of them. I can feel my heart melting my in my chest as I lay here.

How does he do this to me? No, why?

I tune Gage out for a moment, thinking I hear a soft knock on my hotel door. It’s an hour after 10:30 though, there is no way the employees here would allow anybody to disturb me. 

It must just be the noise of a hotel. 

Gage continues to sing, his music soothing to my ears. It’s so sweet that he would do this for me. I wish I could allow myself to love him the way he deserves to be loved. He’s such a good guy.

But I tune him out again, certain I heard a knock this time. Maybe it’s Ivan? He’s probably coming over to bitch about us not waiting until he’d left to do the deed.

Just as I go to pull the covers from my body though, the knocks turn into pounds.

What the fuck?

“I’m sorry Gage-” I whisper, cutting him off mid-song and hanging up the phone.

I peek over to Ty, who still lay passed out on his bed. How did he sleep through that?

I rush over to him, shaking his shoulder as I try to wake him. “Ty!” I call out. “Wake up!” 

He doesn’t budge. What the fuck is going on?!

Three more knocks split the silence of our hotel room, now louder than the second set. I practically lift Ty halfway off the bed, but he still doesn’t wake up.

My anxiety is over the moon right now, and I can’t process anything before I grab my robe and head to the hotel door myself. I don’t even think to check the peephole before I pull it open with both shock and panic plastered across my face. 

I wish I did. 

I pull open the door to find Dane standing, an eerie smile spread across his lips. 

“Hello Jenalyn,” he says, shoving his hands into his pockets before giving me a once over. His eyes rest longest on the bulge coming out from my belly before he returns his glare to my face. “I see that you’re out of the looney bin… and still very pregnant.”