Chapter 10 - Colliding Hearts by Delaila Adams
Chapter 10
Eden’s POV
Thankfully, Sadie wasn’t home when I walked in, so I got a little reprieve to unwind before being bombarded with questions about my date with Gavin. After standing at the door lost in thought, I set my things down and collapsed onto the couch. Memories of our “date” kept playing on a loop in my head, each one making me smile. I sat there, still in my day clothes, eyes locked on the blank TV screen as I resisted the urge to check my phone for any messages from him. I knew it was silly, but Gavin was all I could think about. Just as I reached for my phone again, Sadie burst through the door.
"Spill everything!" she demanded, setting her purse on the table by the door before hopping onto the couch beside me. With a sigh, I started telling Sadie every detail from the moment we left my place, to the kiss, and finally to when he dropped me off. Sadie just stared at me in silence, absorbing it all.
"Wow," she finally said, her eyes wide. "Who would've thought Gavin Hayes would spend the whole day at an aquarium with you?"
"Thanks a lot," I muttered, fiddling with my new necklace.
"You're welcome! So, did you guys make plans for another date?"
"No, he just said, 'I'll see you later' and left it at that," I admitted, trying not to sound disappointed.
"Don’t worry. He’s definitely going to ask you out again," she reassured me as she stood up. "What do you want for dinner?" I glanced at the clock above the TV and saw it was already six. Wow, I’d been out with Gavin all day.
"I don’t care. Want to cook something, or should we order out?" I said, stretching as I got up.
"Let’s order Chinese!" Sadie called from the kitchen.
"Sounds good. Want me to place the order?" After a quick "yes," I picked up my phone and called the local Chinese place down the street, a spot we’d ordered from so many times that I had their number memorized. Shung Ho had the best pad thai and orange chicken. After ordering our usual, I headed to my room to change into my favorite sweats and an oversized T-shirt.
I’m the kind of person who immediately changes into pajamas or comfy clothes when I get home. Sitting around in regular clothes just isn’t for me. As I was washing my face, the doorbell rang. That was fast, but since Shung Ho was practically next door, I shouldn’t have been surprised. Sadie was already paying by the time I left my room. I walked over, shaking my head.
"I was going to pay tonight, you know," I said.
"It’s fine, Eden. I’ve got it." She flashed a smile, and I knew better than to argue. I joined her on the couch, tying my hair up as she laid out the containers on the coffee table and went to grab forks and napkins. I opened the boxes, and the delicious smell of pad thai, orange chicken, teriyaki, and fried rice filled the room. Sadie returned with the forks, and I grabbed the remote, flipping on Friends, our favorite show.
We ate in silence, engrossed in the episode. Once we finished, we started tidying up.
"So…are you going to text him?" Sadie asked as we finished cleaning.
"I don’t know. Maybe tomorrow," I shrugged, wiping my hands dry.
"Why wait until tomorrow? Just text him now!"
"I don’t want to seem too eager."
Sadie fell silent, eyeing my phone on the couch. Just as I sensed her plan, she lunged for it. I sprang up and reached to stop her, but she was quick. “No, Sadie, don’t!”
“Yes, you need to talk to him!” she argued, grabbing the phone. I lunged and managed to grab her ankle, trying to stop her from sending anything. But then, she flashed a triumphant grin.
"It’s done. You’re welcome," she said, dropping my phone on my lap.
"Sadie! Did you seriously text him?" I yelled, but she was already walking away. Great. Now I had no choice but to wait for Gavin’s reply. After five long minutes, I put the phone down, telling myself to keep busy.
I found Sadie in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and scrolling on her phone. I sighed as I walked over. She looked up with a guilty smile.
“You’re not actually mad, are you?” she asked, giving me her puppy-dog eyes.
I shook my head. "No, I’m not."
"Good. I did it for you because I know you wouldn’t do it yourself. I couldn’t handle you checking your phone every five seconds.”
"I wasn’t checking it every five seconds!" I protested, though I knew she had a point. I’d been obsessively checking since I got home.
Sadie just rolled her eyes. "I just want you to be happy. You’ve never seemed truly happy, not since leaving your family. Remember how excited you were when we left for NYU?"
"Yeah," I admitted, reminiscing. "Leaving was one of the best decisions of my life. But I don’t want to fall for a guy like him and end up heartbroken."
"I get that, and I won’t let him hurt you. But give it a chance. See where it goes."
"You’re right," I nodded, feeling a little reassured.
"When did you get so wise?" I teased, nudging her shoulder.
"Please, I’ve always been the smart one," she shot back, rolling her eyes.
"Nah, I’ve always been the one with the brains here!"
"Says the girl who just used the term ‘smarty pants’.”
Our banter was interrupted when my phone rang. We both froze, eyes wide as we realized who it could be. I lunged for the phone, beating Sadie to it by giving her a little push. Out of breath, I answered without even checking the ID.
"Hello?" I said, trying to sound composed.
"Hey, Eden? Are you alright?" Gavin’s voice asked through the phone.
"What? Oh, yeah! Just… exercising," I said, glaring at Sadie, who was giving me an exasperated look.
Gavin chuckled. "Anyway, I’ll pick you up at nine tomorrow morning."
Just as I opened my mouth to agree, I remembered my morning shift. "I can’t. I have work at seven," I said, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice.
"Just quit," he said simply.
"Gavin, I can’t just quit. This job pays the rent.”
"Don’t worry, I’ll find you something else. You shouldn’t be working there anyway," he insisted.
"Gavin, I worked hard to get that job. I’m fine with staying."
"I just don’t like the thought of you there," he muttered, sounding serious. I felt a twinge of annoyance but also…something else. "Sorry, but I can’t go tomorrow. And it’s late, so…good night, Gavin," I said, hanging up before he could argue. I immediately regretted it. Did I just hang up on Gavin Hayes?
Sadie’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “What happened?”
"He wanted to take me out tomorrow, but I told him I had work. Then he started telling me to quit,” I said, shrugging.
Sadie shook her head. "He might be right, though. You have to wear that ridiculous outfit, you’re barely tipped, and it’s so far from here. Maybe you should consider a different job.”
I knew she had a point, but I wasn’t the kind of person to just walk away from something without a plan. Sadie must have read my hesitation because she gave my arm a comforting squeeze.
"Just think about it, okay?"
I nodded, giving her a grateful smile. Then she smirked and said, "Now, about that little push you gave me back there..."
With everything I needed for a grilled cheese in front of me, I prepared to unwind. Even though I can make complex dishes, nothing beats a simple grilled cheese when I’m cooking for one. As the pan heated, I buttered the bread lightly on both sides and sliced the cheese. Within ten minutes, I had two perfectly toasted sandwiches. I carried them to my office, where I settled in to finish up a few tasks for work tomorrow.
Being the CEO of Hayes Industries, a company passed down to me by my father, Martin Hayes, doesn’t mean I avoid doing the work myself. My role requires me to oversee everything, from big decisions to the smallest issues, and I pride myself on knowing every detail. My father founded this business from scratch and grew it into a nationwide enterprise. After he stepped back due to health concerns, I took over to continue his legacy, something I’d been prepared for all my life, even though there was a time I imagined myself as something else—perhaps a chef or a firefighter. But my father’s expectations, along with the influence of his partners, nudged me toward a business degree, and here I am, running Hayes Industries three years later.
My sister, Jessica Hayes, avoided following my path but instead took after our mother, Marissa Hayes. Marissa, one of the top attorneys in New York, had worked tirelessly to go from modest beginnings to Harvard Law School on a scholarship. Even with her demanding career, she always put us first when we needed her. Now at 52, she’s considering stepping down, with Jessica, who recently made partner at her firm at just 23, ready to carry on her legacy. Jessica may be a bit of a pest, but she’s one of my best friends, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Suddenly, my phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen—it was Eden.
Text from Eden to Gavin:
“Hey, what are you up to?”
I couldn’t help but smile. It hadn’t even been a full day, and Eden was reaching out. After staring at the screen, an idea popped into my head. Why not take her out again tomorrow? This time, maybe I’d let her choose the destination—perhaps a zoo trip or something else she’d enjoy. The thought of seeing her again brought a grin to my face. Feeling slightly ridiculous for how much I was looking forward to this, I decided to call her instead of texting.
“Hello?” Eden answered, sounding slightly out of breath. I couldn’t help but wonder what she was up to.
“Hey, Eden. Everything okay?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“Oh, yeah. Just, you know…doing some exercise,” she replied, her breathing steadying. I chuckled, shaking my head at her explanation.
“Anyway, I’ll pick you up tomorrow around nine,” I told her confidently.
“Sorry, I can’t. I have work at seven,” she replied, her voice tinged with disappointment.
“Then quit,” I said impulsively. The thought of her in that short uniform, with all those guys watching, made my jaw tighten. Just the idea alone was enough to irritate me.
“Gavin, I can’t just quit. It’s my only job.”
“Then I’ll find you something else. I don’t want you working there anymore.”
“No, Gavin,” she said firmly. “I worked hard to get that job, and I’m staying. It’s not a bad place to work.”
“Eden, you’re in a tight shirt and short skirt. I don’t want you there,” I replied, my frustration seeping through. I wasn’t budging on this.
“It’s fine, Gavin,” she said, her tone more resigned than defiant. “Anyway, I need to go to bed. Thank you for today. Goodnight.” And with that, she hung up.
I stared at my phone, surprised. Eden Clarke just hung up on me. But, oddly enough, I wasn’t angry. I was...amused.
Chapter 9
Chapter 11
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