15HaydenA few hours agoA small grunt escaped my throat as I pushed the heavy weights from my body, focusing on my breathing despite the heavy soreness of my arms. One more round, and I am done. Just one more. Breathing deep through my nose and slowly pulling the heavy weights down to my chest. Holding them there for two more seconds, I pushed, exhaling through my nose and keeping the bar on the rack. I sighed, taking the face towel and wiping the sweat off my brows. “How’s it going, man?” one of the veterans, Jim, clapped my shoulder as I drank some water mixed with a protein shake. I nodded at him, “Doing alright, Jim. How are the kids?”He smiled just at the question, and I knew he was doing well. “They are little stubborn shits but Mary and I couldn’t be happier.” His expression said it all. I tried not to make a point of looking at his prosthetic leg when he sat down beside me on the other bench press. “Tell Mary I loved her cookies. Take care, soldier,” I said, standing up

17HaydenI had lost the number of counts I had imagined her soft pillowy lips. Kissing them, biting them, claiming them. Of her arms wrapped around me, urging me closer and parting her soft thighs for me. I had squeezed my eyes shut, shivering and swallowing the sweet hums of her. Her fingers were in my hair, keeping me close, as if she was afraid I would pull away. I was scared that if I opened my eyes, it would be just another dream. I would wake up in my bed, dark, cold and alone. That her warmth would leave me. The aching press of her body, gently rocking against me, would disappear.A groan left my lips when I felt the metal on her tongue and pulled her closer, squeezing her hips with my other hand. She had her tongue pierced. “This…” I murmured between the kiss. Eyes closed and kissing her beauty spot. I could trace it with my tongue even if I was blind. “This feels like a dream,” I breathed out, her hot breath brushing against my jaw as her hands fidgeted with the collar of m

19HaydenI wanted to make sure Zara entered the house before driving away. Frowning, I leaned closer when I saw someone in a suit walking towards her, hair blond. I remembered that guy. Ivy and Zara’s mutual friend, Noah. The guy she was sleeping with. My hands clenched into a fist when they talked, too far for me to hear anything or even read lips. With horror, I saw her leading him inside and closing the door behind them. “Fuck,” I cursed, wanting to punch something or go in there and do some not-so civil or gentlemanly things to Zara. I dialled Aiden’s number again, a headache forming in my head. But he didn’t pick up. When it went to voicemail, I said, “Call me. It’s color red.” Color red was one term we had made up to let the other person know when things were looking terrible. I glanced at Zara’s house and drove away. I didn’t want to stay outside her house like a creep and hear… whatever they were doing inside. I told myself that it didn’t matter. Zara and I had just met to

PART THREE“You have a dirty little mouth. I am going to fuck it.” 21HaydenThe lights of the living room were on. Zara followed me wordlessly. I looked over my shoulder to make sure she could walk properly without hurting herself. She offered me a small smile, and I quickly looked away. “Ah, Hayden… and Ivy’s friend,” my father said, standing up from the couch. “I am glad you are here.”I glanced at Ivy, who had a blanket around her with heavy bags under her eyes. Zara walked towards her, ignoring my sister’s concern about the bandages on Zara’s knees. “Why are you here?” I asked my father. “Ivy, you need to rest. Go back to bed. Did you eat?”“I had some chicken soup.”“Hayden, Ivy, I need to talk to both of you,” my father said, looking at Zara. Zara stood up, “I will leave then—”I stopped her. “Wait in Ivy’s room. I need to talk to you.” About the two men who had been following you and might have hurt you. Zara peered at me from under her lashes and nodded slowly. My sister

23ZaraI had been embarrassed to even think that Hayden would ever want to date me. He had said that he dated seriously someone in high school. That too for a week. He was not someone you could settle with. Even Ivy had mentioned the night before the trip that it might be hard to convince Hayden for a relationship. But, as a grown woman, I had pushed those thoughts away. The weather was warm in Almas Peninsula. We were both stiff limbed and jet legged for trying to sleep for a few hours and cheerily woken up by the air hostess. I had been so shocked waking up from the deep sleep that I had clutched Hayden’s arm as if it was my life support. “He should be here by now,” Hayden murmured, checking his phone for the cab that would take us to the cabin. “We can get an Uber,” I said, hiding my yawn in a fist and looking around at the scenery. Cool breeze made me shiver despite how hot I felt standing under the scorching heat. “Come on.” His hand wrapped around my wrist, dragging me to t