Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right
Hello 265

Chapter 265

Hayden let me turn his face any way I wanted and kept going, "Do you know what you said back then?"

"I don't know, and you're totally making this up," I protested, refusing to believe I'd been that shameless as a kid.

"You said it was like stamping a seal on me. That after you kissed me, I was yours. And when you grew up. you'd marry me. You even made me promise not to marry anyone else." He paused for dramatic effect, then suddenly leaned down, bringing his face closer to mine.

"Kiki, I've followed your orders. I'm in my thirties now, and I've never been in a relationship. Never liked another girl, never even held another girl's hand. I've waited for you all this time, so you've got to take responsibility for me," he said, sounding so earnest and pitiful that I felt guilty just hearing him.

I always thought Jace was my childhood friend, but now I realized I was wrong.

Hayden was my real childhood sweetheart-the one who, despite the little time we'd had together, managed to leave a mark on both our lives.

But I was too young back then, so all those sweet memories only stuck with Hayden,

"Alright, I'll take responsibility," I said, tilting my head up and standing on tiptoe to lightly bite his jawline.

He let out a soft grunt, and I teased, "I'm leaving a deeper stamp this time, so any girl who thinks about liking you will know to back off."

Hayden chuckled, a smile tugging at his lips. "Still as bossy as you were when you were little."

Bossy? Was I really?

I'd always thought I was too soft-hearted, especially with the Johnstons. Unless it was something I really cared about, I usually just went along with what everyone else wanted. Hayden had given me a whole new glimpse of my childhood. Even if I wasn't sure how much of it was true, I felt genuinely happy.

Later, he even took me fishing, and we actually caught a good one-a fish weighing over two pounds.

"Tonight, I'll make you Mediterranean baked fish. You loved eating fish when you were little," Hayden said so casually that I knew everything he'd told me before had to be true. Because I did love fish, especially Mediterranean baked fish-just like the kind my mom used to make, full of flavor and perfectly cooked.

The day my parents had their accident, my mom had promised to make it for dinner.

But they never came back.

After that, I stopped eating it altogether. Matthew, Lindey, even Jace and Wayne thought I just didn't like fish

But Hayden knew I loved it.

"Okay!" I agreed.

+25 BONUS

Chapter 265

In that moment, I felt a strange sense of peace.

Mediterranean baked fish was my mom's signature dish, a taste of her love and a way for me to remember her. Knowing someone else remembered it too felt like a sign from her, like she was watching

over me.

Hayden's version tasted almost exactly like hers-so flavorful, just right.

He explained it was because my mom had learned how to make it from his mom. His mom had grown up by a lake and knew all the best ways to cook fish.

I'd lost my mom ten years ago, but through Hayden, it felt like a piece of her love had come back to me.

After dinner, we cleaned up, but Hayden didn't leave. I sat on the couch, scrolling through my phone, while he worked on his laptop across the room. He looked so focused, and I felt so restless.

I couldn't put my finger on it, but something was making my heart race, like a tiny bug crawling around inside me, keeping me from focusing on anything. "Uh, I'm feeling sleepy," I finally said, searching for an excuse to get him to leave.

Hayden set his laptop aside. "I'm feeling a bit sleepy too."

I blurted out instinctively, "Then go home."

But he didn't move. He just looked at me.

My heart pounded. "Hayden..."

"Can I stay over tonight?" he asked quietly.