The Upside of Heartbreak

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Another chapter up! Holy man, this story is just taking off. Not sure I can keep up this pace, but it's working right now at least. This one's another lemon, so enjoy :) Happy Tuesday!

*Lemon Alert*

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The trip back into the city went quick, but not quick enough. Still, Astrid was a little shocked when she started to recognize certain landmarks and signposts out the dark window. Her mind could barely comprehend how far they had gone in such a short time. They had made it almost the whole way to Freezing To Death before turning in at that road. A drive that would normally take an hour or more in any other car and with any other driver.

Hayden's hand only left her knee now when he needed to shift gears. The tingles running through her at his touch making her more impatient with each passing moment. Rather than ride in silence though, they simply shared small talk about things like cars and school. Astrid making a conscious effort to avoid asking him anything that would sound too personal.

By now she had learned that he had been living in various parts of Europe for the last few years, but not where or why. He apparently also had a shitload of cars that were being shipped here for him and would hopefully arrive sometime this week. She now also knew that his ex was named Victoria, she was a fashion journalist from London, and that she had cheated on him. Apparently they had been living together and everything before he got a picture from a buddy of his girlfriend at a restaurant with another man. A picture that his buddy had been sitting on for almost a week before sending it, because he had felt so awful about ruining Hayden's dream life like that. Of course, Hayden had scoffed and rolled his eyes when he told her that part.

When Astrid asked if maybe Victoria was just having a work dinner and his friend had overreacted, Hayden had pulled out his phone and shown her the picture. There could be no doubt that the woman and man in it were one cab ride home away from hopping into bed together. At least Astrid and Scott had already been broken up when she saw him with Sabrina. Heather was right again. Hayden did need a distraction. What type of woman just throws a man like Hayden away for someone else?

Looking at the picture closer though, Astrid couldn't help noticing just how stunningly beautiful the brunette haired woman was. She had a heart shaped face with a dainty chin, well defined cheekbones, full lips that formed a perfect bow, and huge brown doe eyes with curling black lashes that looked almost fake. Impossibly long and thick hair gently waved down over her back and shoulders, and the figure clad in the stylish little black dress was one that most models would kill for.

His ex looked more like the photoshopped cover of a magazine than a real life person. Suddenly feeling terribly inadequate, Astrid mumbled, "she's certainly beautiful."

Hayden just barked out a laugh at that. "That she is, but so are tigers. Turn your back to either one and they will tear your heart out before you even know what hit you," he offered blandly. Then he glanced over at Astrid for a moment. "You know what though," he started again. His lips twisting into that lopsided smirk she was starting to become really partial to, and her heart stuttered again.

"What?"

"I like blondes better," he replied with a wink. Giving her leg a squeeze and taking his phone back when she rolled her eyes at him. Still, even if he was only saying it for her sake, she felt slightly better just the same. Glancing out the window again then, Astrid noticed that they were now in one of the upscale neighbourhoods of downtown Berk. Fancy office buildings and condo towers stretching up towards the dark sky on all sides as stores that sold items she could never hope to afford lined the sidewalk levels.

It wasn't that late yet, and there were still people on the streets. Going out for late night meals, or venturing around between the fancy nightclubs in this district. Astrid watched in amusement as groups of fully done up women in very skimpy clothes turned and stared at Hayden's car. Adjusting their postures to accentuate their curves in hopes of catching the driver's attention. When Astrid chanced a glimpse at Hayden though, it was easy to tell that his eyes were focused on the traffic.