SWNOVELS Break My Heart: Chapter 20
My heart races, each beat reverberating in my chest as Hayes’s question lingers in the air between us.
Do I like him?
It’s not a question I was expecting, but now that it’s out there, there’s no way to avoid it.
I take a breath, trying to sort through the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. Hayes isn’t what I thought he was. He’s deeper, more genuine, and that scares me as much as it excites me. I can’t deny the attraction, the pull toward him that feels impossible to resist.
“Yeah, I do,” I finally admit. It makes me feel vulnerable to say it, but at the same time, it’s liberating.
A slow grin spreads across his face as he glances at me, his fingers wrapping around mine before squeezing.
“Good,” he says, his voice low and soothing. “You might not have realized it, because I’ve been keeping this under wraps for a while, but I like you too. A lot.”
His words send a rush of warmth through me.
I didn’t expect him to be this honest or direct.
Even though a part of me is screaming to guard my heart, another part—the one that’s tired of being afraid—is desperate to trust him and wants to see where this goes.
I bite my lip, hesitating as the familiar walls I’ve built around myself crumble further. “I don’t know what I can give you. My head is still messed-up from everything that happened.”
His gaze softens in understanding. “I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give, and we’ll go as slow as you need to.”
I shake my head in confusion. “I don’t get it. Why are you doing this? You could have anyone. There are so many girls who would be easier than me.”
For a moment, he says nothing.
The silence stretches, making my nerves tighten.
When he finally speaks, his voice is steady and sure. “Did you ever consider that I’m not looking for easy?”
A few minutes later, we’re pulling into the parking lot of my building. Before I can say another word, he’s out of the truck, rounding the front, then opening the passenger door. He extends a hand, and despite the inner voice telling me to push him away, I take it. His fingers are warm around mine.
“You don’t have to walk me to my door,” I say softly as we head toward the entrance of the building.
“I know,” he replies, flashing me a lopsided smile. “But I want to.”
When we reach the lobby, we step inside the elevator, and just as the doors begin to close, four girls pour inside, filling the small space. A brunette with wavy hair locks eyes with Hayes and then beams at him.
“Hey, Hayes,” she says, her voice dripping with familiarity. “It’s been a while.”
The jealousy that flares to life in my chest is sharp and unexpected. From the corner of my eye, I watch as Hayes acknowledges her with a casual chin lift. “Hey, Olivia.”
My heart sinks at how easily her name rolls off his tongue. Before I can dwell on it, his arm snakes around my waist, and he pulls me flush against his side. The heat of his body seeps into mine. It’s enough to dissolve the jealousy simmering inside me.
Olivia’s smile falters, the confidence in her gaze wavering as she glances at me for the first time.
When the elevator dings and the girls file out without another word, Hayes doesn’t bother saying goodbye. He’s too focused on me, his hand resting possessively on my waist as we step into the hallway.
“What’s your apartment number?” he asks, his voice cutting through the silence.
“406,” I mumble, feeling slightly off-balance from the entire interaction.
Why does he have this effect on me?
He tangles everything up in my head until it’s impossible to think straight. Especially when he’s this close.
Once we reach my door, I swing around to face him. My heart hammers almost painfully in my chest at the intensity that fills his gaze. When his hand rises to cradle my cheek, I find myself leaning into his touch.
How is it possible for our closeness to feel so natural and right?
It’s terrifying.
“Would you believe me if I told you that you’re the first girl I’ve ever wanted to get to know?” he murmurs, his thumb gently brushing against my skin. “I don’t care about easy. I don’t care how slow we need to go or what you think you can give me. I just want to be with you while we figure it out. Together.”
His words hit me straight in the chest, sending a flutter through my stomach.
He’s so sincere, so honest, and it leaves me feeling raw.
Exposed.
His quiet sentiment has a million butterflies winging their way to life within the confines of my belly.
And yet…
There’s no way to keep the skepticism from my voice. “Are you sure about that? I’ve heard all the gossip that circulates around campus.”
“I won’t lie to you.” His gaze is unwavering. “There’s truth in those rumors. I spent the last few years screwing around because it helped me escape everything else going on in my life. But those girls? They were distractions. None of them meant anything to me. The difference is that you do.”
My teeth sink into my lower lip.
More than anything, I want to believe him.
I want to trust him.
“How can you be so sure?” My throat closes up as I force out the rest. “I don’t want to get hurt. After everything that’s happened, I’m afraid to put myself out there.”
He strums my cheek with his thumb. “That’s why we’ll take this at a glacial pace.”
“Glacial?”
“Super slow.”
Even though this is no laughing matter, a snort escapes from me. “I know what glacial means. Won’t you get bored?”
His lips tug into a smile as his brow arches slightly. “Bored? With you? Never. You keep me on my toes, and I like that.”
I huff out a soft laugh, the tension between us easing just a bit. He’s saying all the right things, and I hate how much I want to believe him.
“What about my dad?” I ask, voicing the concern that’s been nagging at me.
“Well, I’m going to be honest with you. I’m not really interested in dating him.”
I roll my eyes. “I would hope not. What I meant is that I think we should keep this between us. He won’t be happy that I’ve become involved with one of his hockey players.”
He releases a long, slow breath. “I get that, but I really don’t like lying to people. Especially ones I respect. And I respect Coach.”
It’s tempting to shake my head.
Could this guy be more perfect?
“I just want to make sure this is actually going to go somewhere before we tell my parents.”
“Okay, I get that. For the time being, we’ll keep everything on the downlow.”
“Thank you.” Relief floods through me.
His heated gaze dips to my lips, and warmth rushes to all the places that have spent the last year cold and dormant. Hayes is gradually waking my body back to life again.
My tongue darts out to moisten my lips. “Any chance we’re going to seal this with a kiss?”
He smirks, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “Is that what you want?”
My heart thuds painfully in my chest as I nod.
“Then, yes, Ava. I’m going to kiss you.”
There’s no rush in the way he lowers his mouth. It’s slow, deliberate, like we have all the time in the world. When his lips finally brush against mine, they’re softer than I imagined. The kiss is gentle at first, a tease, his tongue lightly brushing against my bottom lip. Heat sparks in my core, spreading like wildfire through my veins.
His hands tighten on my waist, pulling me closer, and I melt into him as everything around us fades away.
There’s only him.
His scent, his touch, and the way his lips make me feel like I’m floating.
It’s a kiss that makes me forget every reason why I should be afraid.
Just as I sink deeper into the moment, he pulls back, his breath mingling with mine.
“You taste good. I’m definitely going to want more of your sweetness.”
I blink, dazed and breathless, as I struggle to form a coherent thought.
“Keys,” he says, holding out his palm.
It takes a second to realize what he means. “Oh,” I murmur, fumbling in my purse until my fingers lock around the cool metal.
After I drop them in his hand, he unlocks the door and pushes it open. His beachy scent wraps around me, cocooning me in familiarity. It’s so tempting to invite him in, but I hesitate.
That feels like a big step.
Maybe too big for where we are at the moment.
As if sensing my inner conflict, he retreats. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” I echo, still trying to play mental catch up with everything that’s happened this evening.
He flashes his signature lopsided smile. The one that makes my heart flutter. “Yeah. Tomorrow. We’ve got more to figure out.”
“Okay,” I whisper, feeling lighter than I have in a long time.
With that, he turns and heads to the elevator. As I stand rooted in place, my fingers drift across my lips. I can still feel the soft pressure of his mouth sliding over mine, and it sends a shiver dancing down my spine.
He swings around and walks backward, his gaze pinned to mine. “You can think about that kiss inside the apartment. Make sure you lock the door behind you.”
Heat floods my cheeks at being caught in a daze.
A grin flashes across his lips, as if he knows exactly what thoughts are running rampant through my head.
For the first time in a while, hope fills my heart.
Whatever this is between us feels like the start of something real.
Something that has the potential to last.