Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

"Does he?" Wayne shot back.

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Cole chuckled, waving Xander forward. "You tell me. Or do you need to look closer to figure it out?"

Xander stepped closer, stopping just shy of Jace and Wayne. At this distance, they could see everything-every line, every feature, every little detail.

And so could I. My breath hitched, and that voice deep in my chest screamed louder than ever: He was Hayden.

"You've really gone all out for this. Where'd you dig up someone like him?" Jace sneered.

Cole's smile didn't waver. "Fate," he said casually, then turned to me. "Wouldn't you agree?"

I didn't bite. My eyes stayed on Xander, searching, digging past the surface, desperate for even the faintest sign that he was Hayden.

"Xander," Cole said, finally cutting to the chase, "Ms. Kay has taken quite the liking to you. She wants to keep you. What do you say?"

and Jace's faces darkened

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

a firm squeeze that silently

out, rising from my wheelchair

and hooked my arm around Xander's neck. Standing on my tiptoes, I leaned

you doing?" Jace's angry voice cut

"She's flirting," Lena quipped.

in the background, my hand drifted to Xander's neck, fingers brushing the back of it, searching. My heart

my fingers tracing further up, even brushing the back of his head. Still, nothing. I leaned closer, desperate to see what my fingers couldn't find-the mole that had always been

always been there-small, distinct, impossible to miss. But the guy standing in front of

hope keeping me afloat shattered, leaving a hollow

curled around my arm.

harassment. This lady just laid hands on

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were Hayden, there's no way he'd pull this stunt-not when it could blow his cover. He said it without a second's hesitation. That sealed it.

of hope burned out, leaving this awful