Hailey Queen
Hailey didn’t realize how loud her crying had become until the door opened.
She was sitting on the floor beside the bed, her back against it, her knees pulled to her chest. Her face was buried in her hands, shoulders shaking, chest aching with every broken breath she took. She felt like something inside her had cracked open and refused to close again.
Then she heard footsteps.
She froze.
Before she could wipe her face or stand up, the room filled with his presence. She didn’t have to look up to know it was Ryan. The air shifted, heavy and tense, the way it always did when he was near.
“Hailey…”
His voice was low. Not sharp. Not mocking. Just… tired.
She looked up.
He was standing near the door, still in his jacket, keys clenched in his hand. His eyes went straight to
