Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right

“But why would he ask that? I wondered.

I couldn’t figure it out, so I just replied with a quick [?].

Hayden didn’t respond. By the time I got to the restaurant, he’d already had breakfast and headed out to the amusement park.

Overnight, they’d fixed up the park’s electrical circuits, and Hayden had jumped right into testing the lights. I was pretty much his QC, checking the lights as he adjusted them. If something wasn’t right, he’d tweak it until it was. NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.

It hit me that he was dead serious about not letting my health get in the way of work. He was like a machine, barely taking a break, which meant I had to keep up with him like I was on some crazy hamster wheel.

I could barely get a few sips of water in, and I was scared to drink too much since that meant bathroom trips. If I took too long, he might finish adjusting a set of lights. Every time I missed an inspection, he’d have to wait, dragging out the process even more.

After three days of this grind, I had ulcers in my mouth, but when I looked at Hayden–who also wasn’t drinking much water–he seemed totally fine. I couldn’t help but feel a bit weak compared to him.

“Keira, drink some water! If you don’t, you’re gonna dry up like an old prune,” said Demi. She had been sharing a room with me, so she noticed my struggle and felt sorry for me.

I laughed. “Even if I dry up, I’ll still be a cute dried–up prune.”

I tilted

my

head back to take a drink, but as I did, I caught Hayden’s gaze from upstairs. Our eyes locked for a split second, and I nearly choked on the water.

“Why are you chugging it like that?” Demi said, patting my back to help me catch my breath.

Just then, Hayden came down the stairs. He grabbed a bottle of water, twisted off the cap, and started drinking.

He drank fast, his Adam’s apple bobbing with each gulp. I couldn’t help but swallow hard myself.

It was just a reflex–I knew that.

But for s

some reason, I couldn’t stop noticing Hayden’s Adam’s apple.

Was it possible I had a thing for them?

The thought made me choke on my water again. Demi rushed over, patting my back. “Why do you keep choking? Is your throat inflamed too?”

As soon as she said that, Hayden looked at me.

I quickly shook my head. “No, I just drank too fast.”

Are you sure you’re not inflamed?” Hayden asked, his eyes lingering on my lips.

I pressed my lips together, shaking my head again. “I’m not.”

“Of cour

she is! She’s been avoiding water because she didn’t want to slow you down with bathroom. breaks. Now her mouth’s full of ulcers, and she can’t even eat,” Demi blurted out, spilling all my secrets.

Hayden walked over, standing right in front of me. “Open your mouth.”

I was too stunned to move, and Demi’s eyes widened in shock too.

The next second, Hayden reached out, pinched my chin, and forced my mouth open. After a quick glance, he let go and said, “You’ve got ulcers.”

He then turned to the wide–eyed Demi. “Go get some ulcer relief spray and anti–inflammatory meds.”

Demi nodded, mumbling a quick “Oh,” before turning to leave.

But then she paused and turned back. “Mr. Hart, aren’t you a lighting engineer? How do you know so much about medicine?”

Still feeling awkward from the whole chin–pinching thing. I jumped in to answer for him. “He used to be in the military.”

Demi gave me a curious look, about to say something more

Hayden cut her off. “Aren’t you going?”

As soon as I said that, Demi looked at me, and just as she was about to speak, Hayden cut in, “Aren’t you going?”

“I…” Demi started, but then caught my look and seemed to remember something. She quickly left without another word.

I turned to Hayden. “Next time-

But before I could finish, Demi’s voice rang out from a distance. “Mr. Johnston, good morning!”

My heart skipped a beat as I thought, ‘Jace’s here?!