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.

split second before he

could even think of something to say,

wasn't agreeing to end whatever this

I couldn't keep doing this. I didn't

had I ever asked Hayden to pretend to

No, the problem was

freaking prop. His first hug, first hand-hold, even

like the worst

gnawing at me like a bad case of

Hayden. Every time I turned around, there he was, looking lost. "Why'd you kiss me?" he'd ask,

suffocating in guilt, even though it was still stupidly early-pitch

grabbed my phone.

+25 BONUS

Chapter 172

If I had my timing right, he'd be on

my chance to avoid

on

the sky barely started to lighten, I couldn't help but feel like a total loser. Here I was, grown, living in my own place, and yet I was sneaking around like some kind of fugitive. I started leaving earlier and coming home later,

every night, like clockwork, there was always a cold breakfast sitting by my door. And

bunch of times, telling him to stop with