Chapter 86

My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn't move.

Hayden stayed put too, his eyes locked on mine.

We were staring straight into each other's eyes, totally frozen.

Neither of us budged—no stepping closer, no pulling away.

It was like I could feel our hearts racing together...

Until some old lady's voice outside shattered the moment: "That new tenant's boyfriend sure knows how to clean. Look at that staircase!"

Reality crashed down on me. I shoved Hayden away and bolted for the living room.

But once I got there, I just stood around, totally clueless about what to do next. My mind was a total mess.

Hayden followed me, breaking the silence with a casual, "Is this your parents' old place?"

I paused, confused about how he knew that, until I noticed him standing by the wall where all our family photos were hung.

"You still look a lot like you did as a kid," he said, almost like he was stating the obvious.

The wall was covered with my childhood awards and family portraits. In one