“I just want to make sure my brothers aren't driving you crazy,” I said. “I can only imagine how overwhelming this has to be for you.”
“Yeah, tell me about it,” she said and laughed, the irritation in her eyes fading.
She invited me in and we started talking about books and writing. She'd asked me upstairs to read something she wrote. That was it.
In Ben's mind, however, there was only one reason I'd be in a girl's room, because there was only one reason he'd be in a girl's room.
After the fight with Leo, I was ahead of Ben as we ran back up the stairs to Hailey's room. Taking two steps at a time, I reached the top first and ran straight for her room. The door was closed, so I knocked softly. Ben, however, didn't wait for an answer and opened the door right up, barging his way inside.
Hailey was on her bed, curled up in a fetal position with her pillow. Her eyes were red and puffy and there was a look of absolute fear mixed with shame etched upon her face. My heart ached when I saw her, and she jumped when we came in the door.
“Is he gone?” she whimpered.
“He's gone,” I said, walking toward her with Ben following closely behind. “The cops took him away.”
She wiped at her eyes. “He'll be back,” she said. “He has money and he never gets put away for long.”
She spoke with a knowledge that only comes from having experienced it all before.
I sat down on the floor beside the bed while Ben sat on the end of it. I stared into her eyes and remembered how much I'd crushed on her back when we were in high school. The quiet girl in creative writing class that had so much talent, yet she wouldn't talk to me. Even when I tried, she would stare at her shoes and mumble her responses. I didn't want to make her uncomfortable back then, and I certainly didn't want to make her uncomfortable now.
I couldn't help myself as I reached up and stroked her cheek, half expecting her to pull away. Instead, she closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh, her body relaxing into my touch.
“If he comes back, we'll kick his ass again,” I said. “Won't we, Ben?”
“Of course,” he said. “And we'll keep kicking his ass until he gets the hint that he's not wanted around here. He's done hurting you, Hailey.”
“He's no match for the three of us,” I said, knowing that when he found out what happened, Cason would be on board as well.
“You don't know him, Quinn,” she said, opening her eyes and staring at me once more. “He's persistent. He won't stop until he gets what he wants.”
“Yeah, well, stubbornness happens to be a McCormick family trait,” I said.
Her voice cracked. “Why would you do that for me?”
I wanted to tell her that I'd always found her beautiful, even back in high school when she didn't believe it. I wanted to say that I admired her talent, her sweetness, and everything about her. That I could see myself one day falling in love with her. Ben answered for me, “Because we don't put up with men treating women like that,” he said. “It's not right, Hailey. He needs to be put in his place.”
I nodded, resting my head on her bed, but never taking my eyes off her. Her eyes filled with tears, but she wiped them away, sitting up and sniffling. I could see the effort she was making to regain her composure and sense of dignity.
“I still don't get why you guys are all over me,” she said, a small smile on her lips. “Since I came back, it's like I can't get rid of you.”
My heart sank. “Do you want to get rid of us?”
“No, it's just-- where did ya'll come from?” she said. “We weren't close before, and suddenly – poof – I can't get rid of you. Any of you. I show up more attractive and suddenly you're all over me.”
“We've always been here, Hailey,” I said softly. “Some of us more than others.”
I didn't mean it as a direct attack at Ben, but he looked down at me, scolding
me with his eyes. I continued since it was the truth.
“Remember that short story you read aloud in high school?” I asked. “The one Mrs. Howards made you read even though you fought tooth and nail to stay quiet in your corner?”
She nodded.
“I told you afterward how much I loved it,” I said. “And I meant it. I tried to talk to you then, but you pushed me away.”
“Because I was scared,” she admitted.