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The attached cover is from @MooYorkCity
Chapter Twenty Five
"Hey Pumpkin!"
I take my headphone out of my ear when I hear my dad calling my name from downstairs and pause my music.
"Yeah dad?" I holler back, loud enough to travel through my door and down the steps.
"Some boy is here to see you!" He calls, his voice hardened and more powerful than usual.
I can picture him putting up his big, fierce and powerful front up for whoever is at our front door. I'm sure the visitor is wide-eyed with his tail tucked between his legs, choking out yes sir every other word.
I furrow my brow, "Do you know who it is?"
"Hayden," he says gruffly.
My dad has met him before, but that doesn't matter when it involves boys. He can love you and think the world of you, but as soon as you come over with no other intention than to see me, he turns into Mr. I Will Kill You If You Lay A Hand On Her
"I'll be down in a minute!"
As I get dressed, I try to imagine what my dad is forcing Hayden to talk with him about. He isn't exactly the most social person when it comes to teenagers. I can only pray he isn't trying to give him a 'talk' that isn't needed.
I skip down the steps and see exactly what I was expecting: Hayden awkwardly standing by the front door with my dad standing high and mighty- arms crossed, chin up, eyes narrowed.
When Hayden sees me, the uncomfortable and awkward expression on his face shifts to relief and his features relax into the remnants of a smile.
"Thanks dad, I think you tortured him enough," I say, placing a hand on his shoulder that hints at him leaving the room.
He glances down at me and his eyes soften slightly, but then he sends another glare at Hayden. "Alright, I'll be in the living room if you need me. With my shotgun."
Hayden relaxes slightly once my dad leaves the room, and his confidence comes flooding back, but with a small change. His stance is confident, sure, but his eyes are darting around nervously.
"Hey, sorry about him. He's a teddy bear," I breathe, leaning against the wall with my arms hugging my body. "What's up?"
"If he's a teddy bear then I would hate to meet a grizzly bear," Hayden mutters. Then he scratches the back of his neck and his eyes stay trained everywhere but me. "As for why I'm here... Do you remember when I told you about my mom?"
I furrow my brow, "Yeah, of course. Why?"
"I'm going to see her today."
My eyes widen and I slowly realize why he told me.
"You want me to come?"
He slowly looks up from the floor and his eyes meet mine- their dark blue depths like an ocean of vulnerability. "The ride can get lonely sometimes," he admits.
Then classic, cocky Hayden tries to push through to relinquish the vulnerability in his previous words. "These muscles are meant for a girl to admire, and I figure with an hour car ride it will give you plenty of time to get them right in your next drawing."
I play along, "Now, is that any way to convince me to come with you?"
He chuckles and throws his hands in his jean pockets. "Maybe I could have left the teasing out. My mom is always nagging me to bring a girl to see her, she thinks I'm some sort of loser."
"She isn't wrong."
He gives me a flat look, but I see the hint of a smile behind his scowl.
I smile softly, "When do we need to leave?"
His eyes brighten, "So you'll come?"
"Something tells me I don't have much of a choice."
A short ten minutes later, full of harsh glares sent to Hayden from my dad and a gushing smile from my mom, Hayden and I are back in his beautiful Challenger- an R/T Scat Pack I learned- and on our way to see his mom.
"I think she's gonna like you," Hayden says as we get into his car.
I turn my head to look at him as I buckle my seatbelt. "Why?"
He glances at me from the corner of his eye, lifting his sunglasses to his face. "Because you're not like the average girl. Something about you is...special." He shrugs, testing out his word choice.
We drive for a while, I fidget with the radio through most of it and he slaps my hand to keep it on his favorite songs. During the ride, I learn a very important life lesson: Hayden Summers may be undeniably gorgeous, but he definitely cannot sing.
"Oh god Hayden please!" I exclaim, throwing my hands over my ears to hide from the horrific notes coming out of him.
"Please have mercy on me!" He continues, straining his voice even harder.
No, please have mercy on me.
I brave the noise and dart my hand out to shut off the music in hopes that maybe he will shut off with it.
"Now why did you have to kill my vibe like that?" He asks.
"Because your vibe was about to kill me!" I breathe, taking in the serenity of the peace and quiet.
He chuckles and shifts hands on the wheel so that he can rest his elbow on the window, "So dramatic."
As we drive, passing farm after farm in rural Indiana, I begin to realize how little I know about his mom. The only time he really mentioned her was that time in my room, and I only got a snapshot into their life together- it wasn't the best one either.
"You know you've only mentioned your mom once to me," I say, turning my attention to Hayden rather than the passing cornfields.
He glances at me for a brief second and hums his agreement. "I guess I have," he says. "What do you want to know?"
I look back at the road ahead of us, an end to this ride not yet in sight, and purse my lips.
"Everything."
So he dives into an explanation of his mother that takes up the rest of the ride.
He tells me that she's one of the best people he knows, even with the major mistake she made. He tells me that he loves her no matter what, because her regretful actions were in no way made to hurt him.
It took him a long time to come to terms with it, but she loves him no less and he could never not love her. Her mistake doesn't define who she is, but a lot of other people seemed to think so. Their neighbors were ashamed of her, and she was so ashamed of herself that she up and left.
He surprises me by requesting for me to act like I like her.
"Hayden...why would I have to act?" I ask gently.
He sighs, as if he's used to having to defend her. "Some people don't like the choices she made, Reagan."
I shake my head, "Like you said, one mistake doesn't define her."
He looks over at me, blue eyes piercing into mine even through his sunglasses, shimmering with appreciation- a grateful undertone that thanks me for staying open-minded.
"But," I say to lighten the mood, "if she's anything like you I may have trouble."
My attempt works and a small smile breaks out on his lips.
"You know, we should get her flowers." I decide.
He snorts, "We aren't getting flowers."
"Yes."
"No."
"Hayden."
"Reagan," He mocks me. "We aren't getting flowers."
---
"You brought me flowers?!" His mother squeals in shock as soon as she opens up the door.
She lives in a modest, one story home with a vast front porch and a welcoming blue door. The neighborhood is the typical suburban paradise, and her yard is clean cut like every other.
Hayden grumbles his response and hands them to her to gush over. I try to peer over his broad shoulders in order to look at his mom, who has yet to notice me either, but the entryway is too small for me to see her.
"It's good to see you mom," he breathes, pulling her in for a hug. His past annoyance with me being right about the flowers leaves his body as he wraps his arms around his moms petite figure.
Of course I can't see her, but I'm assuming she's petite.
Since he has to hunch over, I finally see his mother. Granted it's only her head because her body is being engulfed by her 6 foot son, but her face is all I need.
Then, she opens her eyes as she pulls apart from her homecoming hug with her son, and they zero in on me.
"Well this explains the flowers," she says, and I instantly see where he gets his smirk from.
I chuckle and tuck a nervous strand of hair behind my ear as they pull apart. Hayden glances at me and winks, a lame attempt at calming my nerves, and gestures for me to come further into the house.
Now that I'm getting a better look at her, I see that the smirk is the only true resemblance between the two of them. His mother has short, blonde hair and dark brown eyes, and she's nowhere near his height. 5'4" if I had to guess.
"How much is he paying you?" She asks as I step inside so that she can close the door and keep the hot fall air outside and the cool AC inside.
I feel my lips twitch into a grin as I sneak a sideways glance at him. "Not enough."
Her reaction is instantaneous and next thing I know the house is filled with her loud, tone-deaf, and confident laughter.
"Oh honey, time with my son is priceless," she winks.
I sense Hayden's eye roll before it even happens.
"Mom, this is Reagan. Reagan this is obviously my mom, Patric-
"Patty." She cuts him off with the same easygoing smile as him. "Call me Patty."
From the corner of my eye, I notice Hayden's brows raise in what seems to be surprise, but he doesn't say anything.
A natural smile fills my lips as I focus back on his mom. "Patty it is."
She places her hands on my shoulders and gently tugs me in for a hug that I happily reciprocate.
"It's nice to meet you, Reagan. It was about time he brought a girl to see me," she says into our hug. "Tell me though, did he kidnap you or did you come willingly?
I chuckle as we pull apart. "He may be a pain in the butt, but he's quite convincing."
Her laughter once again fills the lonely house and my heart swells with pride.
I made Hayden Summers mom laugh. People don't even know about her and I made her laugh. Twice.
I'm not gonna lie, I was kind of terrified to meet his mom. He seems protective about her and defensive when it comes to her character, and I didn't want to start off on the wrong foot. I was praying that she and I would easily get along and I really would genuinely like her.
So far, she seems amazing. I can tell that she's a loving mother, just like Hayden said.
It's clear to me that her days with Hayden are her favorites from the light in her eye that overpowers her dull under-bags. I can see the natural smiles that seem to form every second since we've been here, but fail to stay long enough to create laughter lines.
"Who's idea was it to buy lilies?" She asks, picking them up from where she laid them on the stairs. She starts to walk down the hall and Hayden follows confidentially, so I awkwardly trail behind him.
"Reagan's," he says, sending me a smile over his shoulder.
"I knew I liked her from the moment she walked through that door!" Patty smiles, placing them in water.
"Well, it may have only been a minute but so far so good," I breathe as I stand next to Hayden.
She smiles over at me and winks, "My first opinion of people is usually right."
Hayden smirks and crosses his arms, puffing out his forearms. "There's a first time for everything."
Patty sends him a flat look, but even when she tries to scowl at him her happiness for having him here is undeniable.
"You keep that up and I'm worried I won't see her again," she pouts.
Hayden smirks and glances down at me, and I know what he's going to say before he even opens his lips. "Nah, she can't seem to stay away."
I roll my eyes and nudge him with my shoulder, but the action moves me more than him. "Somehow I've learned to deal with his arrogance. I think I've created some sort of shield that deflects it."
"Or you're learning to love it."
"Do you really believe that?"
"Seeing is believing."
"Then you need to get your eyes checked," I retort with a playful smile.
Hayden chuckles and diverts his attention to his mom. She's watching us with a tiny smile and one brow raised tellingly as she looks between us.
"What's that look for?" Hayden questions, voicing my thoughts.
She wipes the look from her face and pouts her lips while she shrugs animatedly, and asks us what we want for lunch.
She whips up a delicious meal of grilled cheese, cooked to absolute perfection, and sets the table up for us to eat. She asks a bit about me, the standard questions for meeting someone for the first time.
But then she asks about the elephant in the room.
"So, Reagan, how did he convince you to date him?"
I choke on my bite of grilled cheese and lift my hand to my mouth to contain the bits of toast that want to come flying out.
"Was it something I said?" She asks.
I shake my head as Hayden rushes to get me some water, patting my back to help get rid of the particles in my throat trying to kill me.
I take the water from him and down it, but of course some of it goes down the wrong pipe and I start dying all over again.
"Jesus, Cupcake," Hayden breathes, his steady hand resting on my shoulder as I try to control my coughing fit. "Breathe."
No shit.
"You don't thi-" I start coughing again and an amused concern fills his eyes.
"This may not be so bad, now you can't argue with me."
I glare at him through watery eyes and I finally catch my breath. "You don't think I'm trying?"
He chuckles and hands me the water again. "In times of need, people usually give the most obvious advice."
"So am I going to get an answer?" His mother questions.
Hayden and I turn to look at her and he clears his throat. "We aren't dating, mom."
Her hopeful expression falls to one of bored disappointment. "I was hoping for some grand story."
"I mean, I'm sure Reagan's got plenty of dreams to share." He smirks, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
Patty chuckles and moves right along.
"Actually," she says, her eyes flitting towards the table instead of Hayden. "I have a story of my own to share."
Hayden scrunches his brow, "Alright?"
She glances at me for a small second and then looks back at Hayden, a tinge of nervous worry showing on her brow. "I met someone."
In an instant, Hayden's body tenses and his jaw tightens. His calm and happy eyes melt away into emotionless voids of blue.
"Oh?" He says in a monotone, guarded voice.
She sighs and looks down at the colorful placemats. "He's really nice, Hayden."
As if on cue, the doorbell rings and Hayden's eyes snap in that direction.
"You invited him here?" He growls in disbelief.
She looks at him in exasperation and stands up. "Hayden, he's a good guy. I've been wanting you to meet him for a while."
He bursts from his chair, causing me to jump out of my skin. "How long have you been seeing him?!" He asks, betrayal evident in his voice.
Patty closes her frowning eyes, "For a month or so now." She admits quietly.
I risk a glance at Hayden and see him looking at her in pure disbelief. "A month?"
A part of me is wanting to yell at him to calm down. He's overreacting. But the other part is sympathizing with him. It can't be easy to see your mom with another man when the last time you did it was when she was being unfaithful.
"Patty!" The voice calls out in a singsong fashion while opening the door.
Hayden clenches his fists, "Oh so he can just barge in when you don't open the door?"
His mother takes a step closer to him but he instantly takes a step back.
"Please just meet him. You'll love him!" She tries.
He scoffs, "Yeah. Right."
Then the voice gets a face as Patty's boyfriend walks into the kitchen with flowers and chocolate and a wide smile.
"Hayden!" He exclaims, throwing his arms to the sides. "It's so nice to meet you, son!"
I gulp and see Patty close her eyes- well aware her boyfriend just said the wrong word.
Hayden eyes him up and laughs humorlessly. "Son?" He scoffs, shaking his head. "I'm out of here," he spits, turning and walking out the back door without so much as another word.
He slams the door behind him and the shock shakes the whole house.
Patty lifts her fingers to her head to massage the place above her nose and sighs. "I'm sorry about that, Kyle. He's just..."
Her boyfriend sighs with her and places a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering a small smile. "I know, don't worry."
My eyes stay trained on Hayden outside, stomping around the yard while kicking random flowers. He throws his hands through his hair and sits down on the ground faced away from me.
"I'll go calm him down," I say softly while standing up from my chair. "It's nice to meet you, Kyle." I say awkwardly and he purses his lips with a small nod.
I follow the path he took and leave out the back door, listening as it creaks closed and leaves me in the buzzing outdoors. My feet carry me through the slightly overgrown grass towards Hayden's hunched over body, sitting on the ground facing a pond her house backs up to.
If he hears me walk up, he makes no indication of it. His body stays rigid and closed off.
I quietly sit next to him and refrain from saying anything, because I don't know what he's going through. I can't console him in that sense, I can only listen if he wants to talk.
"I overreacted."
I shake my head, "You reacted how you felt necessary."
He continues to play with a blade of grass between his fingers, eyes trained tightly on it, and then he lets it blow with the wind. He doesn't say anything for a while, and I don't say anything either. I just want him to know that I'm here.
"I know I need to be happy for her," he starts, "but she hasn't been with anyone since...." He trails off and shakes his head in confusion. "I feel so conflicted," he says quietly.
His voice reveals how confused and betrayed he is and I feel a pang in my chest. I reach my hand and let it graze his shoulder, sliding gently across his back.
He looks over at me and opens up his vulnerability to me with a tired smile, letting all of his emotions shine through.
"What should I do?" He asks, his tired smile gone and replaced with a frown as he searches my eyes for the answer.
I look away and out at the small pond in front of us. "I don't know," I admit softly. "But...I can ask you this- did you let your dad move on easily?"
He fiddles with his fingers in front of him and looks ahead. "I did."
I sit a little bit closer to him and angle towards him, causing him to look over as I give him a sympathetic smile.
"Then don't you think your mom deserves the same?"
He turns his head back towards me and scans my eyes for a few moments. Then he looks down with a small sigh and a silent nod.
My heart relaxes when he accepts my answer and I surprise myself be leaning forward and silently resting my head on the crevice of his neck. His body tenses for a small second before relaxing into my touch, and I pull back with a small smile.
I take my hand from resting on his back and shift to stand up, but he darts his hand out and softly grabs mine. His grip slides down from my palm and softly to my fingers, grazing and gently curling into them as his eyes request that we stay for just a little bit longer.
"Let's stay out here. Just a few minutes more," he says.
I stare at him for a moment or two, and then my eyes soften and I settle back down next to him in the grass, the blades being blown by the gentle breeze.
Instead of letting my fingers go, Hayden holds them tighter and sets our hands down on his lap. His thumb begins to lightly trail across my knuckles, creating a warm blanket against the breeze.
"Thank you, Reagan."
I scoot closer to him and return my head to his shoulder, "Of course."
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