“Yes, ma’am.”
“But, I need to go to the bathroom first.” Hayley jumps off the bed and runs into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. When she comes out, I surprise her by grabbing her legs and throwing her over my shoulder. I slap her butt.
“Ow,” she yelps. Her hands travel down my back and into my boxer briefs. She squeezes, kneading my butt while I walk. She doesn’t play fair and if I wasn’t halfway down our staircase, I would’ve taken her on the hardwood floor in the hallway. That’s how crazy she makes me.
I plant her firmly on the kitchen counter and stand between her legs.
“What would my girl like for breakfast,” I ask. I start nibbling on her neck and she shivers. Shit, I didn’t realize how cold it was in the kitchen.
“Hold that thought,” I tell her. I race back upstairs and grab two hoodies. I grin like an idiot when it swallows Hayley and comes down to her knees. It’s official, I love seeing her in my clothes.
“Now where were we?”
Hayley smiles and leans her face closer to mine. “I think,” she kisses me on the side of my mouth. “We were,” she kisses the other side. “Here,” her lips brush mine and I’m tempted to take it so much further, but I doubt my mother will be happy with us having sex on her kitchen counters.
“I asked you what you wanted for breakfast?” The look in her eyes is screaming that she wants me and I have to use every molecule in my body to resist giving her what she wants. We don’t have enough time for me to do to her what I want to, to savor her body and every curve on it.
“Uh….” Her eyebrows scrunch as she thinks it over. Clearly, this is too difficult a question for this time of the morning.
“Waffles?” I suggest.
“Sounds delicious.”
I turn around and Hayley swats my butt. I give her a playful glare before resuming my waffle-making duties. At some point, while I’m mixing the ingredients and warming up our waffle maker, Hayley’s hands slide around my waist and her head rests between my shoulders. We stand there quietly and enjoy the moment. I silently hope there will be more moments like this in our near future, and more moments where I get to please her, give her what she needs. Part of me worries that we’ve rushed it, but I remind myself how crazy I went during those weeks that we were supposed to be friends. Did we move a little fast with the sex? I don’t know how to answer that when being with her that way felt so incredibly right. Being with her, whether it’s intimately, or just standing together in my kitchen with her against me, brings me a profound sense of peace. I haven’t had that feeling in two years and something inside me clings to it with Hayley around, like I need it to breathe.
* * *
I pull into our driveway and cut the ignition, stealing a glance at Hayley. She tugs her jacket nervously and put my hand on both of hers to stop them from fidgeting. “Will you stop fidgeting?” I admonish. “My mom and Candice will both love you, and Ari.”
It’s Thanksgiving today and Hayley and Ari will be joining us, along with Hannah and Noah, much to my mother’s delight. She’s been up since four a.m. getting everything ready and for the first time in a long, long time, our house feels like it’s…alive. Hayley smiles nervously at me and I know she’s freaking out about meeting my mother and sister. But she has nothing to worry about.
“What if they don’t like me?” she asks quietly. “Or what if they don’t like Ari?”
“They will. My mom is already looking forward to it.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she knows everything about you, and Ari. She wanted to meet you sooner but I told her to wait until you were ready. I promise, Hayls, she’s going to love you both.” And it’s the God honest truth. My mother was so excited when I told her about Hayley, and she didn’t even bat an eyelash when I told her about Ari. I think she was secretly happy I wasn’t messing around anymore. Not to mention that she hated Rachel. I know for a fact she won’t hate Hayley, or think any less of her for being a mother at such a young age.
I lean in close, holding her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “It’s going to be fine.”
I give her a chaste kiss before hopping out of my truck. When Hayley rounds the front, with Ari walking next to her, I thread my fingers though hers and lead them up the stairs and into our house.
“Mom, we’re here!” I yell, pulling Hayley behind me.
“Coming, sweetheart!” My mother calls back. The kitchen door swings open and my mother walks in, a broad smile making its way onto her face when she sees me standing in the foyer with Hayley and Ari.
“Hi mom.” I give her a hug and hold on a little too long, even though I saw her earlier this morning. She kisses me on the cheek and turns towards Hayley.
“Well, who’s this gorgeous young lady?” My mother's smile only broadens at the sight of Hayley and for once it’s sincere. My mother has always been honest about the few girls I have brought home, but Hayley is the first girl to actually be introduced as my girlfriend.
I reach for Hayley’s hand and she steps forward. Her hand is clammy and a little shaky so I give it a squeeze to hopefully calm her nerves. “Mom,” I say turning to face my mother. “This is my girlfriend, Hayley. Hayley, this is my mom, Gemma.”
Hayley sticks her hand out and smiles politely. “Mrs. Argent, its such a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for welcoming us into your home for Thanksgiving.”
My mother surprises Hayley and gives her a warm, affectionate hug instead. “Please, call me Gemma. I am so happy to finally meet you, darling girl, and we’re more than pleased to have you here.”
My mother whispers something into Hayley’s ear and she giggles, her cheeks turning rosy. She nods, smiling warmly at my mother and then looks down at a very shy Ari who’s hiding behind her legs.
“And you must be Princess Ari,” my mother coos, bending down to Ari’s level. Ari eyes my mother reluctantly and then takes two steps, falling into my mothers open arms. My mother's face beams with excitement and immediately, I see Hayley relax.
Just then, the front door opens again and my sister, Candice, walks in, followed by her Husband, Brett, Hannah and Noah. I go to hug my sister and greet my brother-in-law with a fist bump, and after saying hello to Hannah and Noah, too, I turn to introduce Candice and Hayley. But my girl has beaten me to it.
“You must be Candice,” Hayley greets. “I’ve heard so much about you. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Candice looks between the two of us, not saying anything, and Hayley stiffens slightly. Shit. I knew my sister would pull something funny like this. And just when Hayley started feeling comfortable. “Cameron, you little liar, this girl isn’t average looking. She looks like a damn supermodel.”
Hayley’s eyes widen, as do mine, and with that the ice is broken. We share a laugh and Hayley hugs Candice around her belly, hitting it off immediately. My whole body sags with relief, not because I was worried that my mother and Candice wouldn’t like Hayley, but because having her here with my family is a big deal for me.
After all the greetings and introductions are made, my mother and Candice head back into the kitchen, while Hannah and Hayley decide to make their way into the living room.
“So, Cam, how was your date last night?” Noah asks, wriggling his eyebrows. If he thinks I’m dishing about sex with Hayley then he’d better be prepared to be disappointed. I’ve always shared everything with him, but this time it feels wrong to give him details, although judging by the animated conversation going on between Hannah and Hayley, and the way Hayley’s cheeks redden, that’s exactly what they’re talking about. Still, I don’t think it’s any of Noah’s business.
“It was,” I pause, trying to find the right words. “The best date I’ve ever had.”
Noah’s eyebrows knit together and he looks at me incredulously. “Is that it?”
“That’s all you’re getting,” I chuckle.
He grumbles something and heads towards the mini fridge in the bar. He com
es back with three beers and hands one to me and one to Brett, who comes to stand next to us.
“Where’s Jordan?” I ask, taking a swig of my beer. I’m a little disappointed that my nephew isn’t here. I miss the little guy.
Brett also takes a swig of his beer, and replies, “He’s with my parents for the week. Candice and I have been on high alert all week, with her being five days past her due date, and we thought it would be a little less stressful if my parents looked after him for a while.”
“We should’ve just done Thanksgiving at your house this year,” I remark, watching my sister waddle her way towards Hannah and Hayley. “There’s no way Candice should be walking right now.”
Brett rolls his eyes. “Please, have you met your sister? She’s as stubborn as you are.”
“Hey! Be careful, otherwise I’m telling my sister how you bumped her car the other day.”
Brett pales and I laugh. I slap him on the back. “That’s what I thought.”
“Not funny,” he mumbles, running his hand through his sandy blonde hair. Brett and Candice went to high school together and they’re a walking cliché. He was Varsity football team captain and Candice was captain of her cheerleading squad in their senior year, but they’ve been together since they were sophomores. He’s the same height as I am, standing at over six feet tall, but he’s built like a football player, whereas I am a little less bulky. I see the way he looks at Candice, even in her pregnant state, and it’s obvious that he adores her. Sure, they drive each other up the wall constantly, but I’ve never seen two people more right for each other.
Seeing the way he looks at my sister, even after all these years, makes me sick, but I feel a pinch of jealousy, too. Not that I don’t think they don’t deserve their happiness, or their growing family, but after meeting Hayley, I find myself wanting that, too. “So, you guys ready for baby number two?”
He sighs, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “Yeah, man. I can’t wait, and neither can Candice. As much as I love seeing her pregnant, I think we’re more than ready for the baby to get here.”
“You guys picked out a name yet?”
Brett shakes his head. “No, Candice seems to think we’ll know once we meet her.”
“I hear having a daughter is way worse than having a son,” Noah remarks. “Especially when they hit puberty and shit.”
“You’re in for one hell of a time if she’s anything like her mother,” I laugh.
“If who’s like their mother?”
Our heads whip around and my laughter gets stuck in my throat. Candice is standing behind us, hands on her hips, with her belly sticking out.
“Nothing, baby,” Brett replies quickly. He is so whipped when it comes to my sister that I’m sure he relinquished both his Man Card and his balls a long time ago. Yeah, being married to my sister can have that effect on a man.
Candice’s eyes narrow and she purses her lips. “You’re lucky I’m still pregnant, babe, otherwise I’d have to coax it out of you.”
Brett chuckles, and leans down to kiss my sister's nose while touching her belly. “Um, baby, I believe your method of coaxing something out of me is what got you pregnant in the first place.”
Candice’s cheeks redden and she playfully slaps his chest. “Brett! No bedroom talk around my family!”
I laugh and throw my hands up. “Yes, please, I don’t need to know anything about your kinky fuckery, dude. You’re still my sister and imagining you two like that is going to scar me for life.”
Candice shoots me a look and before she can render any physical injuries to my body, my mother walks in and announces that dinner is ready. I find Hayley and we all take our places at the dining room table. “Looks delicious, Mom,” I say, taking n all the delicious smells floating in the air. “It’s almost as good as my cooking.”
My mother swats me with the dishcloth and Hayley giggles next to me. Man, I love that sound. I look around at all the familiar faces and stop at the empty seat at the head of the table, wishing that my father were here. He may be just down the hall but he’s not really here in the way our family needs him to be. I shove the heavy feeling away and decide to enjoy this one day without allowing the guilt to settle in my stomach.
“Well, don’t just stare at the food, go ahead and eat up,” my mother instructs, making us all laugh. We dish up a bit of everything and fall into an easy conversation as if we’ve done this every year for the past decade. I’ve missed this feeling.
“Have you seen Ari?” Hayley asks next to me.
“No, last I saw she went to the kitchen with mom.”
I look around and spot a little head of brown hair bobbing up and down. Ari makes her way around the table and instead of going towards the high chair my mother set up next to Hayley, she comes to a standstill next to me. The table grows quiet and for some reason everyone’s eyes are on me. Ari looks up at me with those big, brown eyes and I swear my insides turn into fucking putty.
“You want to sit with me?” I ask her, surprised.
Her curls bounce as she nods yes, so I push my chair out a little, pick Ari up and settle her on my knee. I look up and see my mother and Candice both wearing shocked expressions on their faces. And who can blame them? I sure as hell wasn’t expecting it either. Hayley reaches over and brushes her hand over Ari’s hair and gives me the most breathtaking smile known to man. God knows I want to put it there every damn day.
The conversation around the table starts up again and soon enough it’s time for dessert. My mother starts slicing up some homemade pumpkin pie and chocolate cake, which is my personal favorite even if chocolate is for women.
“Oh shit,” Candice mutters, dropping her fork. We all stop what we’re doing. She bites her lip.
“Candice, honey, are you okay?” Brett asks next to her.
“Um, I think…my…my water just broke.”
“You’re sure?”
She smiles at Brett. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Okay, I’ll bring the car around, and we’ll head straight to the hospital.” He smiles back at her, kissing her forehead, and I wonder how they’re so damn calm?
Candice starts breathing in short bursts. “Oh, dear, this baby isn’t waiting….oww.”
I jump up, handing Ari over to Hayley, and help Candice out of her chair just as Brett comes running back in. He helps her to the car and my mother follows.
A hand touches my arm and I look to the side. Hayley’s green eyes greet me. “You should go with them, Cam. We’ll stay here and then go home in a little while.”
“I don’t want to leave you here,” I reply.
“Your family needs you, Cam. You should go. We’ll be fine here.”
“We’ll take her and Ari home,” Noah says. “Go, become an uncle.”
I nod reluctantly. “Okay, but I’ll call you later?”
She kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll be at home.”
I lay a kiss on her lips and fight the urge to stay right here. But she’s right. My family needs me. With one last glance back, I run out the door.
Chapter 15
~ Hayley ~
Once I’ve put Ari to bed, I crawl under my thick, plush duvet and rub my arms to create some warmth. Noah and Hannah dropped Ari and me off a few hours ago, after Cameron rushed to the hospital with his mother. He sent me a text earlier, letting me know that Candice was having a difficult delivery and that he’d let me know as soon as the baby was born. I knew these things could take long, especially when it was a natural birth, so I didn’t expect to hear anything for a while. My thoughts start drifting over the events of earlier today, to when I met his mother and his sister and how they welcomed me with open arms. I could see myself getting attached to them, bonding with them, and the idea frightened me to some extent. They were also very excited to meet Ari, and knowing that Cameron had obviously told them about her left a warm, fuzzy feeling budding in the confines of my chest. Although meeting Cameron’s family had certainly been important, it didn’t qu
ite live up to the stature of the moment when Ari silently asked if she could sit on Cameron’s lap and the way he willingly received her. I had to bite the inside of my cheek fairly hard before I started blubbering like an idiot. It was such a simple thing to have witnessed, but for me, the gravity of it weighed heavy on my heart. The reality is that if things were to end, it wouldn’t only be my heart that would need mending. It would be Ari’s heart too. The more time I spent with Cameron, the more attached I become, and the more attached Ari becomes, too. At the root of all my fears, lies this inevitable truth. Any relationship I have, I not only put my heart and feelings on the line, but my daughter’s too.
I roll onto back, chastising myself. You are overanalyzing, Hayley, I tell myself sternly. I am already worried about what will happen when Cameron leaves me when we’ve only been together for a few days. But he doesn’t know everything, I remind myself. Guilt buries itself in my subconscious and starts to grow, slow like a weed yet invasive like a parasite. There are things about my past that Cameron doesn’t know, that he can’t know, and the closer we become, the more intimate we become, the harder it is for me to keep it from him. But keeping it from him isn’t about him, not really. It’s about Arianna, and protecting her from my past.
I doze off for what feels like an hour when my phone vibrates next to my bed. My bedside clock reads two a.m. and I wonder who would be texting me so late, or early, depending on which way you look at it. I can’t help the sleepy grin that slides onto my face when I see its Cameron.
I’m outside.
I throw my duvet off, not bothering about my robe, and race downstairs, careful not to wake my grandmother or Ari. I open the front door, regretting my decision to go sans my robe as soon as the cool breeze hits my exposed legs and arms. Cameron comes in quickly and I shut the door again.
“What are you doing here?” I ask in a hushed voice.
He smirks and I catch a glimpse of his face in the moonlight. It bounces off his face brilliantly and casts an alluring shadow across his shape features. Taking a step closer, he touches a hand to my cheek and I shiver, both from the contact and his cold skin.
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