Jenalyn: Crossing Lines (#4) [Complete]

Chapter 33: Tyler

Sunday, 6:11 P.M. PST

I’m not sure how to feel when I get an impersonal text message from an unknown number. I know it’s Hayden, but the content of the message that has me so baffled. 

She can’t do this “Hayden thing” anymore, and we need to leave her alone?

I mean, it shouldn’t surprise me; I knew it was coming. I knew all goddamned day that it was coming, but that doesn’t mean I know how to feel!

I’m angry. I’m obviously fucking angry! Hayden is carrying my baby for fuck’s sake!  I don’t need her hiding somewhere in Pennsylvania, “thinking about what she wants to do with her life!”

Fuck no! I want her here! With me! Where I know she’s safe, and I can keep a fucking eye on her!

And now she wants to tell me that she’s not going to have her phone? Any phone? She’s over there with the people that fucked her over in life! She’s out there with a family that doesn’t even care about her, and some fucking asshole that thinks it’s okay to lay hands on her!

How the fuck does she expect me to be okay with this?!

Shit, did I fuck shit up that bad? So bad she had to run away to that godforsaken place?!

I mean, I know Mama G and the Goldskateers tightened the ropes after she got out of the hospital, but she’s practically living on her own, and has the leniency of me being her personal babysitter! 

So that’s not the reason she’s trying to run away!

And it’s not like she doesn’t like the work that comes with Hayden! The times that she’s been at work have been the happiest I’ve seen her in a while!

The only thing that makes sense when I question why she’s doing this? Is because of me. 

I can’t help myself from feeling bad now, on top of the anger I already carry. 

I never meant to hurt her; Especially not like this! I’d never take this opportunity away from her! She needs this; Hayden stood no chance out in Pennsylvania! I saw how malnourished she looked when she came to the meet and greet with Harlee at that hotel in Philly. I saw the bruises! 

Before I know it, my fingers glide across my phone. 

Me: What do you expect
me to do, Hayden? You’re
carrying my kid! I can’t just
let you do this!

I press send, and my phone vibrates in my hand from an incoming call. 

I expect it to be Hayden- No; I hope that it’s Hayden. Of course, it isn’t. I’m met instead with a picture of Harper. 

Great!

Doesn’t Hayden know that this is all going to come back on me? Doesn’t she care?! 

I go back to my thread with the unknown number, allowing Harper’s call to ring on in the background.

Me: Wtf am I supposed
to tell the Golds?! Did you
think about that, Hayden?
They’re already calling!
Me: If you want me to 
leave, Hayden, I will. I’ll 
go back to my house, and
leave you alone! But you
NEED TO COME HOME.

My phone is blowing up by the time I press send on the second message. She must have told everybody about her intentions… 

I’ve got a voicemail from Harper, two new text messages, and an incoming call from Mama G now. 

There’s no way in hell I’m taking that call. Mama G would tear me a new asshole! I didn’t make this fucking mess! Why am I stuck cleaning it up?!

I let the call go to voicemail, pulling up the missed text messages instead. 

Gage: What the hell 
happened with Hayden?
Aren’t you guys in NY?
She just messaged me
something really weird.

I don’t bother responding to Gage; He’s last on my list of fucking priorities right now. 

Harper: Where is
Hayden? Where are
you? I need you to call
me ASAP. I think that 
Hayden is trying to run
away again…

I’m not sure why I flew back out here to California the moment Hayden left our hotel out in New York, but Harper’s message makes me regret it even more. 

It’s going to be obvious I’d known about Hayden’s intentions prior to these messages being sent out, and everybody is going to think I’m an asshole. 

Mama G just left me a voicemail; I can feel myself getting overwhelmed. 

What the fuck!

She asked me to cover for her and then turns around and does this?

What the hell am I supposed to do?!

My phone vibrates in my hands again, and my automatic response is to grow annoyed thinking it’s one of the Golds demanding an explanation that I don’t fucking have again.

I look down to see that it’s from the unknown number though; Hayden.

Unknown: I’m sorry, 
Ty… You need to tell 
them you let me go 
because you trust me,
and urge them to do the
same. Don’t let them 
come looking for me, Ty,
I need my time. I’m 
TRUSTING you… after 
everything that’s 
happened, I’m trusting 
you again. Please don’t 
let me down. I love you.

What the fuck?

I have so many questions, but when I call, it gets denied. 

Why is she fucking doing this?!

After a moment, she sends another message telling me she’s getting rid of the phone. And I send one back right away begging her not to.

But seconds pass, and then minutes- and the only messages I receive are from the frantic Golds, demanding an explanation.