Fight for You (Flirting with Forever Book 2)

by Amanda Bailey

  “And Sawyer doesn’t know any of this?” Zoey questions. Her disbelief at the whole situation is clear on her face.

  “He’s aware that Ed knows about us, and we’ve been trying to lay low all week because of it, but he doesn’t know about the photos. He knows I’m not telling him everything, but he hasn’t pushed me to explain what’s going on. And now I’m so screwed. I feel like such an idiot.” The last word comes out of my mouth on a gasp. Out of nowhere, tears fill my eyes, and I cover my face with my hands again as the stress of the last several weeks hits me all at once.

  “Had, we’re going to figure this out. You’re not alone.” Piper gets out of her seat to wrap her arms around me. “Come here.”

  She pulls me out of my seat, hugging me tightly. I let her hold me and I sag against her, letting her take on some of the burden of my situation. Before I can even blink again, everyone is out of their seats and we have one massive, comforting group hug happening right in the middle of the cider mill.

  Sophia is the first to speak once we ease apart and sit back down. “Ladies? We need a plan, and I think I have an idea how to fix one part of the problem.”

  Chapter 28

  Sawyer

  Hadleigh gave me a key to her apartment yesterday so I could feed Space Ghost for her while she was out with her friends for her birthday. She’d said they might be late, but I was welcome to wait for her if I felt like it. Ha. If I felt like it … I’ve been waiting for Hadleigh my whole damn life. I’ll gladly wait tonight so I can see her on her birthday, for sure.

  When I get to her place, Space Ghost greets me with a yowl and winds himself around my feet while I move around the kitchen getting his food and some fresh water.

  “All right, buddy. Here we go.” I set everything down on the little mat Hadleigh has on the floor. Apparently, Space Ghost is already a master mess-maker. “How long do you think it’ll be before your mama gets home?” I wait a beat before I answer. “Not sure, huh? Me neither.”

  I kick off my shoes and settle in on the couch. After locating the remote in a basket on the coffee table, I pull up the guide and click on the History Channel to see what’s on. My phone buzzes with a text.

  Willow: You staying with Hadleigh tonight?

  Me: Yeah, sorry. You’re on your own for breakfast again.

  Willow: Don’t apologize, Sawyer. I’m excited to see you so happy.

  Me: :)

  I’ve just finished watching The World Wars when I hear Hadleigh’s phone go off in her bedroom. Well, shit. I hate that she’s out without her phone, but at least she isn’t the DD tonight, and I know she’ll have a safe ride home with her friends.

  I pluck Space Ghost up off of my chest and set him down on the couch. He doesn’t even stir as I get up to go find her phone. I stop at the doorway, scanning the room, and finally land on it where Hadleigh must have left it on her dresser. I pick it up and glance down at it as I head back out to the living room. A notification is visible on her locked phone screen.

  Ed: Doesn’t he know you’re mine?

  What the fuck is this? A tiny photo notification shows up immediately after that, and my eyes widen, unable to believe what’s on the screen. My jaw clenches and unclenches as I try to process. The image of Hadleigh wet and naked hits me like a freight train. My stomach churns and my blood begins to boil right in my veins. I take a deep breath and blow it out through my nose. My lips form a grim slash across my face, and I try to control the caged monster inside of me who wants to leap out, find Ed, and tear him limb from limb.

  I swallow and set the phone down, unable to handle seeing any more. My heart sinks like a heavy stone in my chest, and my mind races to all sorts of horrible conclusions. Has she gone back to him? She’s his? Was our complicated relationship just too damn much for her to handle? She could have fucking said so. Has she been cheating on me … with him?

  This can’t be happening. She wouldn’t do this. I thought—I thought I knew her better than this. After everything we’ve shared with each other about our past relationships, this is what I get? I clutch my head in my hands. No. She wouldn’t do this.

  The unknown proves to be too much for me to take. On a strangled growl, I grab my coat and head home.

  Chapter 29

  Hadleigh

  From the front door, I call out to Sawyer as I let myself in. “Sawyer, are you still here?” We’d called it a night at eleven because the girls knew I wanted to get back and tell him what’s been going on. Hopefully, he won’t be too upset because it’s way past time for me to spill everything, lay it all out there, and see where we go from here. I have a good feeling about it, though. In my heart I know Sawyer is the kind of man who will stand by me.

  I smile when Space Ghost comes trotting up to me and bend down to give him a rub on the back of his neck. I raise my voice. “Sawyer?” I look around for a second, searching for any sign that he’s here. The TV is on in the living room. I worry my lip with my teeth as I look around. I guess he fed the cat and went home because Space Ghost is watching the History Channel all by himself.

  “Why would he have gone home?” I wrinkle my nose in confusion and then remember I need to check my messages since I’d left my phone on my dresser before I went out. I head to my bedroom to retrieve it, but it’s not there. I make a slow turn around the room, frowning. “Well, shit.” In a huff, partly because I was finally ready to talk to Sawyer tonight about everything and he’s not here and partly because I can’t find the damn phone, I march back out to the living room.

  “Ah-ha.” I spy it on the coffee table … where I know for sure I didn’t leave it. I’m filled with dread as I cross the room and snatch it up. Instantly, I know Sawyer must have seen something on my phone. Ugh, how many times did I think to myself that I need to change the settings on my phone so pictures and messages aren’t immediately visible?

  And sure enough, when I look at the locked screen, there are two new messages from Ed, one of which is another nude photo. The third message is from Sawyer.

  Sawyer: You could have just told me you were with him again.

  Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. I moan and lift a shaking hand to my forehead. Well, that’s confirmation that Sawyer saw the nude photo … and the text where Ed said I’m his. But I’m not and won’t ever be again, thank you very much.

  I quickly click on Sawyer’s contact info and put a call through to him. It rings several times and then goes directly to voice mail. Shit. I rub at my face in frustration. The last thing I’d wanted was for him to find out about the photos this way. And I definitely see how he could assume the worst from the text. Damn, damn, damn.

  “Sawyer, pick up. I need to talk to you. There are things I need to tell you. I’m really sorry you saw those messages before I had a chance to say something, but it’s not what it looks like.” I exhale loudly into the phone. “Call me back when you get this. It doesn’t matter what time.”

  I follow that up with a text.

  Me: It’s not what you think. Please talk to me.

  And then one to my girls, too.

  Me: Ed texted another photo along with a message and Sawyer saw it while he was kitty-sitting.

  Quinn: Oh, shit.

  Sophia: Did you try calling?

  Me: He’s not answering.

  Zoey: Could you go to him? Try to explain?

  Me: I’ve never been to his apartment. I don’t know where he is.

  Madison: Oh, girl. I’m so sorry.

  Piper: What are you going to do?

  Me: I feel like I’ve done all I can until he either contacts me or I see him at school on Monday.

  Sophia: Can I just say I think it’s strange he’d automatically assume you’re cheating on him or something?

  Quinn: Yeah … I’m kind of mad for you.

  I wince. I could so easily say the same, except I know things about Sawyer that they don’t. I know what Tara did to him and how badly it messed him up. I just need to make him see that I’m not her.


  Me: I get why you’d think it’s not cool that he’d make assumptions, but I also understand why it would look that way to him.

  Me: And I really feel like this is at least partly my fault.

  Chapter 30

  Sawyer

  It’s an interesting coincidence that I’d planned to go see the finals of the regional wrestling championship, which are taking place at NHS this morning starting at nine, as part of my student teaching observations. I’d also volunteered to take a shift at the snack bar, and now I’m totally wishing I hadn’t because after last night, I’d like to just skip out on the whole damn thing.

  I’d awoken this morning after a fitful sleep not feeling very confident. I’m torn up inside; I’m confused, and if I’m honest, more than a little hurt about what’s going on. Why the fuck does that man have naked photos of my girlfriend? I’m not sure when I’d started considering her mine, but to have him say in that text that she’s his had thrown me for a loop, too.

  Comparisons of my relationships with Tara and Hadleigh had plagued my mind half the night. After I’d finally fallen asleep, I’d dreamed of Hadleigh wet and naked like she’d been in the photo—with Ed’s hands all over her. It’s no surprise that I feel kind of sick to my stomach this morning.

  After I’ve gotten dressed, I switch my phone back on to see a message from Hadleigh. It isn’t what I think it is. Hmm. Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t, but I’m stubborn as a mule when I’m hurting. I feel crushed knowing he’s still in contact with her, still calling her his.

  Out in the kitchen, Willow is attempting to cook again. I hadn’t told her what was going on, I’d just gone straight to bed last night. She eyes me warily from the cooktop where she’s burning some scrambled eggs.

  Without a word, I shake my head at her, gently direct her to step aside, and start the process over again. I can feel her watching me guardedly like I’m a bomb that could explode at any given moment.

  Once I’m finished cooking her eggs, I hand her a plateful and she frowns, giving me a funny look. “None for you?”

  “I’m not hungry.” My jaw goes rigid as I gather my keys, wallet, and phone, then shove them into my pockets.

  Willow sits at the kitchen island, jabbing a fork into her eggs. “I’m going to kill her, you know.”

  Yeah, I kind of both hate and love that Willow knows me well enough to know that something is really wrong.

  I pull my coat off the hook at the door and slip my arms into it, yanking it up. I mumble, “I’m just pissed and need some time to process things.”

  Abandoning her food, she stands up and faces me, arms crossed over her chest. Her chin juts out. “I’m serious. I’ll kick her ass. She knows what you went through with Tara. Did she cheat? Is that what’s going on?”

  I clamp my mouth shut and raise both hands to my head, scrubbing my scalp like it’ll somehow bring clarity to the situation. All at once, I burst. “I don’t fucking know. There was a photo and a text from that guy she was seeing before me and—I just don’t know what it all means. I’m confused. She says it’s not what I think, and I’m inclined to believe her because the guy is a total dick but—” I huff out a breath. I drop my arms to my sides in defeat. “Will, you can’t kick her ass or kill her.”

  “Well, why the fuck not?”

  The words are wrenched from my very soul. “Because I’m in love with her.”

  Willow blinks and her lips part. “Oh.” Blinks again. “Well, what are you going to do? Have you even talked to her?” Willow knows me well enough to know I haven’t.

  “No.” My voice is clipped. “I wasn’t ready to yet—like I said, I’m thinking and processing.”

  She groans. “Sawyer. If you love her like I think you do, you need to actually communicate with her. I know this is how you get when you are frustrated, not wanting to talk to anyone, but if you want this to work …”

  “I know. I do.” With a jerk, I yank up my coat’s zipper and shove my hands in the pockets. “I’ve got to go to this damn wrestling tournament because I volunteered to work at the snack bar for an hour, but then I’ll be back and can try to figure out what to do.”

  Willow’s laugh is incredulous. “But isn’t the jackass she used to date the wrestling coach?”

  “Yeah. I’m sure it’s going to be awesome.” I truly don’t want to be anywhere near Ed Haskin today. I’d contemplated not going at all, but in the end, why let him win? He can’t take everything from me, and my career is important, too. “I’m just going to go watch for a while so I can say I was there, work the shift I signed up for, and then I’m going to get the fuck out of there. I’ll be back later.”

  The squeaking of wrestling shoes on the mats, intermittent grunting, the cheering of the crowd, and a shrill whistle clue me in that I’m in the right place before I even turn the corner. I glance around, looking for Ed so I can avoid him as best as possible. I enter the gym and walk around the competition area to take a seat on the bleachers. I watch for several minutes, breathing slowly, trying to calm my thundering heart. I know he’s here somewhere; I just haven’t laid eyes on him yet. Fuck. This sucks.

  Sure enough, out of the corner of my eye I spot someone walking toward me. It’s Ed, of course, and if I were a betting man—given the look on his face—I’d say things are about to get interesting.

  The last damn thing I want is for this to be a public shouting match, so with a sigh, I stand up. He raises his brows and jerks his head toward the locker room. I nod and follow him through the doorway.

  When the door shuts behind us, he spins on his heel, eyeing me with such disdain I wonder if there’s actually something else I’ve done to offend this man. There’s not. He slowly shakes his head, an odd smile on his face. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to talk to you alone.” He props his hands on his hips. “So, you decided to fuck your teacher, eh?” He grins at me like he thinks this is the funniest thing in the world. “Must be lots of fun, sneaking around. She’ll get tired of it, though.”

  I roll my eyes and shake my head. I’m not admitting a damn thing to this asshole. My mind works quickly, trying to figure out his angle. “What’s your deal, man? I don’t understand what you want from me.”

  “Did she show you the pictures I took of her? She posed like that—for me. She’ll come back to me eventually.”

  She’ll come back to him. Which means she’s not with him now. I eye him carefully, wondering what sort of person sends photos like that to someone they are no longer with. And why does he still have photos of his ex in the first damn place? “Okay, man. Whatever. I’m going to go finish watching the tournament. Thanks for the talk.”

  I’m not about to play into his hand or give him any info even though it’s instantly crystal clear what an idiot I’ve been to think for a second that Hadleigh would cheat on me—especially with him. I’m not going to let him know that. I turn and shove through the door, my mind reeling with what he’s unwittingly revealed to me. Little bits of a conversation she and I had not too long ago come back to me, adding fuel to my fire. I think her exact words were that he’s possessive when he shouldn’t be. And that would be because she’s not with him.

  I find a quiet corner amid the cheering and do some quick googling, wanting to know just what the legal repercussions are for harassment, because it’s clear the very thing Hadleigh has been trying to hide from me is what I’d unknowingly stumbled upon last night. I’m now one hundred percent certain he’s been harassing her with photos he’d taken of her when they were dating. Fuck knows what else he’s been texting her.

  I rub my forehead as I slowly shake my head. By jumping to hurt-fueled conclusions instead of just talking to her, I may very well have messed this up. My eyes glaze over, and I can’t concentrate on anything going on around me. I need to fix this with her. Now.

  Bottom line: I love Hadleigh. I trust Hadleigh. I need to make this right.

  I thumb open my messages, read her text from last night, and send a reply.

&
nbsp; Me: I’m an idiot. I’ll come by once I’m done at this wrestling tournament.

  My heart leaps as the little dots start to jump, and I smile, throwing up a silent prayer that I’ll be able to explain to Hadleigh how I’d been wrong to not talk to her last night. I hope she doesn’t hate me for it.

  Hadleigh: You’re not an idiot. And OMG, what are you doing there?

  Me: I’d already planned to attend today because it’s such a big school event.

  Me: I volunteered to work the snack bar, which I need to go do in a sec.

  Me: Ed actually cleared a few things up for me. He can’t help but run his mouth.

  Hadleigh: Why does that scare the shit out of me?

  Me: No worries. I’ll come by your place in a little while.

  An hour later, my shift at the snack bar wraps up, so I bolt. I turn the corner to head to the parking lot only to find Ed right there, leaning against the building, the same way he’d been the other day while spying on us. He pushes off the wall and blocks my path, so I stop.

  “Do you need something else from me? Shouldn’t you be in there with your team?”

  He shrugs, “Nah.” One side of his mouth turns up in a smirk. “You know, you can have her. She’s a slut and a bad lay, anyway.”

  My mouth drops open, and I’m so gobsmacked by his words I can’t help but chuckle. His outburst gives me more confidence in what I’m about to say. “You know, based on the text you sent last night, I think you still want her. And I’d bet it makes you angry that she doesn’t feel anything for you anymore. Doesn’t want you at all. You lost the best thing that ever happened to you because you were too stupid to do right by her.”