Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 140

I turned to look at Hayden, and he was staring right back at me. With just the two of us alone in that quiet room, the air felt thick.

It was crazy, though. We'd stayed in the same hotel room before without any issues.

But now, in this two-bedroom apartment, it was like the walls were closing in, and the space between us was shrinking, making it hard to even breathe.

After a few moments of this intense staring contest, Hayden finally broke the silence. "Maybe I should just crash on the couch."

I blinked, completely thrown.

"Only your real boyfriend should be sleeping in your room. I... the couch is fine," Hayden added, sounding like he was trying to convince himself as much as me. His words hit me, making me feel like I was somehow being unfair to him.

I knew what he was up to-he was laying on the pressure, subtly hinting that he wanted to be more than just a friend.

Guess it's true what they say: honest guys can be the most cunning.

But I wasn't going to fall for it. I just shrugged and said, "Suit yourself," before hurrying into my parents'

room.

I crawled into bed, sleep didn't come easy. The tension

hadn't shown up when he did, even though I was ready to defend myself, who knows how

pure luck that Hayden came looking for me

so I couldn't see a

heard his footsteps outside-probably washing up or something-but I knew he

footsteps took me back to when I was little, lying in bed and listening to my parents moving around outside. I'd

of it before, but now I realized how comforting it was to hear someone

sneaking out to check on him. But as I listened, my eyelids got heavier

bathroom.

the

stretched out on the

Chapter 140

+25 BONUS

though-he'd pulled up a chair to prop his feet on. But what really made me stop in my tracks was the sight of him covered with my pink

because he was not my real

that, knowing he was dealing with this uncomfortable setup just to make sure I was safe, I felt

here, I'd wake up after using the bathroom and find it impossible to fall back asleep. The emptiness of the apartment was suffocating, and the loneliness felt almost

no one loved me. Even if I

in the apartment, here for me, ready to protect me if anything happened, I slept better than I had in a long time. When I finally woke up, it