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.

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

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

have plans tonight?" he asked, like he'd been

talking," I said, licking a little pumpkin spice milk off

more seductive than I realized because Wayne's eyes darkened. He swallowed -twice before saying, "Then... how about dinner with me

reaction was to turn him down, but after a second, I reconsidered. I'd been stringing him along lately, and tossing him a little hope now and then

wide. "What do you feel like

You pick,"

that, someone stepped into the office but backed out fast when they saw I wasn't

caught on. "I'll get going, then. See you

I exhaled a huge sigh of relief and focused back on the meal

but I didn't even pause I cleared the whole container.

and noticed a message from Ron: [Didn't seem like a good time to talk because

perceptive. I didn't bother answering. Instead,

1/2

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