Saved By You Read Online Free PDF

before continuing into the bar.
    “I should have guessed you’d show up,” I said.
    He eased onto the stool next to me, his jaw clenched. Kyle still stood, fixed in place. The look he gave me was one I hadn’t seen before. The smile had faded from his face, and he pursed his lips. We locked eyes for a second, and then he looked at the ground and walked around me without saying a word. He sat on a stool at the far end of the bar, and remained quiet.
    What’s up with him?
    Haden gave me a long look before he said anything. My eyes were intense, and I imagined burning a hole straight through him.
    “Can we talk?” he asked, his voice soft.
    My gut reaction was to yell at him. Where did he get off trying to be so sweet? He’d already taken everything from me—what more could he want?
    “I told you before that I have nothing to say,” I said. I slid off the stool and started walking quickly for the door. I needed to get out of there. Memories of the night with Haden were already creeping into my head, and I wanted to run as far from them as I could.
    Haden slid off the stool instantly, and grabbed me by the arm. I spun around, furious.
    “Get your hand off me,” I said. With sharp tug, I pulled away from him.
    “Maggie, please,” he said, his voice desperate. “I just want to talk. Please won’t you listen to me?”
    My eyes burned again, but as the desperation in his voice washed over me, it stole with it some of my anger. I noticed for the first time just how bloodshot his eyes were—had he been crying to?
    My breathing was quick. The anger in me told me to walk away and never look back. But that wasn’t something I could do. Looking at Haden, I knew that I owed him more. I glanced at both Scottie and Kyle. They barely made an attempt to disguise the fact that they were listening to us.
    I stepped in closer to Haden, my voice hushed.
    “I’ll give you five minutes,” I said. “And that’s it.”
    Haden’s face softened, then he glanced around. “Not here,” he said. “Tonight? Dinner?”
    I was about to refuse outright—to tell him I’d changed my mind already, but I hesitated.
    “I’ll be at the hospital,” I said.
    Haden winced, and he looked away for a second. He took a breath and studied me.
    “How’s your mom doing?” he asked.
    My voice caught in my throat before I could respond. The truth flashed in my mind—that she may only have a month to live—but how was I supposed to say that out loud? It was ludicrous to even consider it, let alone give it voice.
    Before I could respond, though, Scottie jumped in.
    “Something wrong with your mom?” he asked, his voice quick. His face was wide with concern, and he’d nearly fumbled the glass in his hand before setting it back on the bar. I gave him a sideways look.
    “She’s… in the hospital,” I said. I had to force the words out, they still felt foreign.
    “Is everything alright?” he asked, leaning forward.
    The weight of the question pressed on me. “No,” I said, shaking my head. “I don’t think so.” He gave me a long look. His eyes creased at the corners, pained. There was something in the look that I couldn’t quite place. It made me wince. “She’s at Green Falls General,” I said, without thinking.
    He nodded at me, and his brow furrowed even more before he continued wiping the glass on the bar. He had the look of someone thinking about something—something important.
    Haden turned his eyes back on me, and he studied me for a long second.
    “I’m sorry to hear about your mom,” he said. His mouth moved to say something more, but I cut him off.
    “I don’t want to talk about it,” I said. And it was the truth. I didn’t want to talk about it—not with him, not with anyone.
    His lips pursed shut, and he hesitated before giving me a tight nod. He studied me for a long second.
    “What about right now?” he said. “Maybe we can head over to Chili’s or something and grab a bite?”
    My stomach twisted into