Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Chapter 697 Chapter 697 Chall

The second I brought up my dad, Wayne clammed up. Guess it's hard to chat when your dad's the reason mine's

gone.

"There will never be meatballs I like in this world again," I said, staring down at the meatballs Xander had made. I tried to sound casual, like I didn't care, but my brain was screaming, 'Don't blow this! Don't let Wayne catch on about Xander. Because now? I knew. Xander was Hayden. The disguise, the secrecy-it wasn't random. He had a reason. Whatever it was, I just had to roll with it for now.

"Rea, I'm really sorry about your parents." His voice dripped guilt, but his face? Ugh, it was all fake pity, like he thought that'd fix anything.

It didn't. If anything, it made my stomach twist, but I just smiled tight and said, "It's not your fault."

He gave a bitter smile. "You're... so kind, Rea."

Yeah, kind enough to almost forgive his family once. Key word: almost. I'd learned better. No way I'd let that slide

-not now, not ever.

I needed to end this convo before I snapped, so I grabbed my drink-pumpkin spice milk. One sip, and it was this perfect blend of sweet and warm, like a hug in a mug.

not Hayden, I'm totally gonna ask if he spent his fake-dead months learning how

I said, not holding back, even with Wayne's eyes practically glued to

he asked, like

little pumpkin spice

Wayne's eyes

about his interest. My gut reaction was to turn him down, but after a second, I reconsidered. I'd

"What do you

pick," I

the office but

"I'll get going, then. See

sigh of relief

lot, but I didn't even pause I cleared the whole container. And honestly, I was sure I wouldn't be hungry again until

from Ron: [Didn't seem like a good time to talk because someone's with you,

bother answering. Instead, I

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