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.

The tension

to defend myself, who

was pure luck that Hayden came looking

glance at the door. But it was closed, so I couldn't

washing up or something-but I knew

footsteps took me back to when I was little, lying in bed and listening to my parents moving around outside. I'd always drift off to that sound, feeling safe and

thought much of it before, but now I realized how comforting

kept listening, planning to wait until Hayden fell asleep before sneaking out to check on him.

the middle of the night, needing to use the bathroom. As I opened the door, I remembered I'd crashed in my

the apartment,

stretched out on

Chapter 140

+25 BONUS

his feet on. But what really made me stop in my tracks was the sight of

because he was not my real boyfriend, yet there he was, all

this uncomfortable setup just to make sure I was safe, I felt this

using the bathroom and find it impossible to fall back asleep. The emptiness of the apartment was suffocating, and the loneliness

like the world had just abandoned me-like no one cared, no one loved me. Even if

me, ready to protect me if anything happened, I slept better than I