Page 9 of Blinded By Hate
I lick my lips and feel arms wrap around my torso. “Nervous?” Hayden asks in my ear.
I shrug. “Not really, I just want your grandparents to like me.”
“They will. I mean my grandpa is kind of a dick. But, who wouldn’t like you?” Hayden moves his lips to my ear. “Even that fucker John can’t stop staring at you.”
I turn my head to look at Hayden. “Are you jealous that your little cousin is going to steal me away from you?”
Hayden pushes me against the fridge. “No one is going to steal you away from me.” He whispers in my ear.
I laugh and try to push him away from me but he keeps his hold on me and tries to pinch my waist. “Stop,” I laugh, trying to push him away.
Hayden leans down and presses his lips to mine and I can’t help but smile into the kiss.
I can’t describe how much my heart is swelling up from him kissing me. He can do such simple things to make me happy.
“Okay guys! Let’s sit down at the table,” I hear Alex yell, making Hayden take his lips off mine with a soft groan that makes my legs feel weak. I hear footsteps and see Alex in the kitchen. She has a smile on her face while looking at Hayden and I, still against the fridge. “Can you check the turkey with your father, Hayden?” Hayden nods and then leans down to kiss my cheek. He lets go of me and walks towards the oven. I go to the dining room and sit down at one of the empty seats next to Natalia. There is another seat that’s open for Hayden next to me. Carter, Hayden, and Jake start bringing the food out while Alex takes pictures of everything like a proud mom. “Looks amazing, guys.”
When they're done Hayden sits down next to me and he pulls my chair closer to his, then rests his hand on my thigh making me blush.
Hayden smiles down at me. “It’s so easy to make you blush,” Hayden whispers before kissing my cheek.
“Shut up,” I say, trying my best not to smile too much.
It’s hard to explain how happy Hayden makes me. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so much in my life until I met him.
Carter stands from his seat. “Before we start eating I want to say how thankful I am to be sitting here, in this nice house with my family. I’ve always been one to dream big and I’m just grateful to have made it this far with the woman I fell in love with in high school,” Carter says before placing his hand on Alex’s cheek. I smile at the two because you can truly see how in love they are with one another. I look at Alex’s parents and see them having a stink face looking at Carter. I haven’t officially met them yet and I’m still nervous as hell. “Let’s eat.”
Carter sits down and everyone starts digging in.
“You look beautiful, princess,” Hayden whispers, making me look at him.
“You’re being so flirty tonight.”
“I can’t admire you?” Hayden smirks before looking down at my lips.
I laugh and shake my head lightly at him. I can’t focus on eating when he is like this. I have a feeling I’m going to find out how much he admires me tonight.
“So, how did you meet Natalia and Hayden, Jaclyn?” Jared asks from across the table.
I have a feeling he likes starting trouble.
“I met Natalia in my journalism class and Hayden at a diner I work at.”
Technically I met him when I was a teenager but he doesn’t need to know that story.
“Is Hayden doing well in school?” his grandmother asks.
All eyes are on me but I don’t know the answer to that. That’s Hayden’s business.
“I’m doing fine,” Hayden answers before I can.
“You like business?” his grandfather asks.
“I’m not really interested in that class,” Hayden states, while glaring at his grandfather.
“Well then, Hayden, what do you expect to be doing after college? You can’t rely on Carter and Alex’s money forever.”
“Papa!” Natalia gasps with her eyes wide.