Chapter 17: Haley

Tuesday, June 9th

“Hales!” Jess squealed. Seconds later, her smiling face appeared on the computer screen, hair wrapped in a towel and skin still damp and flushed from a shower.

“Jess!” I smiled back, genuinely glad to see a familiar face.

“Is that coffee you’re drinking—have you joined the dark side after all?” she teased as I sipped from my Percolate to-go cup, making sure to keep the side with the name facing me.

“No,” I laughed. “I discovered chai lattes. And no matter how many times you ask about coffee, I’m positive the answer will be the same.”

“I know. I just can’t imagine being surrounded by the smell of coffee all day long and not drinking some.”

Over the past month, we Skyped at least once a week, if not more, and it was probably the most I had gotten to talk to her since she left for college. I didn’t have much going on, but I told her about some of my quirky customers at the coffee shop and she shared stories from her summer job at a veterinary clinic.

I readjusted my legs, folding them beneath me on the couch. “How was work?” I asked.

“Great! Max finally got his clean bill of health today, and I got to watch a surgery where the vet removed a string from a cat’s intestine.”

“Oh, um, that’s . . . cool.” I tried to be supportive, but that sounded disgusting. Jess laughed before updating me on the details of the past few days.

“And now you’re getting ready for dinner with Charles?” I asked, referring to her latest, and most likely temporary, suitor.

Jess started applying her moisturizer and then makeup. “Yep. What about you? Made any new friends where you’re living?” Before I could answer, she gave me a sad look, her puppy dog eyes on full display. “And, don’t you think it’s about time you tell me where that is? Best friends don’t keep those kinds of secrets, Hales.”

Although she initially asked me where I was, and commented on my new look, she had dropped the subject for the most part, until now. “Nice try, but you know I’m not going to tell you. And, I’m friends with Noah.”

“Your flirty coworker doesn’t count if you only see him when you’re getting paid to. Come on. I still haven’t heard a peep from the guys, and I swear I would never tell them where you are.” I tried not to feel disappointed by their lack of contact with Jess, but I knew it was for the best.

“I don’t want to put you in that position. Plus, in case you forgot, they can be pretty persuasive.”

“Oh, I haven’t forgotten . . . and clearly neither have you.” She smirked and I felt my face fall before she spoke again in a more serious tone. “Oh, Haley, I’m sorry.”

I waved a hand through the air and smiled brightly. “It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not.” She stared at me intently. “I know you’re hurting.”

I bit my lip and held back the tears stinging my eyes as I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I know,” she said in a gentle voice. “And I haven’t pushed the issue, but I think maybe it’s time.”

I sighed, knowing she was right but still reluctant to share. Talking about it would only bring everything to the surface once more.

“Do I need to kick their asses? Because I swear, I will.”

I laughed at the suggestion. “No, if anything you should kick mine. This is all my fault.”

“Okay. How so?”

I told her about Douglas’s threats—in vague terms, of course—and filled her in on Ethan’s confession and departure from the team. I then updated her on the continued lack of contact from my dad and Douglas’s silence.

“I know you didn’t ask for my advice, but honestly, I think telling the guys would’ve been a safer idea than running off to god-knows-where with no one looking out for you.”

“Yeah, I debated telling them. But it’s not like I could stay anyway.”

“Because of the Ethan-Liam-Chase situation . . .” she trailed off.

I nodded.

“I don’t think Ethan leaving was your fault, but I understand the timing was suspect. Hypothetically speaking, if the jackass and his threats were eliminated, would you return to wherever it was you were living?”

“I don’t know.” I groaned. “I liked my job and loved the city I was living in.”

“Haley,” Jess chided, “we both know we’re not talking about the job or city. You miss the sexy six pack, and I’m sure they feel the same way.”

“They were probably pissed at first that I left, but over time, they’ll realize it’s for the best.”

“You sure about that?” she asked skeptically.

I shrugged, figuring if they hadn’t contacted me by now, they didn’t care to. Despite my efforts to disappear, I knew they had the skills and resources to find me.

Jess and I talked a little while longer before signing off. Although nothing had changed, it felt better to talk to someone about my problems. She was probably right—I should at least attempt to make friends. I liked my co-workers well enough, and a few had even invited me out, but I didn’t feel up to socializing. Facing the prospect of yet another self-imposed evening alone, I decided to pop some popcorn and settle in for an episode of Gossip Girl, one of Jess’s favorite shows growing up.

I flipped open my computer and logged onto Netflix (using a Netflix gift card I picked up at the grocery store), ignoring the suggested programs. Every time I saw a mention of Arrow, my heart clenched at the reminder of Knox. I wondered if he was angry with me for leaving, but thinking back to his conversation with Jax shortly before I left, I realized that maybe a part of him was relieved to see me go.

Sighing, I pressed play, attempting to escape into the world of over-privileged teenagers, high-end fashion, and scandalous love affairs. But there was no escaping my life and the fact that I felt trapped, helpless, out of control. DuBois may have forced us into hiding, but my dad was the one to rigidly maintain our lifestyle for all those years. Then, when Douglas’s actions flushed us out, the guys sucked me right into their world. And, just as I was adjusting to my new life, Douglas forced me to run again by threatening me and the guys. When will it end?

As much as I despised Douglas for his role in all of this, retaliating against him didn’t seem like the solution. I hated having his threats held over me, but as far as I could tell, I remained in the clear from him as long as I stayed away from Santa Cruz. And it wasn’t like I planned to return there anytime soon; after all that had happened, I didn’t imagine the guys would welcome me with open arms. Even if they would, I couldn’t allow myself to come between them or jeopardize the group further.

Besides, eliminating the Douglas threat wouldn’t bring Dad out of hiding. No, to do that, I needed to go after the big fish—DuBois. DuBois was the key to this mess; taking him out of the equation would eliminate the Douglas problem and finally allow my dad to stop hiding. It was time for me to quit wallowing and do something. Deep down, I’d suspected for a while that Dad wasn’t merely staying off of DuBois’s radar—he was collecting evidence. Now I needed to find a way to help him.