019

Hailey's POV

As soon as I got home, I slammed the door behind me, my heart still racing from everything that had just happened. **Oh, Hailey!** I mentally scolded myself. **You swore you wouldn’t have sex with him again, yet here you are—again.** The memory of Paxton’s touch lingered, sending a shiver down my spine, and I groaned inwardly.

Jessy poked her head around the corner, a bright smile on her face. “Here, I made chicken sauce and rice for us,” she said, offering me a plate. Her enthusiasm contrasted sharply with the chaos swirling in my mind.

“Thanks,” I muttered, taking the plate without much thought.

“So,” Mia said, her voice rising with curiosity, “how did the plan go?” Her eyes sparkled as she leaned in, clearly expecting some grand revelation.

I forced a smile, trying to play it cool. “It went well... nothing much.” My words felt flat, but I didn’t want them to know how rattled I really was. I hurriedly finished my food, barely tasting it. My mind was still back at Paxton