Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 540(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
The palms of my hands were sweaty as my anxiety built more and more. “I’m not going. Hailee needs me right now.”
“Baby…” Mom started, but I shook my head.
I stood. “Do whatever you want. Lock my window. Ground me. Tell me how much of a fuckup I am, but I’m not taking that role. I don’t care about it. I don’t care about any of that crap. I’m not leaving her.”
There was no way in hell I was getting on a plane when Hailee needed me more.
19
Hailee
* * *
I’d been out of school for a few days as Mama and Dad signed me up to talk with a therapist who could help me with my heavy thoughts. I was somewhat surprised when Samuel stopped by the house to speak with me.
Samuel smiled my way. “Hey, Hailee. Are your parents home?”
“They ran out to check out a property location for their bakery. I can tell them you stopped by…”
“No. Actually, I was hoping to talk to you for a second?” he asked.
“Sure, of course. Come in.”
He walked into the house and closed the door behind him. He smiled, but it felt a bit cold. Colder than I was used to from Samuel. Normally, there was a level of gentleness and protection when he was around me.
His arms crossed, and he cleared his throat as he looked down at me. “How are you holding up, kiddo?”
I shrugged. “I’m okay. I’m sorry about Thanksgiving. It was a lot.”
“That’s okay. I just hope you’re okay.” He wiggled his nose and shifted his feet. “We’ve been praying for you.”
Prayers were weird. I wondered if they were ever answered or if there was just a sky packed full of unanswered requests floating throughout the atmosphere.
“Is there something wrong?” I asked. My stomach felt tangled up, and I hated that I didn’t know why.
“Uh, yes. Can we sit?”
I nodded and led him to the living room. We sat across from one another, and he still seemed tense, which made me feel even worse.
“So I know Aiden and you have been having a hard time lately,” he stated.
“Oh. Yeah. It was more me dealing with myself than him. Honestly, if it was the other way around, I would’ve done the same. I was hoping to talk to him tonight and—"
Samuel held a hand up and halted my words. “You’re a good girl, Hailee. I’ve known you for a long time, and I have no questions about the type of person you are.”
I swallowed hard. “What’s going on?”
Samuel frowned.
My heart cracked.
He clasped his hands together. “He has a bright future. His dreams are finally coming true. And in order for him to fully step into his future, he has to let go of all things from his past. He cannot have one foot in Leeks and the other in California. You need to break up with him.”
“What? No. We can figure everything out. We can—”
“He got in another fight, Hailee.”
“What?”
“At school. He heard people talking about you. He got into a fight, and it was leaked to the media. People in town are not only talking but people in the industry are questioning if he has what it takes to build an actual career or if he’s just some kid who got lucky.” Samuel took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “My son is a lot of things, but he’s not lucky. He’s hardworking, and I refuse to allow the world to label him as a one-hit wonder.”
Why didn’t Aiden tell me about the fight? Why didn’t he mention that there was a fight? A fight over me? Why would he keep that from me?
My voice cracked as I spoke. “I can say something. I can speak out on his behalf and let people know—”
“No.” He shook his head. “No offense, Hailee, but you speaking up for Aiden will only worsen the situation. Any involvement, even a friendship, will be harmful to my son.”
Even a friendship?
What?
“Samuel, what are you asking…?”
“You’re his kryptonite, Hailee. Aiden will do anything and everything for you, to the point of his own destruction. You’re a great girl. You know how my family feels about you and yours, but… this isn’t healthy. Not for you and not for him. This level of codependency is toxic.”
My eyes began to glaze over because I knew exactly what he was asking me to do.
He was asking me to let go of Aiden. Not just as my boyfriend but also as my person. As my best friend. My Tom. He wanted me to let go of my other half.
“You must understand, Hailee, this isn’t easy for me to say. You have always been a shining light in my family’s world, and I would not wish what you are going through with the bullying and the tabloids upon my worst enemy, but Aiden is my son. So you must understand me asking this of you. You must understand that you cannot be a part of Aiden’s life from this point on. Not if you love him. If you truly love him, and I know you do, you will let him go.”