HADE: Bonus Chapter

Hayden and Riley's journey to their happy ending wasn't easy or straightforward, but it was full of love and healing.

The little family Hayden created with Riley is his everything, and he's striving to be the best dad and husband for his girls. This chapter takes place 2 years after the epilogue.

I hope you'll enjoy this bonus chapter and will like seeing familiar faces.

Happy reading 💙!

HAYDEN

Two years later

“Hey, bud. How are you?”

Santi grins at me from my phone screen. “I’m fine. School was great, and I even scored at the game on Friday.”

“Wow! That’s amazing! I’m really proud of you.” I tilt my head to the side. “How’s your mom?”

“She’s good.” He moves closer, his face now taking up my whole screen. “She was on a date, but she thinks I don’t know about it. Just because I’m a kid, that doesn’t mean I don’t understand anything.”

I barely hold myself back from laughing. He’s right. Riley and I had a FaceTime call with Ines a couple of days ago, and she swore Santi had no idea she’s been seeing Keith, a gallery owner she met at an exhibition a few months ago. She was sure Santi thinks he’s just a friend she met at work. I tried to warn her that her kid is way smarter and more observant than she gives him credit for, but of course I was told I was wrong.

“Do you like this guy?”

He scrunches his nose, threading his fingers through his curly chestnut hair, and nods. “Uh-huh. He’s fun, and makes mom smile.”

“Yeah, making your mom smile definitely earns him points.”

The grin that breaks over his face makes my heart pang. Owen has been gone for seven years, but with each day that passes, his boy reminds me of him more. The same upturned nose, the same curly hair, the same smile.

I love this little guy as if he’s my own, and I will do anything for him and his mom.

He tells me all about the game, and I promise him that my girls and I will visit him and Ines next month. When I end the call, I can’t help myself. I send a quick text to Ines, using the group chat that includes Riley.

Me: Ines, I was right

Ines: what are you talking about? 👀

Me: Santi knows you were on a date

Ines: wtf 😱 tell me you’re joking

Love 🩰: I can’t see his face rn, but I’m sure he’s feeling really smug

I snort.

Me: of course I am. I told you both he’s an observant little fella. Not my fault none of you listened to me

Ines: how do I know it wasn’t you who told him?

Me:

Me: the audacity in the chat is astounding

Love 🩰: you’re ridiculous

Me: I am not

Ines: fine, I know you wouldn’t have told him. And thanks for telling me. now I’ll need to figure out how to talk to him about it

Me: you’re very welcome

I slip the phone in my pocket and push the car door open. The salt air hits me the second I step onto the pavement. The sun is out, the temperature warm, though the breeze coming off the water slips under my T-shirt and goosebumps erupt along my arms as I head toward the beach.

I promised Riley I would meet her and the girls here after I finished recording and sent it to the guys. They seem to like the music so far. Bo and Jimmy already have suggestions for what they want to add, and Glenn sent me a five-minute long voice message, telling me how excited he is for the new music.

I’m excited too, I have so many new ideas for our next album. And recording again means I have to be in New York next month. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the guys. We took a year-long break after our last tour. After so much time on the road, we all needed one. We visit here and there, and we talk to each other weekly, but it’s not the same as being in the studio together, and it’ll feel good to work on something new.

The kids’ laughter reaches my ears as I step onto the sand. Riley sits cross-legged on the blanket spread over the sand with Daisy on her lap with one arm wrapped securely around our wiggly little girl. Her friend Mia is beside her, sunglasses pushed up into her black hair. Both women watch as Iris builds a sandcastle with Mia’s boys.

Closer to the water, Iris is knee-deep in sand, fiercely focused on what looks like the most ambitious castle this beach has ever seen. Noah and Tyler hover around her, and from what I can tell, it looks like Noah is trying to “improve” things by sticking shells into the towers. Iris swats his hand away without even looking at him. Tyler, though, hands her wet sand like a loyal assistant, and she rewards him with a quick smile.

Iris and Noah are classmates, though she tends to get along better with his younger brother. Mostly because Noah is a troublemaker. And the kid is only six. For now, my daughter is not impressed.

I shake my head, smiling to myself. Some dynamics start early.

I drop down onto the blanket beside Riley and press a quick kiss to her temple. Then I brush my thumb over Daisy’s chubby cheek. She grabs my finger immediately.

“Hey,” Riley says. “I wasn’t sure you’d make it. I thought you’d get stuck in the studio the whole day.”

“I promised I’d be there, so here I am,” I murmur.

Mia laughs. “We’re glad you decided to join us. Especially since Nastya and Chiara bailed on us."

“Happy to keep you company.” I survey the kids. “Iris is really bossing them around.”

“She’s managing the project,” my wife corrects. “There’s a difference.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Noah needs to be bossed around a little, and Iris is doing a great job handling him.” Mia shrugs. “Ty is softer. He’s just happy his big brother and his friend want to play with him.”

I stretch my legs out and look over at Mia. “You and Dom are still coming over later, right? I reminded Dom about it at the gym yesterday, but I’m not sure if he actually told you.”

Mia turns to me with an eyebrow arched. “Oh, we’re still on for that?”

“Of course we are.”

She smiles wider. “Because my husband is currently waiting for you at the shop. You know, where he told you to bring your car to so he and Miles could look at it?”

I blink. “Right.”

Riley snorts. “You forgot. Just like we suspected.”

I rough a hand down my face. “I may have slightly overbooked myself.”

“Slightly?”

“Okay, fine. Completely.” I shake my head and groan. “I guess I’ll leave here a little early.”

While the women laugh, I lean back on my hands, relishing the way the sound mixes with the waves and the distant shouts of kids arguing over sand architecture.

After a few peaceful moments, I slide an arm under Daisy and lift her off Riley’s lap. My daughter lets out a pleased little sound and grabs a fistful of my tee like she’s afraid I might disappear.

“Be right back.” I stand and head toward the water.

The sand is cool and packed near the shoreline. As thin wave rolls in and retreats, loving the shore, I shift Daisy on my hip and point with my chin.

“I don’t know about you, baby girl, but the ocean has always fascinated me. It’s big and loud, and scary sometimes. But when my brain is overloaded or I’m overstimulated, the sound of it brings me calm and steadiness.”

She fixes her blue eyes on me, then looks at the water. I use this moment to hide my nose in her blonde hair. A faint scent of caramel from her mom lingers on her skin, along with apples and milk. The best smell in the world.

As I bounce her gently, a melody slips into my head. Cozy, and familiar. One I haven’t heard in a long time. Owen wrote it years ago for Santi. A silly, sweet little tune about sleepy stars and brave sea turtles.

I hum it under my breath, looking out over the water.

Daisy stills, listening. Her fingers loosen in my shirt.

I sway a little with the rhythm, humming the part my best friend used to sing off-key to make Santi laugh.

“Uncle Owen would’ve loved you, baby,” I murmur to my little girl. “He would’ve written you your own song.”

Her face lights up with a smile, and I press her closer to me. My daughters and Riley are the most precious gifts this life has given me. I will never stop cherishing them.

I kiss the top of Daisy’s head and turn back toward the blanket.

The scene has shifted. Iris and the boys are now on the blanket, paper plates in their hands, sticky fingers wrapped around slices of watermelon. Riley and Mia are mid-conversation, both laughing again.

I sit beside my wife and perch Daisy on my lap. Then I lean over and press another kiss to Riley’s temple. She smiles without even looking at me, like she knew I’d do it. Maybe I’m a little predictable, but I can’t do anything about it. I’m still just as obsessed with her as I was after that night we swore it would be “just once.”

I need to take my car to Dom, but I can’t tear myself away. I just need a few more minutes.

The moment is perfect. My beautiful wife and her friend chat away, the kids are covered in fruit juice and sand. And the sound of the ocean is the perfect soundtrack. This is more than I ever dreamed I’d have. And I often still can’t wrap my mind how this is my life.

This is so much more precious than anything material.

It’s indeed the love song I’m writing for and with my girls’ help.

This is my family. The life I’m building with Ry. And this is exactly where I want to be.

***

Thank you so much for reading!

With love,

Ana