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 pinched his

was always so serious, I figured this would embarrass him. Maybe knock him down a

Instead of pulling back or flinching, he leaned into it. Literally pressed his cheek into my hand like a puppy wanting

never thought he would

to Matthew and Lindey, his expression totally composed. "And just

first part had been this heartfelt confession, but the second? Yeah, that was a power move. A

had shut her down so smoothly she didn't have much of a comeback. Matthew, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke

wait for my answer, just gave Hayden a quick nod before

Steeling myself, I took

grilling me right 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 Jettering together."

L

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Chapter 160

had been at least three years since the last time. I remembered it 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

I didn't say anything. I just did what he asked, opening up the ink and pens while he set out

the pens,

I

"Right. I'll go first. You prep the ink, and

it used to be. I nodded and began