Page 115 of Blinded By Hate

“You’re still in love with him. That’s why you’re being mean to him and pushing him away. You don’t want to love him or have these feelings, but you do. And you hate it.”

I shake my head and lick my bottom lip. “You’re wrong.”

“I’m not. And you know I’m not.” Brandon stands up and he leaves my office without another word.

God, I wish he was wrong.

Forty-Nine

Jaclyn

Present

Hayden is over right now.

Right when Hayden walked through the front door, Junior pulled him through the apartment, and they went to his room to play.

Junior loves having a new play buddy. When he saw Hayden, he got so excited and jumped up and down on his little feet. Hayden smiled right when he saw us too. I also noticed him looking behind me, probably expecting Brandon to be with us.

I’m a little annoyed with Hayden being here because I just don’t feel like talking to him after he said what he said the last time we saw each other in person.

How he needs time to not be mad at me for keeping his son away from him.

I get it.

I know I fucked up and I keep fucking up, but doesn’t he understand how hurt and broken I was when I left him?

“Let’s watch The Lion King! It’s mama’s and my favorite movie!” Junior cheers as he walks out of his room with Hayden trailing behind him.

Hayden is wearing a casual fit tonight. In Italy, he was always wearing fancy pants and shirts but here he is just wearing a black sweater and gym shorts that show off his muscular legs. I can’t lie and say when his shorts go up a little bit, I don’t stare at his thighs because how could I not?

“Your mom still likes that movie a lot?” Hayden asks, his eyes going to me for a second before looking at Junior.

“Yup. She always wants to watch it,” Junior says as he jumps onto his side of the couch. Hayden sits next to him while I dump the popcorn into a bowl.

Kettle corn for me and Junior and buttered for Hayden since he doesn’t like kettle corn. He thinks it’s too sweet.

I remember him saying that whenever we watched a movie when we were together in college.

I walk away from the kitchen and turn off the lights before going towards the couch where the boys are and sit down next to Junior. I hand Hayden his bowl of popcorn and give Junior the bowl to hold ours.

“You still like kettle corn?’ Hayden asks.

“Yea. I got your son on it too,” I tease as I pick up the remote.

“Kettle corn is the best popcorn ever,” Junior agrees, nodding his head while smiling.

“What about fruit on pizza?” Hayden asks Junior while eating some of his popcorn.

Junior grimaces which makes me laugh a little. “Mama likes it, but I think it’s weird.”

“That’s my boy.” Hayden high fives Junior and I just roll my eyes at them.

I can already see how they’ll be ganging up on me.

“Sweet and salty go hand in hand. Pineapple on pizza tastes good. Any other fruit doesn’t belong on there though,” I explain which makes Hayden shake his head a little and laugh.

“Princess, you are one of the pickiest people I know yet you have some weird taste in food,” Hayden says, and I click on the movie, ready for it to play.