Chapter 159
~ Nathaniel ~
That rejection hurt more than I wanted to admit.
More than it should have, really. Hailey had barely looked at me. Had cut me off mid-sentence. Had fled like being near me was physically painful.
I swallowed the hurt. Pushed it down. Reminded myself that she'd said Trice was in trouble. That her panic wasn't about me—it was about something else. Something serious.
But it still stung.
I'd literally rehearsed what I was going to say to Hailey. Had practiced in my head while sitting through that board meeting. Had planned out how I'd approach her, what tone I'd use, how I'd offer to drive her home and use that time to finally have an honest conversation.
That was so unlike me. I never rehearsed conversations with women. Never overthought interactions or worrie
