Chapter Five
Kory
My stomach was in knots as the plane approached Skagway. The entire night, I’d tossed and turned after going to bed. Everything felt upside down. But, at the same time, I felt liberated. It was odd. Hayden and I had stayed up talking about our lives—with no restrictions—until one o’clock. Before, we’d kept the details about ourselves to a minimum. Then like a gentleman, he’d gone to his own room. That alone had me ready to say screw it and ask him to stay with me.
I missed being in his arms.
It was hard not having him in my bed, but I think we needed to find our way back to each other emotionally before we slept together. Things were too fresh. And I wanted to make sure we had something more than sex between us. I smiled thinking about the conversation last night.
We’d been sitting on the couch in the two-bedroom suite, munching on popcorn Hayden had purchased at the front desk.
“This is nice,” I’d said, feeling almost happy for the first time in weeks.
“It is.”
For a while, the sound of crunching popcorn was the only sound in the room. We hadn’t figured out what we were going to do when we got to Skagway. I had about five thousand dollars to my name. Over the summer, I’d worked two jobs—waitressing at Maggie’s diner and helping her with the books. Maggie had been amazing to me. She’d let me live in her one-room apartment above the diner for a ridiculously low rent. I’d answered her ad on a whim while I was still in Washington and had been thrilled to get the job. Finding that job had been like fate stepping in.
While we’d been munching, Hayden’s phone had vibrated with a text message. “That was Drake. When I talked to him earlier, I asked if he knew of anyone renting a place.”
On the way to the motel, Hayden had mentioned that he’d brought his brother up to speed with the situation, which I understood. In the morning, he’d be showing up with a stranger. His family, with the exception of Drake, had never heard of me before.
I was still anxious to see how things unfolded but excited to carve the way for my future. “What did he say?”
“His fiancée, Alexa, has a place she wants to show you.”
“Wow, I’d love to look at it.”
Hayden had cocked his head to the side and watched me for a second. “You said earlier that your parents would come if they could find you.”
“Yes, I think they would.”
I had never disobeyed my parents. What they would do… well, I wasn’t sure.
“I want to propose something.”
Cautiously, I’d said, “Okay.”
“Wherever you decide to live, I think I should live with you. My place is about thirty minutes from Alexa’s. It’ll be safer. We don’t have to jump into bed together. We can be… roommates.”
The word had sounded odd to me, too, and I’d giggled. “Roomies?”
“Yeah, and hopefully that leads to benefits.”
He’d given me a glimpse of that cocky attitude I loved. I’d winked. “I bet it will.”
Hayden had given me his full megawatt grin. “Good to know.” Then his expression had sobered. “I want you safe. I get wanting independence, and I want that for you, too. But, I want to make sure you’re safe.”
His presence would definitely make me feel better. “Why not stay at your place, then? I could pay rent.”
“It’s small. It’s a one-room cabin with a loft bedroom and one bathroom.”
A loft bedroom meant we’d be in the same bed together unless one of us took the couch. That sounded miserable. “Why don’t we see what Alexa has in mind and the cost. Then we can decide which place.”
“Perfect.”
I’d leaned closer and put my head on Hayden’s shoulder. “Thank you for agreeing to start over with me.”
He’d put his arm around me to draw me closer. “It’ll be that much better when we decide to go there again.”
I’d shivered at the promise behind his words. “Yes, it will.”
A bit of turbulence brought me out of my thoughts. I stared up at the cockpit where Hayden expertly flew the plane with his copilot and employee, Anthony. For a second, Hayden turned my way and winked. It made me all tingly inside.
Through all this, Hayden had been amazing. This morning, he’d held me while I cried. Leaving was harder than I’d imagined. All my life, in some way, I’d known what my future held. Now it was a blank slate. The thought was freeing and terrifying at the same time.
After thinking about it most of the night, I decided to call my parents before we boarded the plane this morning. I’d blocked the number before I called, just in case. I wanted them to know I was okay and dissuade them from looking for me. Part of me had hoped they wouldn’t pick up, and part wanted to hear their voices. Which was odd considering what they’d done… but maybe not so odd, after all.
In a matter of hours, I’d left everything I had ever known for a chance at a real life, freedom, and… true love. And if I had to make the choice again, I would give it all up for the chance at happiness. I wanted them to know this and understand my point of view.
My parents hadn’t picked up.
I left a voicemail telling them I would reach out at some point. When that would be, exactly, I wasn’t sure. It wouldn’t be until I had a grasp on my new life. Hopefully. So much still hung in the balance. I just hoped Hayden and I were strong enough.