CHAPTER 17
Hayden
After we filed a police report Brooklyn, Gavin, the pups and I headed to my parents for the day. It was nice spending time with my family. I was surprised how easily dad and Gavin fell into the same comfortable relationship they always had. Though, Brooklyn and I about died laughing when we overheard dad giving Gavin the‘that’s my baby girl and you better not hurt her again speech.’ I love my dad he’s awesome. Mom looked at me, signaling she wanted to talk alone. I stood up and went with her to get the food from the kitchen. She turned with a bright smile on her face,“See, I told you everything would eventually work itself out. Don’t spend your time worrying about his past mistakes but make sure you keep him in line. Don’t be a doormat but let that boy into your heart. He loves you.”
I sighed and leaned against the counter,“How can you know that from an hour, mom? You haven’t seen him in 15 years?”
“Who says I haven’t seen him in 15 years?”She cocks her eyebrow at me.“His parents live next door and are our best friends.”
My eyes widen at her question.“What do you mean? How…when have you seen him? I thought you once told me you didn’t see him, just his parents.”My questions fire at her like a machine gun fires bullets.
“My sweet girl, do you really think that in 15 years of searching for you he hasn’t come here looking for information? His parents are our best friends. They live next door.” Her response clearly shows the lack of common sense I put into this thought process.
“Are you serious? MOM! Why didn’t you tell me?”I whispered harshly. I’m shocked. Why wouldn’t they tell me.
She pats my shoulder.“Oh honey, I’ve raised you since you were an infant. I know my daughter. We always have your back first and foremost. You may have been hurting but you weren’t ready for him to walk back into your life. Fate has a funny way of knowing when you are ready. Gavin’s parents, your father and I decided it was best if we stay out everything between you two.”She gives me a knowing look over the salad we are currently preparing.“Hayden, honey,”she stops what she’s doing to clasp my hands in hers,“you are just like your dad. I’ve always said there are two absolutes about the personality traits you two share. First, you hold a mean grudge. You two stink at letting things go. You’re both so worried about being fooled twice you don’t allow anyone the opportunity to prove they are worth a second chance without putting them through the ringer. Anytime Gavin was brought up around you after that day in high school you left the room. If his parents came over when you were here you left the house. You refused to even discuss him let alone be around anything to do with Gavin. Second, running comes natural. You are both so quick to run when the going gets rough; worried you will be left the fool. If you’re going to give that boy,”she points in the direction of the back yard where dad and Gavin are,“a second chance make it an honest one. Don’t look for a reason to run. Look for a reason to stay and love. You guys have loved each other since you were little. We all saw it, but it is up to you to allow it in your life. He’s a good man, Hayden and you, my dear daughter, are a good woman. A love that holds on this long deserves an honest chance.”Tears pool in my eyes but I blink them away as my mom leans down and kisses the top of my head before moving back to the other side of the counter and gesturing with her knife for me to continue preparing the salad.
“You’ve always looked out for me haven’t you, even though I’m not your flesh and blood?”My tone has softened. I love this woman. She and dad are the first to stand by my side.
“Honey, blood type doesn’t mean shit. I may not have given birth to you but you aremy daughter. I love you and I know Gavin loves you.”
“How do you know, Mom, because I’m still scared?”I asked running a hand through my hair in frustration.
“Simple.”She shrugs one shoulder never taking her eyes from her work.“He looks at you the way your father looks at me.”With a quick look up, she gives me a conspiratorial wink.“A man has a specific look he only gives to the one he truly loves. You’re it for him.”
I throw my arms around my mother’s neck and hug her tightly.“Thank you, Mom, for always loving me even when you didn’t like Dad in the beginning.”I say with a smile.“Thank you for always knowing me best. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Hayden. Now let’s get this food out there and feed our men before they come looking for us.”She picked up a platter of burgers and headed for my dad at the grill. Dad wraps an arm around her waist and plants a kiss on her cheeks before taking the platter from her. They are such a sweet couple. There is no questioning the love my dad has for my mom. Their eyes still light up like teenagers when they look at each other. It’s really beautiful to see. Gavin walks up behind me and wraps his arms around my shoulders, pulling my back tight to his front, whispering in my ear,“That will be us when we grow older. I’ll still look at you like that; the way I do now.”I reach up and grab his arms as he softly kisses me below my ear and rests his chin on my head. I leaned back against him with such contentment. I feel safe in these arms.
For a while today I actually forgot about the note. I only thought about it briefly when I was talking to mom in the kitchen and considered telling her but decided it was probably nothing and I’d better not worry her. We stayed late into the night hanging out in their backyard around the fire having a few beers and telling stories. Gavin’s parents were out of town this weekend otherwise they would’ve been there, too. I miss living with my parents, once in a while. They really are great people to hang out with. I’m excited they are coming to my place next Saturday along with Gavin’s parents, Jeff and Amy, Brooklyn and the pups, of course, to tailgate before the baseball game. We are actually going to celebrate mine and Brooklyn’s birthdays. She and I do this every year since both our birthdays are in June. We have an awesome minor league baseball team in town. Brooklyn and I have season tickets and my parents always come for a game or two. I love watching games at this level. Success hasn’t gone to the player’s heads. It really is still about the love of the sport and purity of the game.
When we returned that night everything was quiet and as it should be. On the way home Gavin informed me he was staying with me for a while. I tried to argue with him. I told him it was too soon and there was no way I was letting him move in with me, even if it is temporary but I lost the battle. He was damned determined and nothing I could say swayed him. Brooklyn even sided with him. She said I needed someone to stay with me especially since she wouldn’t be home every night. Hmm, Brooklyn has some details she needs to be dishing up. What in the world is going to be occupying so many evenings? Or should I say, whowill be occupying so many of her evenings? Anyway, I concede though I don’t know if I like them ganging up on me like this. This could present a problem, hmm.
~~~
Sunday promised to be a quiet day. It was a warm day without a cloud in the sky. Gavin and I went for a run along the river with the pups in the morning. We stopped halfway through our run to enjoy the beauty Mother Nature had to offer. We leaned against the bridge and stared into the water. Gavin stood behind me his front pressed up to my back. His chin rested comfortably on my head while his arms, one on each side of me, braced himself against the bridge rail. I love being imprisoned in his strong, large arms. For me this is my safe place. We didn’t speak. We didn’t even remove our ear buds or stop our music. There isn’t a need to. The comfort and contentment we receive just being with each other is all we want. These really are my favorite times spent with him, just he and I together; our hearts being the only thing that matters.
After our run we hit the local farmer’s market a few blocks away from the loft. It was really nice to walk over and back hand in hand. Though there were a few times I felt like we were being watched. I think the note and Gavin’s insistence on staying with me while we figure out who left it has made me a little edgy. Nonetheless, it was the greatest feeling to have him hold my hand the whole time. It doesn’t seem to matter to him if peopl
e are staring at us or not, he always holds my hand or has his hand around my waist. He’ll kiss me on the temple for no reason other than he wants to. When he kisses my temple I find myself leaning into the kiss with my eyes closed and taking in a deep breath. It truly is magical. He really makes me feel like the most precious thing on earth. I could get use to this, which is why I didn’t want him staying with me. I’m terrified of depending on him again. I’m terrified of needing him. Mainly, I’m still afraid he will decide this isn’t what he wants and leave then what will I be left with?
Nothing.
I will be a shell of myself. Can I really risk that? The part of me that wants him so badly won’t let the fear part of me win. So for now, I squelch my fears and let him stay. Let him take care of me. Let him protect me the only way he knows how.
While Gavin is in the shower Brooklyn and I are preparing chicken for the grill and an amazing salad full of the fresh veggies Gavin and I bought at the farmer’s market today. My intercom buzzes. Brooklyn hits the button.“Yes?”
A hoarse voice comes across the intercom, Flower delivery for Professor Sanders.”
A face splitting grin crosses my face before Brooklyn and I start giggling like little girls.“We’ll be right down”she said into the intercom. Brooklyn heads down since my hands are covered in raw chicken. When she comes back up she’s carrying a small bouquet of red roses and the oddest look on her face.
“B., what’s wrong?”
“Umm…this is weird. They were left sitting by the elevator. Not sure how the delivery person got into the building. Did you buzz them in?”
“No, that is weird. Maybe someone let them in when they were leaving.”I shrug it off.
“Hey, since when does Gavin send you roses?”Brooklyn asked confused leaning to get a vase from the cabinet.
“He doesn’t. He sends me calla lilies. Oh well, maybe he was looking for a change?”I say with a shrug.
“Who’s looking for a change? Did someone send you flowers, Brooklyn?”Gavin strolls out freshly showered, wet tousled hair and looking sexy as hell in only a pair of his basketball shorts. His ridiculously cut muscles bulgingout everywhere sending tingles throughout my body. Damn, I’m a lucky girl. I finished washing my hands then walk over to him and wrap my arms around his waist, looking up at him.
“Playing innocent doesn’t suit you. Thank you for the flowers.”I say with a wide smile on my face. He suddenly stiffens and stops rubbing my back.
“Hayden, I didn’t send you flowers and if I had they certainly wouldn’t be roses they would be calla lilies.”
A sick feeling starts in the pit of my stomach as bile rises in my throat. The three of us are momentarily rooted to our spots. Gavin is the first to move. He releases me, walks over to Brooklyn and takes the flowers. Quickly finding the card, he opens and reads it aloud,“YOU WON’T WIN THIS TIME. LEAVE GAVIN ALONE!”I gasp and quickly cover my mouth with my hand. These notes just took a very serious and scary turn.“What the fuck!”Gavin bites out turning an angry glare to me.“Is this serious enough now? You’ve been getting notes on campus and blowing them off. There is a note left here for you and now the flowers. What more needs to happen before you realize this isn’t anything to mess with? I know I’m snapping at you but this scares me and you don’t seem to get the seriousness.”
“Yes, I get it.”I snap right back.“I’m not an idiot. Since the last note, I’ve been careful. I’m getting scared and I don’t need you chewing my ass like it’s my damn fault!”Where the hell does he get off chewing my ass for this? Now I’m not only scared as to who is behind this but pissed as hell at Gavin, too, for acting like a jerk.
His face softens along with his tone. His hand comes up and caresses my cheek.“I know you are, baby. I just want you safe.”He kisses my forehead, soothing my anger, before pulling back and grabbing his phone off the counter to call the police.
Same as last time, the police took our statements individually and asked if we have any idea who could hold a grudge against us. They collected the note and flowers for evidence. Great, this is really getting fucked up. Who is doing this? Why is someone messing with me? Once the police leave, Brooklyn, Gavin and I have dinner on our private rooftop sundeck. We are trying to go on with our lives and not let this freak ruin everything. Though, I can’t help the jumpy feeling creeping into my stomach.
Once dinner was over Brooklyn said she was heading to her loft to get ready for the week. Gavin has already established he’s taking us to work and picking us up since he’s off tomorrow.“No parking to deal with? I can get use to that, so be careful.”I’m grinning at the thought. We run our dishes downstairs and put them in the dishwasher before Gavin and I head back to the roof.
It was a mild June evening and the sun was just beginning to set. Gavin sat in a chaise lounge and pulled me down to sit in between his legs. Kissing my hair he asked,“So what’s on the agenda for the week?”
“I’ll be in the office and classes Monday through Wednesday all day but I should be out by 4:00 or 5:00 PM each night. Thursday Brooklyn and I are leaving about 6:00 in the morning to head for our two day conference. We’ll be back Friday evening around 7:00 PM. After that I’m all yours.”
“You’re all mine, anyways. I forgot about the conference. You be careful.”
“We’ll be around a bunch of old college professors. Plus, Dr. Asher and Brooklyn’s department head are going. Trust me; there won’t be any getting wild for us.”
“Ok, still be careful.”He insisted much more forcefully.
“Wow, Gavin’s forceful, bossy side. That’s kinda hot.” I cocked my head back to eye him.
“Oh trust me. I can be VERY bossy. I’ve just taken it easy on you since you have a tendency to run.”There is a wicked glint to his eye and I can feel his intensity pushing into my back.
Ignoring his statement about me running because I’m feeling kind of cocky,“Oh yeah? I think I can handle it.”
“Be careful what you wish for, baby.”
“You think I can’t handle it?”I turn my upper body to look at him with faux indignation.
He kisses my forehead, turns me back around so I’m leaning on him again and wraps his arms around my shoulders.“Baby, I’m sure you can but I didn’t want to push you into too much too quick. I promise we have all the time in the world. I’m not going anywhere.”
I love this man. I sigh and snuggle into him. We sit there in silence just enjoying the evening. It’s nice to be with someone that enjoys the simple things in life. No elaborate plans. Everyone would be so lucky to experience the peace we find in each other’s arms. After a while he pulls his phone out of his pocket and taps the screen a few times before‘Love Will Keep Us Alive’by The Eagles starts to play. He stands up and holds his hand out to me.“Dance with me,”he says quietly. Standing up I place my hand in his as he pulls me close and wraps his arms around me and starts to sway to the rhythm of the song. He must have it on repeat because we dance through it twice alternating staring into each other’s eyes and my head resting against his chest.
He pulls back, leans down and softly presses his lips to mine, giving me the most gentle, loving kiss.“Let’s go to bed. I want to make love to you.”
I nod and he takes my hand and leads me back to my loft and into my room. Slowly he undresses us and lowers me on to the bed. Looking into my eyes he slowly, sweetly makes love to me. Other than the psycho nut job, my life is truly perfect. I never thought I would feel this loved again or trust anyone like this again. More importantly, I never thought I would be able to feel his arms around me again. In his arms is the only place I want to be for the rest of my life.
I fall asleep in our usual position with my head on his shoulder, legs tangled with his, my hand over his heart. One of his arms is wrapped around me and the other over mine. He squeezes me tight just before we drift off into a blissful sleep.
CHAPTER 18
Gavin
I am about to go out of my mind trying to figur
e out who is threatening Hayden. Fuck my Hippocratic Oath, I will kill anyone that touches her. I have my suspicions on who it could be but without any real evidence right now I’m stuck guessing. It’s Wednesday and Hayden leaves tomorrow with Brooklyn for a conference. I’m surprised how much I’m actually struggling with the idea of her going away. I love being in the same bed as her every night but she is probably much safer away at the conference. The thought of her being gone for a night is pulling at my gut. I’m starting to turn into a damn pussy when it comes to that girl. Ok so let’s be realistic, I’ve always been a damn pussy when it comes to Hayden. She’s the only one that can make me act this way. So keeping true to form I’m on my way with a bouquet of calla lilies to surprise her in her office and take her to lunch, since she’ll be gone overnight tomorrow night.
I walk into the department office and the secretary sends me back with a big smile. I knock on her office door and walk in. Hayden is sitting at her desk and all the blood has drained from her face as she stares at her computer screen. Rushing over to her I ask,“What’s wrong?”
She turns to face me with tears in her eyes and she points at her screen. Her campus email is open with an email up. I read the email on the screen.
To: Sanders, Hayden
From: Unknown Sender
Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 11:40 AM
Subject: LAST WARNING
THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING BITCH! LEAVE GAVIN ALONE! HE IS MINE. I THOUGHT I GOT RID OF YOU ONCE AND YOU STILL MESSED IT UP. YOU WILL NOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU KEEP INTERFERING WITH US!
All I see is red when I read the email. I feel my body start to shake, my hands fisting at my sides. Whoever is doing this to her is going to pay. Rage! Rage is all I feel. I’m ready to storm out and start searching for the person I’m pretty sure is behind this. That is, until I see Hayden sitting in her office chair trembling. She has one hand across her body holding herself and the other over her mouth.“Gavin, I’m really scared.”She whispers as tears spill down her cheeks. She needs me. As much as I want to hunt this psycho down, I know the only place I can be is by her side right now. I quickly pull her up into my arms and hold her tightly.“Shhh, baby it’s going to be ok. We’ll find out who’s doing this and send them away for a long time. Nothing is going to happen to us. I promise.”Feeling her trembling body against mine is almost more than I can handle.
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