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

Chapter 172

"It's me!"

A familiar voice echoed down the hallway.

I grabbed the railing, coming to a sudden stop. All the tension drained out of me in an instant.

A second later, I turned around and saw Hayden standing there, half-hidden in the shadows.

The awkwardness from earlier still hung in the air, thick and uncomfortable. I didn't know what to say, so I went with annoyed-always a safe move. "Do you even realize how creepy you look just standing there like that?" He just grunted. That one sound.

God, it was frustrating. He had no idea how cold and dismissive that little "mm" came off, and it drove me insane.

I was ready to snap at him again, but then he spoke, his voice low and soft. "It won't happen again."

That shut me up.

I pulled out my keys, turning to unlock my door. Just as the key slid into the lock, his voice came again, low and quiet. "I had the wrong idea tonight. It won't happen again." Wait, what?

I froze, glancing back, but he was already slipping into his half-open door.

for a split second

even think of something to say, it was too late. "What

exactly what he meant. He wasn't agreeing to end whatever this fake

keep doing this. I didn't want

ever asked Hayden to

wasn't like I was worried he'd get too attached. No, the problem was me. I didn't want

had a girlfriend before, and I'd used him like a freaking prop. His first hug, first hand-hold,

felt like the worst

breath, I stepped into my apartment, guilt gnawing at me like a bad case of heartburn. No way I was getting

my dreams were filled with Hayden. Every time I turned around, there he was, looking lost.

up suffocating in guilt, even though

grabbed my

+25 BONUS

Chapter 172

be up. If I had my timing right, he'd

chance to avoid

out of bed, threw on some

in my own place, and yet I was sneaking around like some kind of

was always a cold breakfast sitting by my door. And with every

thought about texting Hayden a bunch of times, telling him to stop with