41. Hayden
41
HAYDEN
C hristmas was nice. Which is weird. I’ve never really given a fuck about Christmas. When I was really young, my father was usually drunk and really angry during that time, so I just wanted it to be over. When I moved in with my grandma, she tried, but I never believed in the magic of that time like the other kids, and I still just wanted it to be over.
But yesterday with the Sterlings and Penelope, it was nice. Asher didn’t show, so Lola was worried, but he did have several gifts shipped to Baz and then video called him. So at least they all knew he was alive. The kid has a difficult path ahead of him, that’s for sure, but I still believe he’s going to come to Lola.
Baz ran wild and appeared to have a great day where he was spoiled by us all. Nora and Vivienne cooked a huge meal. It was great. Uneventful, but in the best, most comfortable way. And now, Lola and I are spending the day after in her bed.
Can’t ask for much more than that.
“I need food.”
I smile at Lola in all her naked glory, her body draped over my chest. “What sounds good?”
“Leftovers? Mom sent a bunch home with us.”
I nod, thinking about the turkey and all the fixings I never had growing up but am definitely going to be spoiled by now. My stomach growls at the thought. “Your mom is going to get me fat.”
Her fingers trail over my stomach. “I don’t think so.” She shrugs. “But I also don’t care.”
“Liar,” I growl as I cup her chin and bring her lips up to mine.
“You’re right. Better keep it tight or it’s the curb for you.”
I laugh and kiss her lips before we climb out of the bed, and she pulls on my dress shirt and buttons it.
“What am I supposed to wear?”
She shrugs. “I think maybe you should leave some casual clothes here.”
I grab her hips, pulling her to me. “For you to steal?”
“Yup.”
“I’ll do that soon then.” She kisses me. “And you should bring some things to my place.”
“I can do that.” She smiles. I breathe in her honey and lavender scent as I hold her close to me.
I plan to marry her soon, so it doesn’t scare me at all. Still, there are some loose ends in her life, and I don’t think she wants to be married quite yet.
Doesn’t matter to me. She’s mine. I’m hers. We’re good.
I pull on my dress slacks and button them before we start toward the kitchen when the sound of the doorbell fills the house. “Hayden, will you grab the door? It’s probably Mom. I’m gonna go start the food.”
I nod and walk to the door, pulling it open with a smile, but it fades when I see an older man I don’t know. “Hello?”
He looks annoyed as he examines me. “Where’s my daughter?”
Lola’s father.
“I’ll go get her.” I raise a hand in the air as he starts to walk inside. “You wait there.”
I know they don’t have a good relationship, and there’s no way I'm inviting him in without her permission. I walk to the kitchen, and she turns to me, her face still flushed from her last orgasm moments ago and her hair in disarray.
Not exactly how someone wants to greet their father.
“Your dad’s here.”
She goes pale. “What?”
“I can tell him to leave.”
She shakes her head defiantly and starts toward the door. I follow, still ready to kick his ass to the curb.
Her eyes narrow when she reaches the front door, where he’s still perched obediently. “Why are you here?”
He takes in her appearance and then his gaze moves to me. “This is cute.”
“What do you want, Dad?” She folds her arms over her chest.
“I want you to come back to work. This has been fun and all, you trying to be rebellious, but now it’s just sad.” His eyes flick over me, taking in my bare torso. “You playing whore and ignoring your last name.”
A growl bubbles up in my throat, but her fingers lace with mine. “I’m happy here.”
He rolls his eyes as his disapproving gaze lands on her pretty face. “I’m sure you are, sweetheart. I’m sure all the lies he told you sound quite nice at the moment.”
I want to strangle the motherfucker, but I let Lola handle him. He’s her father, and she doesn’t need me to fight her battles. “Like the lies you told Mom? No. Hayden is different. He doesn’t need to destroy a woman to feel like a big man.”
His scowl is penetrating as he looks over at me. “You have her fooled, huh?”
“Despite what her upbringing taught her, not all men are dickheads.”
He snarls, turning back to Lola. “My sons are worthless. You’re my only hope of having a worthy heir. Come back.”
“No.”
“Lola,” he snaps, and my body tenses at his harsh tone directed at her.
“I don’t need or want you in my life. I hate you.” She lets go of my hand and walks closer to him. “You tried to destroy our family, but we’re strong now. I want nothing to do with you, and you’d better stay away from everyone else in my family.”
He scoffs, “So you’re the head of my family now? Is that it?”
“We don’t need a head of the family. We’re stronger as equals, and that’s what we are. I spent so many years trying to please you and being miserable, only to find out it was because you are a miserable bastard who can never be pleased.”
“Lola Sterling . . .”
She holds up one hand to silence him, strong and confident. “Leave, and don’t ever come back.”
“I’m your father.”
“You’re nothing.”
She slams the door in his face, and I stand in awe of her. If my father were to show up, I'd probably beat him to a bloody pulp. There’s no way I would have that much control over myself, but Lola is different.
Stronger.
“So that’s your dad?”
She laughs and tugs my hand to follow her to the kitchen. “That’s the bastard that contributed in getting my mother pregnant, yes.”
“You okay?”
She smiles, looking blissfully happy. “I’m more than okay, Hayden. I have everything I want.”
Me too.
“You know I'm going to marry you someday, right?” I take a seat on the stool as she grabs the turkey from the fridge.
“I’ll let you someday.”
I grin as I take the bread she places in front of me and start to help make the sandwiches.
“Always equal?” Looking vulnerable in that moment.
I look up at her with a grin. “Nah, you’ll always be better, but I’ll try to keep up.”
She laughs and shakes her head as we finish making sandwiches to take back to her room, hopefully before Viv and Baz get back from their walk on the beach.
Some men may hate sharing the woman they love with so many family members, but that only makes her more appealing to me.
Yeah, she wants to fix everything and drives herself crazy, but that’s just Lola. She’s a fixer. She makes everything in this world better.
And I meant what I said, I'll be spending the rest of my life trying to keep up because all I want is her.