Chapter 78

When Hayden stepped in from the balcony, he caught sight of me, asleep at my desk. The soft, warm glow from the lamp spilled over my face, and I could feel his eyes on me.

I could sense him nearby, but I couldn't bring myself to wake up.

After what felt like forever, I heard his voice—low and gentle—whispering, "Kiki..."

Kiki?!

Was he talking to me?

Yeah, he was.

Before I moved in with the Johnstons, my parents called me Kiki, not Rea. But it had been forever since anyone used that name.

"Hey, I'm Kiki."

In my dream, I saw a little girl with two buns and a chubby face, calling out to an older boy.

The boy didn't say much, just kind of kept to himself.

Suddenly, I was that little girl, and Hayden was the boy. I was riding on his back.

"Haddy, you smell nice..." I said, "There's a little black bean on the back of your neck. I'll get it for you."

"Don't pinch it, Kiki. That hurts," said the boy. "Kiki, I'm tired. Can we stop running?"

...

"Mommy, I like Haddy. I want to marr