SWNOVELS Finding Hayes: Chapter 2
Hot damn. Forgetting about Hayes while I’d been away was a lot easier than seeing him after all these years. He was even sexier than I’d remembered.
Hayes Woodson, aka my best friend from as early as I could remember. We’d been neighbors, classmates, pals, buds, besties, and all that good stuff.
We’d both had a lot of drama in the homes we’d grown up in, and we’d always been there for one another.
Until we weren’t.
Until he showed me his true colors.
And when people showed me who they were, I believed them.
Well, that’s not entirely true. Sometimes it took a couple of punches to the gut before I fully believed them. But eventually, I got there.
I was a strange mix of irrationally positive and upbeat and happy, yet there was also this dark cloud that hung over me, reminding me that every time I let my guard down, I got bitch slapped.
So, I’d remain irrationally positive and upbeat and happy, but I wouldn’t let my guard down.
Definitely not around this man.
Even if he was ridiculously good-looking.
I sighed, remembering how many fantasies I’d had about my best friend back when we were teenagers. Even when he’d started dating the ice queen from hell, Hayes was the only boy I’d ever fantasized about back then.
He’d managed to break my heart and crush me—yet we’d never even had a romantic relationship.
Well, not outside of my fantasies, at least.
“I hate that nickname,” I said, trying to feign irritation even though I’d missed the sound of his voice.
“Well, I was never a fan of you calling me Woody, so I guess we can call it even.” He smirked when Ruby came out of the kitchen carrying two burgers and set one in front of me.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“I figured you could use a meal after the day you’ve had.”
Hayes glanced over at me. “Funeral’s tomorrow, right? What happened today?”
I thanked Ruby before reaching for my burger and taking a big bite. I thought about how much I wanted to share with him. But this was Hayes. Whether I ever spoke to him again didn’t really matter; he’d always been the best listener I’d ever known.
Probably because he didn’t talk all that much.
Ruby’s brothers, Rico and Zane, who I hadn’t seen since we were all kids, walked into the bar and called her over. She said she’d be back, and I looked up to see the large man beside me just staring at me.
Like he was waiting.
He’d always been a big guy, but he seemed larger now.
“Did you get taller?”
He raised a brow. “No. Maybe you got shorter.”
It had always been our joke. He stood a foot taller than my five-feet-four-inch frame.
“I’m not shorter.”
“I’m not taller. Tell me what happened today.”
“Why? We haven’t seen one another in more than a decade. Why do you want to know?” I asked, as he took a bite of his burger. He pushed up, leaned over the bar, and reached for a glass before filling it with ice. He grabbed the soda gun and poured himself what looked like a Coke, acting like he owned the place.
“Maybe I’m just bored and feel like being entertained,” he said.
“I always was the best entertainment you ever had.”
“I wouldn’t argue that. I survived your tap-dancing phase, your stint playing the violin, and then the piano. Then there were those years when you thought your voice was a perfect mix of Taylor Swift and Adele.”
I arched a brow and recalled the lyrics I’d written when I was certain I was going to try out for American Idol, and I belted out the chorus. “He’s the luckiest guy around, and he’s pretty sporty. He likes to watch me laugh and call me shorty. He puts on his cowboy boots. Sometimes he has the toots.” I continued singing over my laughter as the corners of his lips turned up. “He’s my partner in crime till the end of time, and he’s my very best friend, but that doesn’t rhyme. Even when I’m lost and in a daze, I can always find my… Hayes.” I threw my hands in the air and shook them around, celebrating my grand finale, and both of Ruby’s brothers applauded and whistled from the other side of the bar.
Hayes barked out a laugh.
I’d always loved the sound of his laugh. This gruff, foreign sound from a guy who didn’t let himself go there often. I had a hunch not much had changed, just by the grumpy disposition he still carried himself with now.
“That one was a winner. What was it called?” he asked.
“‘Finding Hayes.’ Had I known you were going to become a firefighter, I could have played on that—you know, like the smoky haze. My lyrical genius would have had a heyday with that. I believe it’s called a heterography.”
“I see you haven’t lost your charm for knowing random shit.” He took another bite of his burger. “Are you going to tell me what happened today or not?”
I thought it over. “Why should I? We don’t even know each other anymore.”
His shoulders stiffened, and I didn’t know why he’d be offended, because it was the truth.
He’d betrayed me.
Hurt me when I was at my lowest.
We’d obviously grown apart, and I hadn’t been able to see it when it was happening.
“Fine, let’s catch up. I know how much you love to ask questions. What do you want to know?” he asked, wiping his hands on his napkin.
“What happened to that she-devil you used to date?”
“Kate?” he asked, his gaze hard now.
“The one and only. I heard you got engaged to her?” I did not hide my disdain.
“I did. It was a dumb move.”
“You can say that again.” I rolled my eyes. “She was the worst. Clearly, you just saw the big boobs and the pretty face.”
The girl had a black heart. She was mean and manipulative, and I’d never liked her.
“I think I was just with her for so long, and I didn’t want to see who she was. I don’t know.” He scrubbed a hand down his face, and for a second, I felt bad for him.
And then I remembered what he’d done.
“You were always blinded by that girl. So, why’d you call off the engagement?”
He narrowed his gaze. “How do you know I called off the engagement?”
“I don’t see a ring on your finger. There’s no way Kate would wait this long to get married. She had the patience of a petulant child.” I paused for dramatic effect before continuing. “On a sugar high. After days of no napping.”
“I get it. You never did like her.” He chuckled. “After we got engaged, she fucked Lenny Davis, who also happens to be my coworker at the firehouse. Obviously, I called things off after that.”
“One would hope that would do it. Every man has his limits.” I smirked because I knew that girl would eventually show her true colors.
“Okay, so now you know my story. Tell me what happened today.”
“Always so nosy,” I said, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip because being around Hayes felt… comfortable. Easy. I wanted to hate him, but so much time had passed it was hard to tap into all that anger I used to carry. I’d be cautious, but having a conversation with Hayes felt like a gift I could allow myself. We had a history, after all.
“For fuck’s sake, Shortcake, I just told you my shit story. Just say it.”
“Fine.” I pursed my lips and pushed my plate away. “I got a call from Abe’s probate attorney in San Francisco, and I met with him this morning before coming here. Abe left me his farmhouse.”
“Holy shit. That place is huge. Who did he leave all the land to?”
“Also me,” I said, as I cleared my throat.
His eyes widened. “Wow. That land is on the water. It’s got to be worth a couple million dollars.”
“Correct. I’m a little stunned.” I reached for a french fry and popped it into my mouth, because I was still processing what the probate attorney had shared with me.
“Well, you two were always close. You kept in touch with him all these years?” he asked, as if he couldn’t believe that Abe had left me more money than one could imagine.
“Of course.”
“How often did you talk to him?”
“What’s with all the questions?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“I’m just saying… you left this town in your rearview, and the man left you a fucking fortune. From what I’ve heard, you only visited a couple of times in all the years since you left, and one of those times was for Lily’s funeral.”
“That doesn’t make you a rocket scientist. Of course, I came for her funeral. They were family to me. And for the record, ole judgy one… I spoke to Abe every single day after Lily passed away. I used to talk to them both twice a week up until she went into the hospital. I taught them how to FaceTime.”
He looked stunned, as if it were unimaginable to believe that I’d make that effort. For someone I loved.
“You talked to him every single day?” he asked, his voice harsh and laced with doubt.
“I don’t know if it’s more offensive that you didn’t seem to believe me at first, or that you seem like you’re angry now that you believe it’s true. Who the hell do you think you are?”
He just shook his head. “I guess I’m just stunned, seeing as you made zero effort to keep in touch with me.”
“Well, I had my reasons, right? I don’t know why you’re surprised that I didn’t make an effort to keep in touch with you.”
“I just assumed you left everyone from your past behind. Apparently, I was wrong.”
Was he seriously trying to guilt me?
He had some nerve. “Anyhow, there you go. I inherited more money than I’ll ever know what to do with. Are you done with your questions?”
“So, what’s the problem? You made it sound like a bad day. Seems like a pretty epic day to me.”
“Oh, really? I lost a man who meant the world to me, and you think I’m happy about it?”
“For fuck’s sake, Sav. That’s not what I meant. He passed away over a week ago. You and Ruby were acting like the sky was falling when I walked in. I thought something bad happened today.”
I sighed. “Well, there’s a loophole in this inheritance, and it’s sort of a big one.”
“Let me guess. You have to stick around for a week to get everything listed for sale so you can get the hell out of town and go roll around naked in your millions?”
Well, this is an interesting plot twist.
“Funny, you should take it there. Clearly, that one time you saw me naked really made an impression.” I waggled my brows because I couldn’t help myself.
“I never saw you naked.”
“You did, too.”
“Savannah.”
“Hayes.”
“I never saw you naked.”
“Why are you so hung up on this? It’s okay that you forgot.”
“You obviously still have a way of derailing a conversation. Why the hell are you upset about inheriting millions of dollars, and when the fuck do you think I saw you naked?”
“Well, my mom said we bathed together once when your mom asked if you could spend the night when Saylor was just a baby.”
“If my sister was a baby, then we were not even three years old.” He huffed. “We were toddlers.”
“Still. It happened.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“I’ve been called worse.” I reached for my wineglass. I’d purposely only allowed myself half a glass of wine because I needed to drive out to the farmhouse, where I’d be staying tonight.
Home sweet home.
I couldn’t wrap my head around any of this.
“Fine. I saw you naked, long before you looked like…” he paused, looking away as if he couldn’t stand the sight of me.
“Looked like what, Woody?” I snarled, mad that I’d let the nickname I used to call him slip out.
“Like… this.” He waved his hand in front of me. “All womanly and shit.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. And I laughed hysterically. Irrationally.
My life was a mess right now, and Abe had just thrown a giant wrench into the middle of my shit show. But Hayes gaping at me lightened my mood.
“Thanks for noticing,” I said, oozing sarcasm, even though I loved the way his heated gaze moved down my body as the words left his mouth.
I couldn’t help myself. Even if the man had caused me a lot of heartache, I could still find him attractive.
“What’s the other secret you’re holding out on? You have to wait for the money and stay in this town for a few days? You can’t leave right after the funeral?” His voice was all tease, and I hated that I found him so charming.
I was long over my crush on Hayes Woodson.
Long. Over.
“Very funny. But that’s not it.” I reached over and grabbed his Coke. I needed a little sugar boost. He just raised a brow while I took a sip.
“So, what is it?”
“I have thirty days to find a husband.”
Hayes narrowed his gaze. “You’re joking.”
“Nope. That’s what the will said.”
“That can’t be right.”
“Oh, it’s definitely right. Abe wants me to get hitched and live in that house like he and Lily did. He left a note for me to renovate the place because that’s what I do for a living. He and I had always talked about me spending a few months here and renovating the place, but he never wanted to spend the money. That house is massive. And, yes, it’s a project that I can handle. But I’ve never been required to get married as part of a renovation.”
“There has to be a loophole. There’s no way that it’s legal to require someone to get married in order to receive an inheritance. I’m sure you can get out of it,” he said, his tongue dipping out and sliding along his bottom lip.
Was he intentionally messing with me? Or was he literally just that sexy and didn’t even realize what he was doing?
His dark hair was still cut short, just like it was when we were young. His mossy green eyes had a gold ring around them with pops of amber. He wore a gray hoodie and a pair of jeans, and he managed to look like he’d just stepped off of a modeling photo shoot.
“Maybe. The probate lawyer had no time to discuss things with me after he read the will, and he told me I could seek outside legal advice if I chose not to respect Abe’s wishes.” I was suddenly overwhelmed again. This trip down memory lane had been fun, but I needed to remember that there’d been a reason we hadn’t spoken in all these years.
Hayes Woodson was not my best friend anymore.
He hadn’t been for a very long time.
I’d shared way too much with him already. I knew better.
I needed to end this conversation right now.
I dropped a twenty-dollar bill on the bar and reached for my coat on the back of my barstool.
“It’s been nice catching up with you, Woody. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
His jaw ticked, and he looked a little startled that I was leaving so abruptly. “Yeah. I’ll be at the funeral tomorrow. I’ll see you there.”
I nodded as I pulled my beanie over my head and slipped my mittens on my hands before making my way past him toward the exit.
Tonight had been a lot.
This whole day has been a lot.
Ruby came around the bar and hugged me. “I’ll see you at the funeral tomorrow, and I’ll have River get you on his schedule Monday morning so he can take a look at the paperwork for you.”
“Thank you.” I held up a hand and made my way out to the blizzardy cold. My car was covered in snow, and I groaned. I used my gloved hand to clear the driver’s side of the windshield before sliding into my cherry red 1995 Honda. She was old, but she’d been good to me. I turned the ignition, and nothing happened.
“Come on, Big Red. Don’t fail me now.” I pumped the gas and tried again.
And again.
My head fell forward against the steering wheel, and I fought back the tears.
I will not cry. I will not cry.
Money was extremely tight at the moment—well, aside from the check that the probate attorney said I’d be receiving in the next few days. He said Abe had granted me a small advance until I was officially married in thirty days, when I’d receive the full inheritance he’d left me. Then he’d handed me keys to the farmhouse, so I’d canceled my hotel reservation in town, which was one less expense that I’d have at the moment. The last thing I needed was a huge price tag to fix my crappy car. But apparently, Abe had thought of everything. He’d noted that he wanted the keys to the farmhouse given to me the day I’d be called in for the reading of the will because he knew I’d be heading to Magnolia Falls for his funeral and that I’d need a place to stay.
His heart was so big, and every time I thought about him being gone, I couldn’t keep the tears away.
So, I let it out.
I cried because I was back in a place that held a lot of memories for me.
Both good and bad.
I cried for the loss of both Abe and Lily. Two people who had been a constant in my life. Two people who had treated me like family when I’d needed it most.
I cried for the loss of my best friend. A man I still felt a connection to but desperately wanted to hate.
Wanted to forget.
I cried for my father, who was sick and didn’t have the financial resources to get the help he needed.
I cried for my piece-of-shit car that had failed me once again.
I cried because I was tired of being failed by everyone and everything, and I still woke up every day and put a smile on my face and tried to live my best life.
There was a knock on my car window, and I sucked in a breath and swiped at my tear-streaked face.
I could see him through the falling snow.
I was overwhelmed, so I let the tears fall, making no effort to stop them this time.