“That is not how it goes, Dad.”
“She does,” Clayton states, and I stop, staring up at him. He not only sounds serious, but he looks it too as he remains eye contact with my dad. “But we aren’t dating.”
“Then why are you here?” Dad asks, his voice going high.
Poor Clayton turns to me for assistance, but I’m a bitch and just shrug. It’s not like I didn’t warn him.
“Charlotte kindly invited me.”
“You’re cheating on my daughter?” Dad screams, going to get up. But Mum pulls him down. “Boys, get him!”
“Dad, we aren’t dogs,” Landon yells from the back.
“I’m not cheating,” Clayton panics, wide-eyed. I tap his thigh, gesturing for him to get up and move out. “Don’t leave me.”
I roll my eyes, pushing him over to the seat I vacated. “Sit down.”
“Like that will stop me,” Dad muses.
My stomach bottoms out when Uncle Myles, the calmer one of my dad and uncles, heads up the aisle towards us, not looking happy at all.
He places his elbows on the seat in front before leaning over and holding out a hand to Clayton.
Clayton, after doing a double take, slowly reaches over to shake it, wincing at the grip.
“I’m Charlotte’s father, Myles. She’s never mentioned you before.”
Clayton pulls his hand away, flexing his fingers, and I notice his hand, in places, go from white back to pink.
“Would you both stop bullying him?” I grouch.
“Not if I find out he’s been sleeping with you and my daughter.”
“We’ve not had sex,” Charlotte calls out, earning groans from the others. “I’m still a virgin at the moment, although I am hoping Scott and I will take the next step soon. I’m doing research on—”
“Okay, we get it,” Myles practically screeches. I watched him go from relaxed at the start of her statement to tense. It’s amusing.
“All right.”
Myles gives Clayton a sheepish smile, shrugging. “Sorry about the hand. I don’t know my own strength sometimes.” He leaves, calling out to Aunt Kayla, “Talk to our daughter, Kayla.”
“I can—” Dad begins.
“No!” my uncles yell.
I feel Dad’s stare on the side of my face. “Dad, just spit it out.”
“I have the right to know why he’s with you. Are you in trouble? ‘Cause I heard there’s a lake at the cabins we can dump his body in.”
“Hey,” Clayton snaps. “I’m right here.”
Dad’s lips twist into a snarl. “Is there any need to keep reminding me?”
“Dad,” I call in a warning tone. “There will be no touching Clayton.”
“That goes for you too,” he grumbles.
“I’m not a bad person,” Clayton argues, turning to me. “Hayden, tell him!”
“Don’t tell my daughter what to do.”
“Max, switch seats,” Mum demands.
“No, not until we find out what he’s up to.”
“Max,” Maverick warns.
Dad crosses his arms over his chest like a scolded child. “I’m not shutting up until they start talking. Don’t make me force him.”
“I’ve told you we aren’t dating,” Clayton declares.
“Why did you sound like that is a good thing?” Dad barks.
“Hayden,” Clayton calls, pleading.
I throw my hands up before dropping them on my lap. “Oh my God, he’s my boss. There. Are you happy now?”
“You’re sleeping with your boss?” Maddox asks, before laughing.
“Oh my God, no,” I groan—not that I haven’t wished or imagined it.
“Hey, what’s wrong with me?” Clayton asks, sounding put out.
I give him a dry look, raising my eyebrow. “Are you serious right now?”
He shrugs. “You made it sound like it would be disastrous.”
“You really did,” Dad adds, leaning over. He gets that smug smile on his face when he’s right about something, and I don’t like it.
“I’m confused, sweetie. Why would you bring your boss?”
Down the aisle, I notice everyone is peeking around their seats or over them, listening in.
“Because we’re doing a piece on where to go for dates for my podcast,” I admit, leaving out the online dating part.
Clayton sags back into his seat. “Thank you, God. I’m not going to die.”
“Your work is podcasts?” Mum asks, smiling with excitement. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Actually, it’s a radio/online podcast, and she’s one of our highest-ranking presenters,” Clayton informs them, and I’m struck by how proud he sounds.
“Aren’t you going to tell her you’re proud?” Mum grits out, smacking Dad on the arm.
He rolls his eyes, sitting back in his seat. “Of course I’m proud. I sent her flowers and a five-hundred-pound gift card.”
“You knew?” Mum screeches.
“I got that the first day of working as a presenter. I thought it was from my boss.”
He looks at us and those being nosey. “I’m your father; of course I knew. Didn’t any of you?”
“No, I thought she was stripping or worked as one of those dress-up characters,” Mum admits, shrugging.
“We really should still take those lessons,” I remind her.
Dad smirks at Mum, and I inwardly gag. “You really should.”
“How come I didn’t know?” Aiden pipes in when a few others nod, indicating they knew.
“I only found out the other week,” Hope calls from the front.
“We’re your parents. You can’t hide anything from us,” Dad adds.
“Really?” Charlotte squeaks, glancing at her dad.
“Not now, Charlotte,” Kayla soothes, pulling Myles down in his seat when he begins to turn red.
“Did you and Liam know, Landon?” I ask, glancing up the aisle.
The ‘duh’ look he gives me has me rolling my eyes.
“Yeah, of course we did. We put a track me app on your phone when you started sneaking out at night and followed you.”
“Besides, you were shit at being sly,” Liam adds, snorting.
“Fuck off,” I bark, turning back around.
“So, you don’t work for the MI5?” Charlotte asks, pouting.
“Nope.”
“Cool.”
“Does this mean you’ll stop planning my murder?” Clayton asks, filled with hope.
“No. I don’t trust your intentions towards my daughter.”
“Would free vouchers to an all-you-can-eat Chinese help?”
Dad sniffs, and although he thinks he’s playing it off, he slips up and licks his lips. “It might.”
“I guess that’s all I can hope for,” Clayton states, relaxing.
I wait for Mum to distract Dad with questions before leaning in a little to Clayton, keeping my voice low. “Don’t let his friendly behaviour fool you. He might not physically harm you, but you’ll wish that he had once he’s finished fucking with you.”
“I’ll be fine,” Clayton assures me, his lips twitching.
I shake my head in pity. “Famous last words,” I mutter, downing the rest of my drink.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The cushion I fell asleep on stiffens under me, bringing me out of my sleep. When said cushion begins to vibrate, I stir awake, yet keep my eyes shut when I hear whispering.
The last thing I remember is getting back on the coach after stopping for food at a rest stop. I finished my rum and must have passed out not long after, which isn’t surprising since I’d worked a double shift at the care home. What I don’t remember is wrapping myself around Clayton. My head is resting on his chest, my arm wrapped around his stomach, and my leg thrown over his.
“Please stop staring at me like you’re contemplating how to hide my body,” Clayton pleads, and I just know he’s talking to my dad.
“You like my daughter,” Dad states rather than questions.
“Honestly?”
“I’d break your legs if you ever lied when it came to my daughter,” Dad promises, sounding cheerful at the idea it might happen.
I’m about to put my acting skills to the test and stir awake so I can intervene before my dad forces Clayton’s bank details, national security number and a list of his past relationships from him.
“She’s hard not to like. She’s such a contradiction to herself. I’ve never met anyone like her. She doesn’t come across as feisty and blunt to cover up who she really is; she is feisty and blunt. It’s the caring and kindness part of herself that she hides from others. She plays everything off.
“We were shopping once and walked past a homeless man. I couldn’t look. It hurts too much to see someone in need and at their lowest. I didn’t think Hayden took notice. It kind of struck me, since she’s female and they tend to notice everything.”
“This story is depressing and all but is there a point to it?” Dad chides, acting aloof. He would never admit he helps too, in every way he can. My mum was once a runaway living on the streets. It was how she met my dad. Ever since, he’s done everything to give back.
“Yes. My company donates to homeless organisations monthly and has done for years. Yet, just as we walked past and I heard this guy cough, I couldn’t just carry on. When I checked my wallet for money, it was empty. I felt bad. I know I can’t help them all, but it struck me that I couldn’t help the man.
“Anyway, we walked into this shop and Hayden shoves some clothes at me and says she needs to run back outside, that she dropped something. She didn’t know I watched as she walked a couple of shops down to give this guy some money. And she never said anything when she came back in or when I questioned her about whether she found what she was looking for.
“Someone like that is rare. She didn’t want praise for giving, or recognition. She just wanted to give without making a big deal about it. It surprised me. So yeah, it’s hard not to like her.”
“Of course you do. Who doesn’t? She’s my daughter. But that wasn’t the kind of ‘like’ I was asking about, and you know it.”
Because I’m his daughter. Pfft, it’s because I’m fucking awesome.
“Respectfully, it’s none of your business. It’s between me and Hayden.”
Ohh, those are fighting words.
“Well, respectfully, if you hurt my girl in any way, you’ll find yourself put into a human blender or in another country and arrested for a crime you didn’t commit. I’ll make sure you spend years being Bubba’s bitch.”
Aw, that’s so sweet. I knew I was his favourite.
“That’s, um, very descriptive,” Clayton claims.
“I hate misunderstandings,” Dad confirms. “So, do you understand?”
“I’m not going to hurt her.”
I hear Dad shuffling about. “I’m glad we cleared that up,” he explains. “Hayden, you can open your eyes now. It’s safe.”
“She’s awake?” Clayton asks, stiffening beneath me.
“Way to give me up, Dad.” I curse, prying myself off Clayton and stretching the stiffness out of my back. I blink away the dim lighting. “Where is everyone?”
“They’re getting keys, but by the looks of it, something is happening,” Clayton comments, looking out the window.
He’s right. Everyone has congregated outside a large building that I’m assuming is the reception, although parts look like a home. They seem to be arguing, fingers pointing and all.
“We really should go check in,” Clayton reminds me.
Uncle Maverick steps onto the bus, making his way towards us. “There aren’t enough cabins. Even if we share, there’s still two people who we can’t fit in.”
“That’s okay,” Clayton begins. “I booked my own cabin, so Hayden can take the spare room.”
Dad trips on his way down the aisle, falling on his face. “Fuck!” he curses, before getting up and facing us. “I don’t think so.”
“Is that okay with you?” Maverick asks, ignoring Dad, who curses again.
“With not sharing with the others? Fuck yes.”
“What? No! You can bunk with your mum. Me and Clayton can bunk and get to know each other.”
“You aren’t sharing his bed, Dad. Don’t get excited. He has a spare room.”
“Like he wouldn’t try to sleep with me,” he argues, puffing his chest out. “I’m prime meat.”
“You’ll be mince meat if you don’t shut it,” I grumble.
“I heard Lake telling Teagan she was looking forward to hot tub sex,” Maverick announces. “I didn’t think you’d pass that up.” His lips twist into a smile, and he ducks his head to hide it.
I gag. “Gross.”
Dad, however, perks up. “Really?”
“Yeah.” Maverick nods.
Dad takes a step to leave but then stops, spinning back to us, pointing at Clayton and narrowing his eyes. “Remember what I said,” he warns him, before pointing to me. “And you remember our religion; no sex before marriage.”
“We aren’t religious,” I remind him dryly.
He throws his hands up before flopping them down at his sides. “Will you just do as you’re told for once?”
He storms down the coach, waiting for Maverick to turn. Me and Clayton grab our bags as I chuckle under my breath.
“I’d apologise for his behaviour, but I’d only keep doing it,” I admit, shrugging.
He laughs, putting a hand on my back and giving me a gentle push down the aisle. “He’s fine. He’s just looking out for his daughter.”
The wind howls when I step outside, and I pull my jacket tighter around me.
We pull the bags from the coach and begin to walk to the others, when Clayton stops me halfway. “Let me go check in and make sure everything is good. I’ll come back out with the keys.” I nod, reaching for his bag, but he shakes his head. “I got it.”
I watch him leave before grabbing the handle of my suitcase and walking over to the others.
“Hayden,” Dad calls, and I turn to see him approaching, leaving Maverick with a resigned expression.
If I were to guess, I’d say he just tried reasoning with my dad, which is hard to do for anyone, even Mum at times.
“Dad, I don’t want to listen to you tell me why sex is bad before marriage, that I’ll get pregnant and eat all your food.”
“But you would. Your mum hid food from me when she was pregnant,” he argues, pouting. “But that isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“And this isn’t about stealing your order at the service station?” I ask, running the toe of my shoe along the gravel.
“That was you?” he cries out, looking cheated.
I yawn, rubbing my eyes. “Dad, you said you wanted to talk. I’m really, really tired.”
“Yeah, I do, sorry,” he tells me, rubbing his hand over my arm. “I know I can be full on. I’m just looking out for you.”
“Dad, was that meant to be an apology? Because it sucked.”
His eyebrows crease together. “But I’m not sorry.”
“Of course not,” I mutter, rolling my eyes.
“I’m just trying to be a good dad.” The guilt and despair shining back at me has my shoulders sagging.
“You’re the best dad. I couldn’t ask for a better one. A saner one, yeah, but not better. Just… please go easy on him.”
“I can’t make that promise, but I’ll try.”
I let out a relieved sigh, knowing that’s the best I’m going to get. “Thank you.”
He glances over his shoulder to where Maverick is standing with Teagan, Lily and Jaxon, before turning back to me, lowering his voice a little. “And you know the boys aren’t my favourite, right? You are.”
I chuckle, knowing Maverick used that to make Dad feel bad.
“Of course I am.”
His shoulders sag and his body relaxes as a goofy smil
e spreads across his face. He pulls me into his arms, kissing my forehead. “Just be careful. He’s too polite.”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, because he’s going to hurt me with compliments.”
“I’m telling you, it’s dodgy, baby girl.”
“If he was a scared bloke, you would call him a pansy who wasn’t strong enough to fit in, and if he was rude, you would have kicked him off the coach in the middle of nowhere.”
Dad snorts. “Give me some credit. I would have punched him first.”
I grin. “True.”
“I just want what’s best for you.”
“You’re forgetting one major thing, Dad.”
“What’s that?”
“We aren’t dating and never have.”
“Yet,” he grumbles, before straightening. “Here he comes. Act normal.”
“Normal?” I grumble.
“We were just talking about how you were both going to stay in your own rooms and keep a few feet apart at all times.”
I blink up at him. “Normal, Dad. Very normal.”
“I thought so too.”
“Whatever.”
“I’m going to talk dirty to your mum,” he announces, winking in Mum’s direction.
I groan, smacking my forehead. “Jesus Christ, Dad. Stop trying to put me off sex for life.”
He laughs, pulling me into his arms. “Love you, baby girl.”
“Love you too,” I grumble, lightly pushing him away.
He forms a V with his fingers to convey he’s watching Clayton. “Don’t fuck up.”
Clayton gives him a sharp nod, watching him leave before turning to me and holding up a set of keys.
“Please tell me we have a hot tub,” I plead.
“Yes, and a view of the lake.”
I clap my hands, squealing with excitement, causing him to grin. “Let’s go say goodbye and find out when we’re all meeting up.”
“Lead the way,” he offers, grabbing my case.
We head over to the others, where a few are sulking. “What’s going on?”
“A few singles have to share a cabin with couples,” Hope explains.
“Ahh,” I breathe, understanding. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t want to share. There’s nothing worse than hearing a relative having sex. “Who is Lily bunking with?”
“Faith and Beau. Maddox is pissed off because he wanted to spend some time with Lily.”
Hayden (A Next Generation Carter Brother Novel Book 4) Page 16