6. Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Walker
The house is quiet again.
That kind of quiet that either settles your soul or digs its claws in.
Tonight, it’s the latter.
Three days since the BBQ.
Three days of avoiding Hailey like it might stop the want from sinking deeper into my bones.
Spoiler: it hasn’t.
"Daddy, when is Miss Hailey coming over again?" Olivia asks as we finish up the movie she talked me into watching this afternoon.
"I don't know, kiddo. She's busy with her new house and stuff."
"But she likes us."
That certainty?
It hits me right in the chest.
“She does,” I whisper, because it’s true.
She likes Olivia. It’s me she’s probably regretting.
I'm halfway through loading the dishwasher from lunch when the doorbell rings. Olivia bolts from her chair at the table where she has been coloring, so fast she nearly knocks it over.
"I'll get it!" she shouts, already racing down the hall.
"Olivia Grace! What have I told you about—"
But she's already yanked the door open, and I hear it before I see it: Hailey's laugh, bright and warm.
"Hey, munchkin! Is your dad home?"
I round the corner, dish towel in hand, and there she is in jeans, with a soft blue shirt that makes her eyes pop like a punch to the gut, and a paper bag that smells like heaven.
“Surprise,” she says, holding it up. “Gino’s. Thought you could use a break from spaghetti night.”
Olivia bounces beside her. “You got garlic knots?! Daddy, can she stay? Please?”
I should say no.
I should keep space between us.
But the truth is, I missed her. Every damn minute.
“Come on in.”
Hailey steps inside, and the house suddenly feels different. It feels warmer and fuller. She follows me to the kitchen, Olivia skipping alongside her with a running commentary about her day at school.
"I hope this isn't imposing," Hailey says quietly when Olivia dashes off to wash her hands. "I just... I didn't like how we left things at the fair."
"You didn't impose. I'm the one who—"
"Walker." She sets the food down on the counter. "Can we just eat some pasta and not overthink it? I miss hanging out with you guys."
The simplicity of her request disarms me. "I'd like that."
We eat at the table like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Olivia chattering, Hailey laughing, me watching the way her fingers curl around her fork and tuck her hair behind her ear.
After dinner, Olivia insists Hailey come downstairs to her basement playroom to see her solar system project. I follow, leaning in the doorway while Hailey crouches to admire pipe cleaner rings and glittered planets.
“Saturn’s my favorite,” Olivia says.
“Mine too,” Hailey grins. “Big mood energy.”
“You’re like Saturn,” Olivia announces. “You sparkle.”
Hailey laughs, startled and soft. It’s the sound I’ll chase in my dreams.
Within twenty minutes, Olivia has convinced Hailey to watch a movie with us. They settle onto the playroom couch, and I bring down popcorn and juice boxes. I sit on Olivia's other side, hyperaware of Hailey just inches away.
Halfway through the animated film, Olivia's head drops against my arm, her breathing slowing into sleep. Hailey notices and smiles softly.
"She's out," she whispers.
I nod. "Give it another five minutes to make sure she's deep under, and then I'll carry her up."
We sit in comfortable silence, the movie's colors washing over us in the dim room. When I'm certain Olivia won't wake, I carefully lift her, her small body warm against my chest.
"I'll be right back," I murmur to Hailey.
Upstairs, I tuck Olivia into bed, brushing her hair back from her forehead. She doesn't stir. Kissing her temple, I turn on her night light before heading back downstairs.
I find Hailey in the kitchen, loading the last of our dishes from dinner into the dishwasher.
"You don't have to do that," I say.
She shrugs. "Force of habit. My Granma always said never leave a mess in someone else's kitchen."
"Your granma sounds wise."
"She was." Hailey's smile turns wistful. "She would have liked you."
The past tense hits me. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"Cancer. Eight years ago." She closes the dishwasher. "It's okay. She packed a lot of living into her time here."
Even though I want to ask more, to learn every piece of Hailey's history, she's already reaching for her jacket.
"I should probably head out. Let you get some rest."
"Right. Of course." I follow her to the door, a strange panic rising in my throat at the thought of her leaving. "Thanks for dinner. And the company."
Hailey steps outside into the cool night air, turning back to face me. "Thanks for tonight," she says simply.
Something in her voice, in the way the porch light catches her eyes, in the slight parting of her lips, it breaks the last of my resolve. Before I can think better of it, I step forward, one hand sliding to the small of her back, and press her gently against the porch rail.
"Walker," she breathes, but I'm already kissing her, desperately, like a drowning man who's finally found air.
She makes a small sound against my mouth, her hands coming up to grip my shoulders. For one terrible second, I think she's going to push me away, but then she's kissing me back, her body arching into mine.
I've thought about this moment for weeks, imagined the taste of her, but nothing compares to the reality. She tastes like the tiramisu we had for dessert, sweet and complex. Her hands move to my hair, fingers threading through it, tugging just enough to send a shiver down my spine.
"We shouldn't," she whispers when we break apart to breathe, but her eyes are dark with want.
"I know," I agree, trailing kisses down her neck. "Tell me to stop."
"I don't want you to stop."
Those six words undo me. I kiss her again, deeper, slower, trying to pour everything I can't say into it. Her hands slide under my shirt, warm against my skin, and I groan against her mouth.
"Inside," she murmurs. "If we're doing this, I don't want your neighbors getting a show."
I laugh, pressing my forehead to hers, and take a steadying breath. "Good point."
Taking her hand, I lead her back into the house, pausing by the stairs to listen for any sound from Olivia's room. All quiet. Hailey's fingers tighten around mine as I guide her to my bedroom. I’m thankful more than ever it’s on the main floor away from Olivia’s, as I close the door softly behind us.
In the dim light filtering through the curtains, we face each other. The urgency from outside has transformed into something more deliberate, more weighted with meaning.
"Are you sure?" I ask, needing to hear it.
Hailey answers by reaching for the hem of her sweater and pulling it over her head. The sight of her in a simple black bra, skin pale in the moonlight, nearly stops my heart.
"I've never been more sure of anything," she says.
I push her back onto the closed door, my heart pounding in my chest. She looks up at me, her eyes wide and full of a mix of fear and desire. Leaning down, I kiss her again, this time with more gentleness, more care. I want to savor every moment, every touch, every sound.
Her hands move to my chest, her fingers tracing the outline of my shirt. I let out a soft groan as she pulls it off, revealing my skin to the cool night air. She reaches for the buttons of my jeans, her touch light and tentative.
"Walker," she whispers, her voice barely audible over the fluttering of my heart.
I smile against her lips. "Shh. Let's just take it slow."
She nods, her eyes never leaving mine as she unbuttons my jeans and slides them down, along with my boxers. I watch as she steps out of her shoes and pants, her body glowing in the soft light. She's beautiful, and I want to memorize every curve, every line.
Moving to the bed, I pull her onto my lap. She wraps her legs around me, her body pressed tightly against mine. I kiss her neck, her collarbone, and her lips. She moans softly against my mouth, her hands gripping my shoulders.
"Hailey," I whisper, my voice hoarse with desire.
I flip us over and guide her down onto the bed, her hair fanning out across the pillow. Taking a moment to just look at her, I brace myself above her. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips slightly parted, and her eyes... they're filled with a mix of excitement and vulnerability that makes my heart ache.
"You're beautiful," I murmur, tracing a finger down her cheek, her neck, and her collarbone. She shivers under my touch, her breath hitching slightly.
"So are you," she replies, a soft smile playing on her lips. Her hands reach up, fingers tracing the stubble on my jaw, the lines around my eyes. I lean into her touch, closing my eyes briefly at the tenderness of it.
Once again, I kiss her deeply, as her body arches up to meet mine. My hands explore her, tracing the curve of her waist, and the flare of her hips. She's soft and warm, and she feels like everything I've been missing. Her hands roam over my back, and my shoulders, pulling me closer, urging me on.
Trailing kisses down her neck, I pause at the pulse point where her heartbeat flutters against my lips. Then I move lower, tasting her collarbone, and the valley between her breasts. She gasps as I cup her breast, my thumb brushing over her nipple through the lace of her bra. I look up at her, seeking permission. She nods, biting her lip, and I reach behind her to unclasp her bra, sliding it off her shoulders.
Her breasts are perfect, and I take a moment to appreciate them before dipping my head to taste her. She moans softly as I take her nipple into my mouth, her back arching off the bed. I lavish attention on her, learning what makes her gasp, what makes her moan, what makes her fingers grip my hair tightly.
I move lower, kissing her stomach, the curve of her hip. Looking up at her again, I hook my fingers into the waistband of her panties. She lifts her hips slightly, allowing me to slide them down her legs. I toss them aside, my heart pounding in my chest as I take in the sight of her, bare and open to me.
Starting at her ankle, I press soft kisses up her leg, the inside of her knee, her thigh. She's trembling slightly, her breath coming in short gasps. I can see the evidence of her arousal, and it sends a surge of desire through me. Then I settle between her legs, looking up at her one last time before tasting her.
Her reaction is immediate and intense. Her hips buck against my mouth, and I have to hold her down, my hands gripping her hips. She's moaning loudly, her hands fisted in the sheets. I take my time, learning her, tasting her, bringing her to the edge and then backing off, only to build her up again.
"Walker," she gasps, her voice hoarse. "Please. I need... I need you."
I move up her body, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss. She can taste herself on me, and it has her moaning my name. She reaches between us, wrapping her hand around my length, guiding me to her entrance.
Looking into her eyes, I pause. "Are you sure?" I ask again. I need to know that she's all in, that she wants this as much as I do.
"Yes," she whispers, her hips lifting slightly, urging me on.
Slowly, Inch by inch, I slide into her giving her time to adjust. She's tight and warm, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to lose myself right then and there. She wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me deeper, and I start to move.
We find our rhythm quickly, our bodies moving together like they were made for this. I kiss her deeply, swallowing her moans, her gasps. Her nails dig into my back, her heels pressing into my ass, urging me on.
I can feel her tightening around me, her body searching for that release. Reaching between us, I find the spot where we're joined, and press my thumb against her clit. She comes undone, her body convulsing around me, her mouth open in a silent scream.
Watching her come sends me over the edge. I bury my face in her neck, groaning as I find my own release. We stay like that for a moment, our bodies still joined, our hearts pounding against each other.
I roll off her, pulling her into my arms. She rests her head on my chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my skin. We're both slick with sweat, our breaths slowly returning to normal.
"What are we doing?" she whispers, looking up at me with those big blue eyes.
I brush a strand of hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "Trying again," I reply, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
She smiles at that, her body relaxing against mine. "I like the sound of that."
We lie there for a while, just holding each other, basking in the afterglow. I can't remember the last time I felt this content, this happy. I've missed this. I didn’t even know I needed her.
Eventually, Hailey props herself up on one elbow, looking down at me. "I should probably go," she says, but there's a question in her voice.
"Or you could stay," I suggest, tracing a finger down her spine. She shivers slightly, her eyes fluttering closed.
"Walker," she whispers, her voice filled with longing. I can see the war raging inside her, the battle between what she wants and what she thinks is right.
"Stay," I whisper again, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "Please."
She looks at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine. Then she smiles, a soft, sweet smile that sends a wave of warmth through me. "Okay," she says, snuggling back down against my chest.
I wrap my arms around her, holding her close. We'll figure out the rest tomorrow. For now, this is enough. This is everything.
As we drift off to sleep, I can't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we can make this work. Maybe we can find a way to be together, to be a family. Only time will tell, but for the first time in a long time, I'm looking forward to what comes next.