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.

was. And when he finally stops pretending he's not Hayden, I'm totally gonna ask if he spent his fake-dead months learning how to cook like

so good," I said, not holding back, even with Wayne's eyes practically

have plans tonight?" he asked, like he'd been hanging on to my every

a little pumpkin spice milk off the corner of my

way more seductive than I realized because Wayne's eyes darkened. He

I reconsidered. I'd been stringing him along lately, and tossing him a little hope now and then didn't hurt my plans. "Sure," I

smile stretched wide. "What do

pick,"

the office but backed out fast when they saw

get going,

I exhaled a huge sigh of relief and focused back

even pause I cleared the whole container. And

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

perceptive. I didn't bother answering. Instead, I tried calling Demi. No dice; her

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