“Why?” she growls.
“Because I want to make things right.”
“You already blew that chance, don’t you see? You used her …” she says. “You should’ve stayed away when you had the chance.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, really, I am. I never wanted to break her heart. I … I …” I don’t want to say these words over the phone, and I don’t want to say them to her.
I want to say them to Hailey.
I want to say them when I can see her. Face to face.
“What are you gonna do then, huh? What’s left to say?”
“Anything. But I have to explain it to her. Please … she would want me to. You know that.”
She grumbles but doesn’t go against me. “Fine. If you have to know, she’s at Saint Lucas’s Hospital.”
My jaw drops. “What? Has something happened to her?”
“Not her, her mom.”
Oh, god.
This couldn’t have come at a worse possible time.
“I’m not there yet, but I will be once I’ve finished my test. You’d better get there before I do because I can’t allow you to hurt her anymore.”
“I understand,” I say. “Thank you.”
She hangs up, and I tuck my phone into my pocket and rush downstairs, back into my car, and race off.
30 minutes later
When I finally get there, I immediately go to the service desk and ask for the correct room number. I thank the nurse and rush upstairs and through the corridors until I finally reach the room. As I enter, everything grows quiet, and the moment she sees me, her face turns white.
“Hi,” I say, tentatively stepping inside.
“Hello. Who are you?” her mom asks.
She looks drowsy, weak, and definitely bruised. I wonder what happened. She looks like she had quite a rough time.
“I’m Thomas Hard. I’m your daughter’s teacher.” I frown. “Or at least, I was.”
“What are you doing here?” Hailey asks, the look on her face murderous.
“Um … I just came because … Well, I don’t really know why. I just want to be here for you.” I clear my throat when neither of them responds. “Are you okay, ma’am?”
“Well, as fine as can be when you’re in the hospital,” she muses, chuckling a bit, immediately coughing after.
“What happened?” I ask.
Her mom opens her mouth. “Oh, I fell—”
Hailey throws her mother a look. “Her boyfriend did this.”
My jaw drops. “What? Where is he now?” I growl.
Fuck. I never thought it’d go this far, but it does make sense considering what she told me.
“He’s gone,” her mom says. “He hasn’t come back since he tried to hit … Hailey.” She looks down at her blanket. “I think he’s trying to get away now that a nurse saw him do it.”
“So he’s on the run. Dammit …” I almost want to go after him, but I need to take care of my business here first. “Is there anything I can do for you ladies now that I’m here?” I ask.
“We don’t need you here.” Hailey’s sharp voice cuts through anything.
“I just want to help,” I say, smiling, but she won’t return my smile.
“And I don’t want your help,” she snaps.
I frown and rub my lips together looking at the floor. “Please …”
“Oh, Hailey, c’mon, he’s such a nice gentleman,” her mom says.
“Mom, no. You don’t know him.”
“You’re right. I don’t deserve to be here, and I don’t deserve you. I just wanted to talk, that’s all. Maybe there’s something I can do to make it easier.”
“Yeah, you can … by leaving.” Her words cut straight into my soul.
Fuck, I really hurt her badly.
“Hailey …” I sigh. “I’m sorry.”
“No,” she interjects. “Don’t. Not here.”
I nod slowly, grinding my teeth. “Please, let me explain—”
“Get out,” she hisses, getting up from her seat. “Just get out.”
I lift my hands. “Okay … okay …”
“Get out!” she yells.
“So you won’t give me a chance to explain?” I stare at her for a few seconds, but her lips are sealed shut.
I take a deep breath and nod.
I blew it.
I completely blew it.
Without even getting a chance to fix what I’d broken, I blew it all.
With slumped shoulders, I turn around and leave the room, but the struggle inside isn’t over yet. Not by a long shot. Even though I was defeated, I won’t give up.