12. Hayes
Chapter twelve
Hayes
My mind is constantly going to thoughts of Lennon. To how she came back from lunch yesterday and I could tell she had been crying. I wanted to rush over to the diner and question everyone to find out who made my girl cry. To protect her from anyone that would dare make her shed a single tear. I wanted to be there to wipe her tears.
She isn’t mine.
I just finished with payroll when my phone dings with an incoming text. I don’t like when my employees are constantly on their phones, but as a single parent I understand that at times you need to have access to it.
Tess
Ro Ro wanted to call you, but I told her you were busy at work. She wants me to relay her messages to you.
I tell myself to not get mad at my sister for telling Rosie that she couldn’t call me, but there is a small part of me that is mad. I’ve told my sister and dad multiple times that if Rosie ever says she wants to talk to me, let her call. I’m the only parent she has. At the end of the day, I’m the only option. She doesn’t have a mom to call. Or to read to her at bedtime. Or to take care of the endless amount of things a child needs.
She could have called me but go ahead. What would my amazing daughter like me to know?
Tess
How come Pop Pop is coming to get me to stay the night?
Tess
Are you coming back for me?
Tess
When can I see Lennon?
I run my fingers through my hair and blow out a breath. How is it that kids can slice your heart up without realizing it? Even though she has only had me at home, she has always felt a sense of abandonment. She is smart enough to know that most families consist of two parents, and that it’s only ever been me. She is constantly worried that I won’t pick her up or show up when I am supposed to. I try to always remember to be the one to tell Rosie of any changes to our schedule. Usually, if I am the one to explain it, she is able to understand.
You are staying with Pop Pop tonight, but I will be there in the morning to pick you up. I promise. And if you make sure you are good for your Pop Pop, we can go get breakfast in the morning.
And I will talk to Lennon and see when she is free to come play.
Tess
Ok, she seems happy with that explanation.
Tess
I’ll be up to the shop after Pop comes for Ro Ro.
Ok, thanks, Tess. Tell Ro Ro that I love her.
I wasn’t ecstatic about asking my dad to watch Rosie overnight but when Lennon came up to me to see if I was going out with everyone tonight, I couldn’t say no. I saw hope in her eyes, and couldn’t bear to extinguish it. I told myself that I would go with the group to make sure nothing makes Lennon have a bad night. But that isn’t the only reason.
Who am I kidding? I just want to spend more time with her. See her outside of work.
Lennon has always drawn me into her orbit. My feelings towards her were always platonic until one day everything shifted. And then she left, and I moved away. If I’m being completely honest with myself, Lennon never left my thoughts.
Best friend’s little sister. She just got out of a bad relationship.
If I tell myself that enough times, surely it will sink in.
Friday nights in Pine Creek are probably exactly how everyone imagines: sleepy, with not a lot of food options. Everyone ends up at the same place on the weekends. We have three bars in town, but The Creekside Tavern is a favorite among our group. Most of my employees are here, along with my sister, Shelby, Cash, and of course Lennon. My sister came to the shop with a garment bag and locked her and Lennon in the bathroom for an hour. An hour! I may or may not have paced in front of the bathroom door, hearing laughter coming from the other side. I had to give the glare of death to the other men when the two women emerged. When the women joined the group for the walk to the tavern, I kid you not, jaws dropped. So, not only do I have to keep an eye on Lennon, I also need to guard my sister.
We walk into Creekside and all eyes are on us. On Tess and Lennon, specifically. The black dress Tess put Lennon in hugs every delectable curve. I can imagine peeling the clothing slowly off her body, torturing us both.
Nope, can’t go there.
Cash and Shelby saved us tables, so we join them before he and I go up to the bar for a round of drinks. I can tell Cash has something he wants to say but is choosing to be quiet. We reach the bar and wait until Presley comes to take our order. Her dad opened the bar when he was twenty-one, and from the looks of it, she is working on taking over the place. She has added karaoke and bands have started coming here a few times a month.
“Hey guys, what can I get ya?” She wipes down the bar while waiting on us. “Can we get three buckets of Coors, a tray of waters, and three ciders, please.” Presley’s eyebrows shoot up with that hefty order, but she looks over my shoulder to see the rest of our group, nods, and turns to get started on our order. I pay for this round, while Cash starts bringing the drinks to the table. Presley sets the tray of waters down in front of me, and I notice she snuck in a few tequila shots.
Back at our tables, Lennon, my sister, and Shelby are talking about visiting my sister’s boutique, while the guys are talking about cars and football. I try to sit next to the women; I do have two of them to protect tonight. My sister hasn’t dated in a while, says that she is too busy, but I have a feeling there is more to the story. The women let out a squeal when they notice the tequila, each of them grabbing a shot. What happens next has me choking on my beer…and my tongue .
Lennon picks up the shot glass and after the obligatory touching glasses with her friends, her eyes find mine. She slowly licks the salt that she sprinkled onto her hand, shoots the liquid down her slender throat, and picks up a lime wedge, sucking the juice until it’s dry. The women go back to laughing like Lennon didn’t just knock me on my ass. She wanted me to see that, right? She was staring right at me.
Most of the guys go over to the pool tables and start a game, and then it happens. The women go to the small makeshift dance floor, leaving Cash, Scottie, and myself, sitting there looking either awkward or like we are stalkers. I look at Scottie and notice that he is zeroed in on…my little sister. Huh. I should probably do the big brother thing and tell him to keep his eyes to himself, but I am too busy staring at someone else’s sister.
I can’t be a hypocrite, now, can I?
“How’s Lennon seem to you, Hayes?” Cash moves his gaze to me, surely catching me staring at Lennon. “Man, she has whipped the whole shop into shape. I truly don’t know how it was running without her.” That earns a big smile from my friend. He always was so proud of everything Lennon did. When she got her acceptance letter into college, he bought her a new, used car, stating that her current one wasn’t reliable enough, and threw her a party. When she made the dean’s list, he made sure to call everyone to let them know.
“That’s awesome. I knew she could help you out. She was always so smart. Has she opened up at all?” This is where it gets tricky. If Lennon does end up opening up to me, I don’t want to go behind her back and run to her brother to tell him, but at the same time, I don’t want to lie to my best friend.
“No, man. But I also haven’t pushed her on it, either.” Cash gives me a slight nod, but Scottie sits up further on his stool, eyes on the dance floor. I swing my attention to that direction and see a few guys that were at the pool tables making their way towards our women.
I’m already making my way towards Lennon when one of the guys gets too close to her and tries to pull her to him. I can see her whole-body tense up before I can get to her. Shelby and Tess are getting in the guy’s face, so I pick up my pace. The last thing we need are the women getting into a fight tonight. Without looking, I know Cash and Scottie are behind me. I reach Lennon right before mystery man can pull her closer and pull her to me.
Pulling her close, I hear that she is breathing rapidly…too rapidly. “Breathe, Lennon. I’ve got you. I’ve got you, sunshine.” I don’t know where that nickname came from, but it must do the trick because Lennon quickly relaxes in my arms.
The DJ switches gears and plays a slow song, and since I’m already out here, I decide to take my chances. Now that I have her in my arms, I don’t know how I’m going to let her go. I breathe in the lilac scent, I discreetly breathe in deep, trying to ingrain it into my memory.
Too soon, the song switches back to something fast, but neither of us move away from each other. Shelby gives me a wink as she is walking back to the tables, but Cash narrows his eyes, and sends me a look that lets me know that we will be talking about this later.
“Is Rosie staying with your dad tonight?” We are barely moving, not quite ready to leave our bubble. “Yeah, I have to take her to breakfast tomorrow to make up for leaving her tonight. She has been asking when she is going to see you again.” I look down and see a small smile on her face. One of the reasons I’m falling for Lennon is how she effortlessly cares for Rosie. “Well, maybe…maybe I can meet you guys at the diner tomorrow. To make Rosie happy.”
I can hear my name being called at the tables over the music, unsure of how long the two of us have been in our own little world. I place a soft kiss to her temple, wishing that we didn’t have a bar full of spectators. “We would both like that. ”
We spend the rest of the night telling stories and laughing. Shelby keeps feeding Lennon and my sister with shots until Cash cuts her off. That earns him some pretty funny glares, even though I’m pretty sure that they were supposed to come across as anything but. The ones of us with kids don’t go out like this anymore, my sister is too busy running her business, and a can take a guess that Lennon wasn’t going out either.
Everyone gets loaded up in with their designated drivers, and I walk Lennon over to Cash’s truck. I almost offered to bring her home, but seeing as they live at the same address, I kept the stupid question to myself.
“I’ll text you in the morning to see if you are still up for breakfast. Rosie and I can pick you up. Goodnight, sunshine.” I tuck her hair behind her ear, a slight blush on her face. “Goodnight, Hayes.”
During my drive home, I replay the softness of Lennon’s voice. The feel of her in my arms. And I want more. More time with her. More Lennon. So, I vow to myself when I enter my empty home, tomorrow is day one in making Lennon mine.