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

Chapter 263

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I watched him, his face all flushed, a couple of beads of sweat on his nose. I couldn't help but smile.

He turned away, clearly trying to recover, so I focused back on the road, deciding not to push my luck.

The whole "hard" thing had left us both too stunned to speak.

After a few awkward minutes, I remembered what he said about spending time together and decided to break the silence. "So, where do you wanna go?" "Do you have plans this afternoon?" Hayden asked.

"Nope!" I answered way too fast, sounding like I was way too excited or something.

Hayden's serious look melted into a smile. "Cool. I've got somewhere I wanna take you."

I decided to stay quiet this time, trying to play it cool.

"I'll set the navigation. Just follow it," he said, like I'd already agreed.

We ended up on the outskirts of town, in this remote area with nothing but overgrown grass and a shimmering in the distance.

"What are we doing here? Thinking of clearing some land and starting a farm?" I joked.

Hayden looked around and, to my surprise, said, "Yeah.

probably stick to playing with

walking. I followed him, but after a few steps, something small and fast darted through the grass. I let out a scream, "Ah-!"

him, arms around his

but this was a perfect 10. I latched onto him like a koala,

hands supporting

snake! There's a snake!" I yelped, my voice

sure if I'd actually seen a snake, but that's what my

could be slithering around in this

I mean, even a caterpillar

walking away

say what exactly he was apologizing for, but he

him like my life depended on it, until he asked, "Wanna dip your toes in

when I realized I was practically strangling him, my arms wrapped around his

t

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left red marks.

my face burning with embarrassment. "Sorry," I mumbled, then hurried over to the edge of the lake, trying to pretend I wasn't totally mortified. Hayden followed me

water, a little garden with flowers..." I trailed off, suddenly realizing what he meant. I spun around to look at the barren land behind us. "Hayden, don't tell me you're planning to-" Before I

I never imagined he'd be thinking so

want it?"

blurted out, not

into