Broken Bad Boy novel Chapter 27

PERCIE

What the fuck? 

“He asked you out?” My voice raised. I pressed my lips into a thin line before I spoke again. “And just now you told me?”

“Yes. I mean. You ignored me, so how am I supposed to tell you when we were avoiding each other.”

“Did he insist?” 

She stared at me right into my eyes. “He said just once, but I said I like someone else, and he asked who.”

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat while wishing it would be me. My heart thumped faster in anticipation. 

“And?” My tongue thickened in my mouth.

“I said I like you,” she whispered shyly.

I thought my world just spun around, then abruptly stopped. Wait a sec? Did she just say she liked me?

A smile spread across my lips and slowly, deliberately formed into a wide grin. My face ached. 

I squeezed her hands and caressed her knuckles. “Did you mean it, Hailey? Or you were just trying to avoid Remy?” I could clearly hear the joy in my voice. 

She didn’t meet my gaze. Though she nodded, I still wanted to hear it from her. “I want to hear it, Hailey.”

She looked at me with a shrug. “It doesn’t matter now. You have already Lexie just right next door.” 

“It matters to me, Lee. Like how you matter to me. And about that.”

She blinked as if she couldn’t believe what she just heard.

I moved closer to her without breaking eye contact. I cupped her face with my hands and caressed her cheeks with my thumbs. Her face was so soft and smooth. And the way she looked at me right now—with anticipation brewing in her eyes, was adorable. I wanted to crush my lips and kiss her senselessly until we were breathless.

“I like you too, Hailey. So much. I know I’m not good for you, but I will do my best to be good and be deserving of your trust, care, admiration, and your kindness,” I told her with all my heart that I’d been bottling up in my chest. 

She nodded again. My heart would burst out from my chest at any moment.

“Would you go out on a date with me?” 

Then the most beautiful smile spread across her face.

Her answer caught me by surprise when she also launched herself into me. 

“Okay. I take that as a yes.” I laughed.

 She pulled away before I could hug her back. “Sorry, got too excited.”

“It’s okay. I’d been thinking about asking you for a while now. I just don’t want you to withdraw back and not talk to me again. And I want more of that from you.” I tucked her hair behind her ear. She was so beautiful, and I didn’t deserve someone as pure-hearted as her.

“What about her?” Finally, I was hoping she would ask.

“I’m not her type, Lee. She likes girls, and she likes Megan, your friend.” 

Her eyes grew big, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Yeah. So, no need to be rude to Lexie,” I teased. “She’s just a friend.”

Her face instantly turned red. “Sorry.”

“I let her sleep in my room. I’ll stay on the couch, okay?” 

Her brows quirked up. “You can stay here. We’ll fit here together.” 

She has no idea how hard I had been trying to control myself when she was this close to me.

“It’s okay, Lee. I will stay on the couch tonight.” 

She nodded, but she was not good at hiding her emotions. I stood up from her bed and kissed her head.

“Get some sleep. I’ll go check on Lexie. Be nice to our guest in the morning, okay?” 

She smiled.

“Night, Lee.”

“Night.”

***

I woke up to the murmur and smell of coffee. I rubbed my eyes and stretched my limbs until I remembered I was on the couch. My mind went up to the event last night. I was going on a date with Hailey. For the first time in like eternity, I had some planning to do.

After doing my bathroom chores, I went directly to the kitchen, only to find Hailey and Lexie busy preparing breakfast. Lexie was already wearing Hailey’s shirt and Pajama bottom. They were chatting, but I couldn’t quite catch what was all about.

“Morning, ladies.” I smiled. 

Lexie elbowed Hailey. They seemed both speechless, just staring at me as if I was Thor visiting their kitchen. No pun intended. 

“Morning, Percie,” Lexie greeted back with a wink.

Finally, Hailey made her way towards me, beaming. She was so pretty and fresh in the morning.

“Hi.” I was all speechless when she did that.

“Morning.” She murmured, wrapped her arms around my neck, and pecked my lips. Wow! I could definitely get used to this.

I froze in my track. Hailey pulled back before I could squeeze her and kiss her back. 

She grabbed my hand to follow her.