Chapter 34
Miranda
Hayden’s hands heat my skin through the thin fabric of my dress.
We haven’t left the floor since the bridal party dance, and I’m not complaining.
As each song plays, I find myself dreading the end of the night.
While the other couples will go home together, I’ll be left to go home to an empty bed where I’ll pine over a man I can’t have.
“Hayden,” my mother’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I instinctively take a step back, as if we haven’t been on the dancefloor together the entire time.
“Did you want to cut in?” Hayden teases.
My mom laughs and shakes her head. “No. Just wondered if we can steal Sierra for the night. You all look like you’re having a good time, so I didn’t mean to interrupt.
I have some time tomorrow and thought it would be fun to have a girls’ day.
Figured it would be easier to do a sleepover than have you bring her over early in the morning. ”
I narrow my eyes at my mother. She smiles sweetly as she awaits Hayden’s response, but I don’t trust it. An impromptu sleepover? Sierra isn’t a toddler. Who the hell is having an impromptu sleepover as a teenager, when it doesn’t involve their friends?
“I’m fine with getting out of here if she’s ready to go,” Hayden says after a glance in my direction. “And I don’t mind getting her to you in the morning if there’s something you want to do with her.”
Hayden keeps a hand on my lower back as he leads us from the dance floor. My mother continues to wave him off even after we’re off to the side. All I can pay attention to is his hand as it heats my back.
“Hayden, don’t be silly. It doesn’t make sense for you to rush home only to turn around first thing in the morning to drive her to our house.
Not when it’s just as easy for her to just come with us.
She can sleep in Miranda’s old room. And if you’re worried about it, she can sleep at Miranda’s and then walk over. ”
I hate that my mother’s suggestion makes sense.
My first thought when she mentioned the sleepover was that maybe I wouldn’t have to spend a long, depressing night alone after all.
I’m usually fine being by myself. It’s never bothered me, but there’s something about weddings that makes being single feel extremely depressing.
Technically, I’m not sure I should consider myself single, but if I have to go home alone to an empty bed, I might as well be.
I can’t say anything to Hayden about it with my mother here, so I clamp my teeth down on my bottom lip and look anywhere but at him.
“If Sierra wants to stay over, I’m okay with it. I trust you all more than I even trust myself. At least you know how to keep a kid alive; I’m out here winging it.”
My mother claps her hands and thanks Hayden as if they aren’t the ones taking on a teenager for the night.
When she turns to walk away, she winks at me.
My blood goes cold. She knows. She has to know.
Why else would she wink at me before walking away?
I’m left staring after her as I wonder if she staged that entire thing to give Hayden and me some time alone.
There’s no way. That would be too weird…
“You alright?” Hayden asks from beside me.
“I think she knows about us,” I say quietly.
I wait for him to panic. For a look of fear to cross his expression. But instead, he smiles and leads me back to the dance floor. “Stay with me tonight?”
“Are you crazy?” I ask above the music, but I’m careful to keep from drawing attention to us. “I tell you my mom knows, and your response is to invite me over?”
Without responding, he pulls me close and continues to sway to the music. By the time the next song starts, I begin to relax and enjoy the feeling of Hayden’s arms wrapped around me. If he isn’t panicking, I’m not going to. It’s too late to worry now if my mom already knows.
Looking around, I see it’s mostly just couples left mingling and getting close on the dance floor.
Instead of the typical feeling of sadness upon seeing other couples, I’m content to spend these stolen moments wrapped in strong arms that make me feel safe.
Joy and Tate haven’t left each other’s arms either, and a smile tugs at my lips as I watch them.
“Hey!”
Hayden and I whip around at the sound of a woman’s shout.
An old woman with silver hair and weathered brown skin is holding a broom, swinging it at—Patches?
First of all, I have no idea where in the hell she would have found a broom, and second, why is Patches covered in mud?
It hasn’t rained in nearly a week. The woman adjusts her silver braids and swings the broom, doing her best to get rid of the dog.
“Aunt Sophia!” Joy shouts as she rushes over. “Patches! Patches, get out of here! Auntie, where the hell did you find a broom?”
I stare open-mouthed at the scene until I eventually start cackling. Patches comes barreling through the crowd, and all I can do is laugh when he jumps right at me, leaving paw prints on my chest and down my dress. Guests shriek and run in every direction, trying to get away from the muddy menace.
“Goddammit, dog!” Wilber Crawley emerges from the shadows and grips Patches by the collar.
The tent is nearly empty since most of the guests have run outside to avoid the mud-covered dog, but there’s still a mess inside. Chairs and tables are toppled over, and the ones upright have mud splattered across them.
I look at Hayden, who is also covered in mud, and all we can do is laugh.
The longer I laugh, the funnier it gets, and it isn’t long before I’m swiping at tears.
I begin picking up items, and other guests quickly jump in as well.
Fortunately, Joy and Tate also seem to find the whole thing funny and laugh as everyone pitches in to help.
It doesn’t take long to get the tent cleaned up with everyone’s help, and I make sure to find Joy before I head out. She managed to escape unscathed, so I’m careful when I hug her goodbye. I don’t make it far before Hayden catches up and grabs my hand.
“Not so fast,” he says, once I turn to face him. “Come over tonight.”
I didn’t answer him the first time he asked.
My initial instinct is to turn him down, but as I look into his dark eyes, there’s nothing I want more than to fall asleep in his arms. Even if we just go to his place to sleep.
I know with every fiber of my being that with him is the only place I’m supposed to be.