Written with You (The Regret Duet #2)(9)

“Jesus, Lo,” she murmured.

“And it wasn’t a one-time thing. He wanted to come over tonight. But then his brother showed up, so now, I don’t know when I’ll see him again. But today, he kept touching me and holding me and…I felt safe with him. A man who looked just like Malcom Lowe sat across from me, but I was with Caven, so I was safe. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I truly felt safe in my own skin?”

She closed her eyes and groaned. “You’re making this really hard for me to be Attorney Beth. If he was any other guy, I’d be ecstatic for you. I’ve always wanted you to be happy. But he’s Caven.”

I knotted my hands in my lap. “You want to hear something crazy?”

“Too late for that. But sure, hit me with something new.”

“I think he knows it’s me. Deep down. He doesn’t realize it. But when he looks at me…” I paused. “He sees Willow, Beth. I know he does. And he feels me, that connection between us that can’t be broken. He’s just confused because he thinks my name is Hadley.”

She collapsed beside me on the couch, linking her arm through mine and dropping her head against the cushion to stare up at the ceiling. “So, what if you tell him the truth?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

She turned her head without lifting it. “Tell him the truth.”

“Are you insane?”

“Possibly. I’m sitting here, talking to my dead best friend about her daughter who is actually her niece, and listening to her wax poetic about a boy she’s been in love with since she was eight years old but he has no idea that he saved her life but she somehow thinks he knows it’s her and that’s why he came over here and took her virginity. So yeah. I really might be insane.”

“Stop saying he took my virginity!” I snapped before groaning. “And there is no way I can tell him the truth now. It’s too late. I’m Hadley now. There’s no going back.”

“Then stop sleeping with him. If you’re Hadley, stop making this about Willow. Hadley didn’t want him. Hadley didn’t love him. Hadley used him to steal his computer and make her sister hurt.”

The hollow ache in my chest intensified. She spoke the truth. Hadley had never cared about Caven. Then again, after the shooting, Hadley hadn’t cared about anyone—myself included.

“This hurts,” I croaked. “God, why does this hurt?”

“Because love is an impossible game. Especially when only one person knows the rules. We can fight for visitation in court. And we will. One hundred percent to the bitter end. I won’t lose her for you. Don’t forget how much I loved Hadley too. I’m just as much Rosalee’s aunt as you are. But the waters are getting murky now. Clear them up, or we’re all going to drown.”

“I would drown for them. To have her. And him. I’d drown for that.”

“It’s not going to work that way though. Hadley wouldn’t have—”

“She wouldn’t have come back.” I scrubbed my hands over my face. “But I did. And it’s killing me because every part of me that’s left wants him and that little girl.”

“But that’s exactly the problem. What if you can’t have them both?”

I turned and looked her in the eye, emotion thick in my throat. “But what if I can?”

She gave my side a pointed squeeze. “But what if he sees that scar?”





CAVEN


My brother was an asshole. And he was the worst kind of asshole. The kind that was only an asshole because he was worried about his little brother, so it was almost impossible to really hate him for being an asshole even though he absolutely deserved it.

He’d admitted to cornering Hadley after she’d left. Apparently, they’d exchanged words about her intentions, and I miraculously managed not to put my fist in his mouth as I listened to him talk about it. It was one thing to tell me that he thought she was up to no good. But he knew he’d scared her earlier in the day because he looked like Malcom. Therefore, he knew good and damn well it had not been the right time to interrogate her.

Yet he had. And it pissed me off to no end because it was one more thing I could add to my conscience to feel guilty about. I’d put her in that situation by not rescheduling her damn party. But Rosalee was excited to see her.

And, truth be told, so was I.

By the time dinner time rolled around, I wasn’t hungry. I was, on the other hand, about to peel out of my skin if I didn’t get away from Trent.

There was only one place I wanted to be.



Me: How ya feeling after today? I’m really sorry about Trent by the way.

Hadley: It’s okay. I’m good. I took the night off work and poured a glass of wine.

Me: So you aren’t busy right now then?

Hadley: I wouldn’t go that far. There is a spot on my ceiling that I’m currently staring at, debating if it’s chipped paint that was there when I bought the house or if it’s a dead bug.

Me: Oh wow, sorry to interrupt that riveting experience for you, but I have some exciting news.

Hadley: What?

Me: There’s a pizza place forty-five minutes across town called The Bistro. It’s Trent’s favorite, but they won’t deliver to my house.