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

Chapter 160

Just then, Hayden's eyes shifted to me.

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His grip on my hand tightened, like for a second, he wasn't just holding my hand-he had my heart too.

You know how they say your fingers are connected to your heart? Yeah, right now, that felt way too real.

"I'll give Kiki everything I have," Hayden said, his intense eyes locked on mine. "I'll love her like I love my own life, and I'll always protect her."

His eyes were full of affection. In that moment, I finally understood what people meant when they said, Love deep as the ocean."

And even though this was all supposed to be an act, it felt like Hayden's words were reaching right into my chest, like he was actually confessing.

This guy was unbelievable. Blurring the line between what's real and what's fake.

With him saying stuff like that, I had no choice but to roll with it. I lifted my hand, planning to squeeze his

But the way he was looking at me? It made me clench my teeth. I asked him to act, not toss real feelings into the mix.

giving him a sweet hand squeeze, I

so serious, I figured this would embarrass him. Maybe

Nope. Instead of pulling back or flinching, he leaned into it. Literally pressed his cheek into

thought he would ever act

his little display, Hayden turned back to Matthew and Lindey, his expression totally composed. "And just like Mr. Johnston loves

second? Yeah, that was

slightest flicker of discomfort cross Lindey's face. Hayden had shut her down so smoothly she didn't have much of a comeback. Matthew, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke up. "Rea, let Hayden

wait for my answer, just gave Hayden a quick

Matthew wanted to talk. Steeling myself, I took a deep

away. But instead, he handed me the gift I'd brought him. "Why don't you open this up? Use the new set you got me, and let's do some hand

L

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Chapter 160

all too well-it was right after Lindey had thrown out this comment: "Rea's growing up. You should be careful about being alone with her in private spaces-people might talk." Ever since then, Matthew stopped asking me to hang out in the study with him. We hadn't had any of our usual one-on-one time in here since. If he needed to talk, it was always in the living room or outside in the garden-never in this space.

didn't say anything. I just did what he asked, opening up the

picked up one of the pens, checking it out.

stuff doesn't come cheap," I shot back with

prep the ink, and once I'm done,

to be. I nodded and