Chapter 27
Nate
When I was talking to my mum about Hayleigh’s list and what was left on it, because I’ve memorised the whole thing, she was all too happy to help her out.
She said Sunday dinner was the perfect time to do it because Hayleigh arrived earlier than anyone else and started helping without the rest of my family gawping at her. Even if they do mean well.
My phone vibrates in my pocket for the fifteenth time, but I can hear Arch giggling from the living room, so I know he’s up to something, and when I grab my phone and unlock it, I know for sure.
Archie
He’s ignoring us now. I think he’s gone upstairs to powder his nose
Cole
We’ll be a little late, Lacey can’t find anything comfy to wear
Rafe
So is Nate gonna propose?
Ethan
That’s a jump, Rafe. Plus, we’ve only just had a wedding…
Rafe
There isn’t a limit on weddings in the year
I shake my head; they’re worse than a bunch of gossiping old ladies.
Me
There will be no wedding…yet, this is just an invitation to Sunday dinner
Me
Don’t make it weird *face palm emoji*
Rafe
There he is *party hat emoji* so, Nate, tell us, is it social media official?
Archie
*laughing face emoji* Rafe, no one uses that as a reference anymore
Ethan
I hate all social media; it should be banned.
Cas
I agree with Nate, don’t make it weird for Hayleigh
Rafe
Ethan’s a grouch. Pass it on
Rafe
Also, why would we make it weird?
Archie
Because you always say inappropriate things
Me
What Archie said. Don’t say anything to make her feel uncomfortable, and certainly don’t be moody with her
Ethan
*rolling eyes emoji* That was one time! She talks a lot, I don’t like talking
Rafe
To be fair, you don’t like anything Ethan
Rafe
What about embarrassing stories? Can we tell them?
Ethan
Like the time we put itching powder in his boxers before he went on a date, and she told everyone he was a pervert because he kept touching himself all night?
Rafe
*crying laughing emoji* I totally forgot about that
I shake my head. Those fuckers, I never knew why that happened. Archie barks out a laugh.
Me
Oh you shouldn’t have admitted that. Now it’s on!
Archie whoops.
Archie
On like Donkey Kong! *ninja emoji* let the pranking commence!
I click out of the message as Archie comes bounding through to the kitchen, waving his phone from side to side, a huge smile on his face as he says.
“We’ve gotta get them back for that.”
I nod my head. “Oh, we will, don’t worry, but not today. Today needs to go perfectly for Hayleigh.”
Archie grabs an apple from the fruit bowl and takes a bite, speaking with his mouthful. “You do realise this is a big deal, right?”
My stomach sloshes ever so slightly. “I know, and I’m hoping she realises that we’re all here for her. I want her to be part of this family.”
He looks at me pointedly. “Have you told her the extent of how you feel?”
I shake my head. “No, not yet. I don’t want to bombard her or make her feel like she owes me anything. I need her to know that she has an out in this with no repercussions if that’s what she wants.”
He claps my arm. “Don’t leave it too long before telling her.”
As he walks away, unease runs through me at his words.
Am I doing the right thing by giving her space, or should I be pushing forward?
Then it hits me. We haven’t even had the conversation yet about what we are.
Sure, we can’t keep our hands off each other, but technically, she isn’t mine; we aren’t together officially.
**********
I pull up outside of Hayleigh’s home and get out of my car. The smell of new flowers in her garden hit me. She has only a small front garden with a patch of grass, but around it, beautiful flowers bloom.
I look down at the flowers I bought from the florist and pray they’re the right ones. Cone flowers, the same ones her grandad used to buy her grandma when they were younger. They’re a pinkish-purple colour, the petals droop downwards forming the shape of a cone.
My hand shakes as I raise it to knock on the door. I only have to wait less than a minute before Hayleigh’s silhouette appears through the frosted glass. She opens the door, smiling widely as she takes me in.
I thrust the flowers forward. “For you.” Great job, Nate. That wasn’t awkward at all.
She takes them from me, laughing. “Why are you acting so weird?”
She steps back from the door, and I step forward, watching as she heads straight through the hallway to her kitchen. She pulls out a metal jug from the cupboard under her sink and adds water and the flowers.
From this angle, I can see her face, she’s smiling, humming a tune and pruning her flowers to make them look exactly right.
I want to tell her how much I love her, how much I want to see her smile every single day, but at the same time, I’m scared that she isn’t ready.
What if what she wants is something a little more casual, and to not be tied down to another person?
She places the jug on her windowsill, then spins around, arms folded, brow cocked. “Out with it.”
Somehow, I choke on saliva and spend a good minute coughing, my cheeks heating at the embarrassment, but she doesn’t move a budge except to pass me a glass of water.
I croak out. “Thanks.”
She smirks. “I’m still waiting.”
I take my coat off and grab the back of my neck. “Is it hot in here? I’m hot, are you hot?”
I know she must mean business because she plants her hands on her hips. “Nate.”
God, why am I so nervous? I never have trouble saying what I want to say. I’m usually outspoken and strong-willed, but for some reason, this five-foot beauty with her dark hair and blue eyes has me tongue-tied.
She drops her arms by her side, her mouth drops open, and her eyes widen as fresh tears well up in them. “Oh.”
Her tears have me panicking. “Oh? I didn’t say anything yet.”
She wraps her arms around herself and turns away from me.
Fuck.
I stride forward and wrap my arms around her. “I think I’m fucking this up, so I’m just going to ask you if you will be my girlfriend?”
She lets out a sob and shoves me off her, angrily swiping at her eyes. “Nate Peterson, you fucking idiot. I thought you were uninviting me to Sunday Dinner.”
I swipe a hand down my face. “Shit, sorry, no. That’s the furthest thing from what I want.”
Her bottom lip wobbles. “You want me to be your girlfriend?”
I cup her face. “I want more than that when you’re ready, but as a start, yeah, I want you to be my girlfriend.”
She lifts on her toes, and I meet her lips with my own, kissing her deeply. I’ll never get enough of her.
We break apart as she places her hands on my chest. “We'd better get going, I don’t want to keep your mum and dad waiting. I’m a bit scared.”
“You’re scared of my parents?”
She shakes her head. “Not of them, but it’s that stupid voice that niggles away in my head.”
I tap her forehead and whisper. “Hey, voice, shut up for a bit, will you?”
She smiles, but it falters slightly. “Nate, I have something to tell you, and I know you won’t like it.”
Despite my stomach dropping, I reassure her. “Whatever it is, I’m here.”
“Emmy and I were out to lunch yesterday, and we saw Chad. He said his father died, and his mother is petitioning for Pete to be released to attend the funeral.”
“Fuck, do you think he will? Are you okay?”
She shrugs. “I don’t feel anything for him anymore, Nate.
I honestly don’t care what he does; he’ll be supervised at all times, so as long as he stays away from Emmy and me, that’s all that I care about.
” She blows out a breath. “I wanted to tell you because you’re my person and I’m okay when I’m with you. ”
I kiss my girlfriend again, because I can.
**********
My dad nudges the side of my arm as we both watch Hayleigh and my mum move around the kitchen. Hayleigh seems at ease as she laughs freely while they mix the batter for Yorkshire Puddings.
“She’s been wanting to help Hayleigh for a long time now.”
I turn my head to look at my dad. “What do you mean?”
He chuckles. “Your mother knows when someone isn’t quite right with themselves. She can’t help herself; she has to help. She told me about that family trying to get him out.”
Sighing, I shake my head. “I don’t understand how they can get him released, even for a day, after what he did. Do you think he’ll come after her?”
My dad shakes his head, his hand gently squeezing my arm. “Don’t worry, son, we’ll protect all of our women, but he’ll be supervised if he does get released. You just focus on making sure she knows she has us in her corner.”
My mum turns around to face us, pointing the spoon at both of us. “If you’ve finished gossiping amongst yourselves, there’s a bowl full of dishes that won’t wash themselves.”
**********
We’ve spent the afternoon with my family, and Hayleigh’s slotted right in with them as if she’s always been here.
I’ve watched her face evolve from nervous to downright laughing her head off at the stories Ethan and Rafe are telling her about a younger me.
Even Archie gave up half his trifle because she was eyeing it with puppy dog eyes.
She believes she no longer fits in anywhere, but she’s wrong; she fits with us perfectly.
As if she were always meant to be here. I’ve always believed in destiny.
I knew that being best friends with Archie would change our lives.
The night I snuck out to see him was a turning point, just like that night in Club Envy, when Hayleigh kissed me, that I wouldn’t ever want anyone else.
After spending the afternoon and most of the evening with my parents, we decide to head out, and I drive a quiet Hayleigh home, but when I park up, she turns in the seat to face me.
“Will you stay with me tonight?” Her voice is low, unsure.
I nod before getting out of the car and rushing to the other side to open her door. I help her out and walk into her house in silence. She locks the door behind us and leads me straight upstairs.
Once in her room, I grab her hand, pulling her toward me. I cup her face. “I want you to know that you mean so much to me, Hayleigh. More than anyone ever has, from the first moment I saw you, I felt it that one day you would be with me.”
Her smile is shy. “I remember thinking you were the biggest idiot when I first met you. For some reason, you always rubbed me the wrong way, but I’m glad I got to know the real you, Nate. I feel safe with you and happy.”
I plant a kiss on the side of her neck as a contented sigh leaves her lips. We undress each other slowly; somehow, this feels different from the rest of the time. This feels more intimate.
She guides me to the bed, and I lie down as she straddles me before bending slowly to kiss me, her hard nipples gently brushing across my skin. I get lost in her taste, the smell of her perfume, how soft she is.
I’m hard as stone and dying to be inside of her, but this is her show, and she can go at whatever pace she wants. She moves her lips to the side of my neck as a jolt of pleasure runs through me.
Now I know why women love that so much.
She moans in my ear when my hands grab onto her arse and squeeze tight. “Nate, I want to feel you.”
I squeeze harder, my hand moving around before finding out how dripping wet she is for me. I growl in her ear. “Is this for me, Hayleigh? Are you this wet all for me? Is this all mine?”
From behind, I push two fingers inside of her, she cries out and bites down on my shoulder. The sting of pain makes my dick harder.
I pump my fingers relentlessly while my other hand grips the back of her head. “I asked you a question, Shortcake, is this all mine?”
She tries to nod her head as she cries out. “Yes, oh g-god…yes…all, yours.”
Pulling her head slightly to one side, I murmur. “Then give me everything you have, let go and come for me.” I bury my fingers deeper and scissor them inside of her. She tightens around them before shaking as her orgasm rips free from her.
She whispers to me. “I want you inside of me, Nate, right now. I’m clean, I’m on the pill.”
I groan. “I’m clean too, fuck, are you sure?”
She plants her hands on her chest and rises up before grabbing hold of my dick, positioning it at her entrance. She slides down slowly, gasping as I fill her up, and I have to white-knuckle the bed sheets to stop myself from coming already.
Her body writhes above me, her heat all around me, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. She moves faster as I grip her hips to guide her, and her movements become choppy as she chases another orgasm.
Pleasure builds in the base of my spine as I get lost in her.
She moves her hands to her breasts and grips hold of them, pinching her nipples and crying out.
That’s my undoing. I grip her hips harder and thrust mine up to meet hers.
She falls forward, gripping my shoulders as I band an arm around her back and pound into her as hard as I can.
She cries out my name, and I cry out hers as I spill everything I have into her until we’re both boneless and out of breath.
I kiss her gently and roll her onto her side.
I whisper to her. “I’ll be back in a minute.
” Getting up and grabbing a washcloth from the bathroom, but by the time I get back, she’s fast asleep.
I clean us both up as best as I can and climb into bed with her, pulling her into me. She sighs as I wrap my arms around her, and she snuggles into me closer. I kiss the top of her head.
I promise her. “One day, we’ll end all of our days like this. I love you, Hayleigh.”
She doesn’t respond with words but a snore that tells me she’s already well on her way to a deep sleep.