The Endgame Is You (Rixon Raiders 4)

Hailee: Since you’re still not answering, I called your mom. She said you left Rixon at one. What the hell, Cameron? You texted me at eight this morning and said you were leaving. What is going on?

* * *

Hailee: I consider myself a pretty understanding person... but what the actual fuck, Cameron? It’s almost nine-thirty and I’m going to bed. Not that I imagine I’ll get any sleep because my boyfriend is unreachable, and no one has spoken to him all day.

* * *

Guilt trickled down my spine. It seemed so fucking inexcusable now, but at the time, after leaving Xander, all I’d wanted was some time with my thoughts. One hour had turned into two and two into four. I’d made one quick stop for gas and to use the restroom and then got back on the road.

I hadn’t stopped to think about Hailee.

I hadn’t stopped to think about anything besides my kid brother back home, breaking his heart because I was leaving him again.

It was all I could think about.

And, in this moment, I realized how screwed up that was. I’d taken a lot for granted these last few weeks. Hailee. The team. My classes.

Hailee.

Fuck.

I glanced at the table again. She’d planned an entire romantic evening and I hadn’t even fucking called her to tell her the change of plans.

With a heavy heart, I moved through the apartment to our bedroom. It was quiet, but nothing could have prepared me for the sight of Hailee asleep on the top of the bed, clutching a pillow, her new lingerie accentuating her womanly curves.

She hadn’t just planned a romantic meal; she’d planned a night of seduction. Probably in hopes of rekindling our usually healthy sex life. But with everything lately, I was normally too exhausted.

In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time we were intimate. I wracked my brain. There had been the night a few weeks back, against the wall. Surely it hadn’t been that long?

Crap.

I’d royally fucked up.

“Way to go, Chase” I grumbled to myself. She’d fallen asleep crying, that much was obvious, and it cracked my heart wide open.

“I’m sorry.” I moved nearer, brushing the hairs from her eyes. Hailee stirred but didn’t wake, so I wiggled the covers free from underneath her body and pulled them up over her.

“I’ll make this up to you, I promise,” I whispered.

Because I would.

One way or another, I would find a way to show Hailee how much I loved her.

Cameron

When I woke up, Hailee was gone. The bedsheets were cold and the hole she left was vast.

I ran a hand down my face before leaning over and grabbing my cell phone off the nightstand.

* * *

Me: I’m sorry.

* * *

I waited.

And waited.