Hayden (A Next Generation Carter Brother #4) - Lisa Helen Gray Page 0,70
choking on those words later, haunts me.
*** *** ***
Sunday gives a joyous laugh that echoes around the enclosed room. Her little legs kick in the water mercilessly as she slaps her hands down, splashing me and Mum.
When it was evident Sunday wasn’t impressed with the pool we occupied, me and Mum decided to bring her to the kids pool, giving Aunt Teagan time alone with her daughter and Bailey, to have a break. Although she isn’t Sunday’s biological mum, she loves and cares for her like she’s her own. She couldn’t sit by and relax and pretend she wasn’t there.
Sunday loves it here though, especially the slides.
“She really does look cute in her swimming costume,” I admit, laughing when Sunday splashes me again, giving me a toothy smile.
“I think splashing us has become a game to her, but let’s cut the small talk. Stop avoiding the talk you know I want. Tell me about Clayton.”
I avoid making eye contact with Mum and instead find fascination in twirling Sunday in her float, causing her to laugh. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“I find that hard to believe. He’s hot, you’re hot, and there’s some serious chemistry between you. I watched him on the coach with you. He knew when you needed something before you did. No one is that in tune with someone if there isn’t something there.”
Sunday expresses her displeasure when I stop twirling her, gripping the float and crying out, “Da, da, da.”
Resuming the twirling at a slower pace, I turn to Mum. “That’s all we have in common, Mum. Don’t get excited. He’s a majority owner of a successful business while I work for a little over minimum wage. For him. He dresses to impress whilst I’d live in my PJ’s if I could. And the worst: can you believe he doesn’t like gaming? He’s never even played Call of Duty.”
Mum chuckles half-heartedly, a smile teasing the corner of her lips. “Has anyone ever told you opposites attract? Me and your father couldn’t have been any more different when we were younger.”
“Yes, but you fit in a way that all the edges meet. You put up with his outrageous behaviour.”
“Exactly, we couldn’t be more opposite. But we built a life together where we grew, where we, like you said, fit. As your dad would say, he’s the bacon to my egg, salt to my pepper.”
My heart stutters as I slouch. “He doesn’t like me like that.”
She scoffs. “I don’t believe that for a second. I didn’t raise a stupid girl, Hayden. I raised a clever and strong one.”
“Thanks, Mum,” I mutter dryly. “But it’s you who’s wrong this time. He kissed me, then regretted it, saying it shouldn’t have happened.”
“You like him,” Mum states without caution. “You’d have moved on by now if you didn’t.”
I chuckle at how right she is. “I was going to, but then I got a glimpse of him at work and I couldn’t help it. I wanted him again. There’s just something that draws me to him.”
“You like him more than just wanting to do the naughty with him.”
“Yeah, okay,” I tell her, rolling my eyes.
“Yes, you do. You wouldn’t have let him come with you on a family trip if you didn’t.”
“Have you not stopped to consider whether I brought him because I didn’t like him?” When she continues to stare, I sigh, my brows scrunching together. “I tried to stop him.”
“You are your father’s daughter. If you had tried, he wouldn’t be here, and we both know it. He’d be locked in or tied up somewhere.”
“If that’s a dig about the time Dad got locked in the cellar, I’m offended. Someone else put the bolt across and blocked it with a tumble dryer. Just because I didn’t want him to come to the school dance, doesn’t mean it was me,” I lie, inwardly smiling at the fond memory. He’s never gone back down there.
Mum struggles to hide her disbelief. “You’re strong-minded, Hayden. You resemble your father in a lot of ways, which is why I know you’ll be stubborn about Clayton. Don’t hold it against him, or at least give him a chance to explain why he pulled away. He’s a man, so the reason is probably ridiculous.”
“It’s because he’s my boss.”
“See, ridiculous,” she points out.
“You’re amazing, Mum. Have I told you that lately?”
Laughing, she pulls Sunday towards her. “So are you, my girl.”
The door to the pool swings open and Imogen strolls in, waving a phone in her hand.