Hayden pursed her lips and said, “Next year is far away. Things don’t always go as planned.”

Quinn smiled. “That’s true. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. Nothing ever goes as planned.

“Do you mind if we walk together, Mr. Queen?”

Hayden thought about it and declined Quinn.

She was blunt. “Everybody sees me as Kevin’s rumored boyfriend, and you’re Mr. Bucham’s guest. It might not look good on you to walk with me.”

Quinn was not expecting Hayden to say such a thing. She replied with a smile, “I won’t insist then, Mr. Queen. You’re not what I thought you’d be, Mr. Queen.”

“Were you surprised that I admitted I am Kevin’s rumored boyfriend?”

Quinn nodded her head. “Yes.”

Hayden smiled and said, “From the moment Kevin pursued me, people started seeing us together. The public has seen how relentless he was in his pursuit. I can give that to him.”

“Mr. Queen, have you accepted Kevin as your boyfriend?”

Seeing that Hayden owned up to reality without running away or get