Jenalyn: Crossing Lines (#4) [Complete]

Chapter 24: Tyler

Sunday, 7:08 A.M. EST

Hayden is awake before me, which is only unusual because I know Hayden. She loves sleeping in.

I’m always awake before her.

Maybe it’s because I slept so well last night? I don’t even remember passing out. I just remember some of the best sex I’ve had in a while, and then nothing.

Shit, I still feel groggy! Thank goodness I set our alarms for this morning while we were on the plane yesterday, or I may have overslept!

“You alright?” I ask Hayden as I emerge from the bathroom to find that she hasn’t moved from her position. She sits picking her nails on her bed, her face familiar as the one she wears when something is on her mind. 

At first, I don’t think she hears me. Moments pass without her reacting to my words. Just as I go to ask again though, she snaps her head toward me as if to remember I asked at all. 

“No, I’m not alright,” she says, her tone flat and emotionless. 

It’s not the answer I expected, though you can clearly see while looking at her that she’s got something on her mind. Hayden has a bad habit of lying about these things though, so I wasn’t expecting the honesty.

At first, I attribute her response to what happened last night. She’s not okay with the fact that we made love… I fucked up. I didn’t mean to ask for it, but I’ve missed her!

“What’s wrong?” I ask after a second, making my way to where she sits on the bed. “Is this about last night? I’m sorry! No strings attached, I swear!”

I let out a laugh hoping to soften the mood, but it doesn’t work. She averts her gaze back to her fingernails and lets out a small sigh.

“I’ve got to go to Pennsylvania after the photo shoot today…” she says after a moment, reluctance in her voice.

My heart tightens in my chest, growing uncomfortable. 

I know that her family is in Pennsylvania, and despite her upbringing? That could all be fine and dandy!

But I also know about the “crazy ex-boyfriend/pimp” there… and that seems to be the only thing I can focus on.

“Why?” I ask, growing defensive. “Mama G said nothing about-”

She interrupts me as if she doesn’t want to hear what I have to say about her mother. “She doesn’t know,” she says in a panicked tone, adding on. “And I need you to help me keep it that way… For today, at least.”

… What?

I can’t help confusion from crossing over my face. Has she lost her fucking mind? 

“At least?” I ask as I furrow my brows. “How long do you think you’re staying for? And why?!”

She waits a few moments before responding, still anxiously picking at her nails. “I don’t know how long…” she says, her tone distant. “However long I need, I guess…”

I’m so perplexed; I can feel all the synapses in my brain firing at once trying to make a connection, but failing.

“However long you need for what?” I can’t help but snap.

She turns to me, the look on her face hurt yet dissociated. I apologize with my eyes, but can’t bring myself to vocalize it because anger is still to present in my mind. 

“You’re carrying my baby, Hayd! You’re not about to run off to Pennsylvania for God knows how long!” my anger speaks for me as I climb to my feet and turn back to face her. “You know what happened that last time we let that shit happen! We can’t fucking afford that again!”

Hayden rolls her eyes, but more as an automatic response than in an expression of her actual emotions. “Nothing bad is going to happen, Ty,” she says, pulling herself from the bed too. She grabs her purse and her phone before turning back to me.”I just have family matters I need to take care of, okay? Personal matters. I don’t know how long it’ll take, but it doesn’t matter.”

Is she fucking crazy?

Mama G isn’t going to allow this, and Hayden is psychotic if she thinks I’m going to cover for her!

“How doesn’t it matter?” I ask, following behind her as she goes to retrieve her shoes. “I’m not going to lie for you, Hayden. And your mom isn’t going to just let you-”

She rolls her eyes again, this time showing her emotion as she cuts me off. “Because I’m rethinking this whole Hayden thing!” she snaps, frustration apparent on her face. “And nobody is going to force me to do something I don’t want!”