Lily visibly relaxes, and her smile lights up her entire face. “Would you like to hang out tomorrow, before we go Go-Karting?”
“Just us?” he asks, his eyebrows arching.
Lily sucks in her bottom lip, blinking up at Jaxon.
“I can hang out with Hayden and her new boyfriend,” he assures her, smug.
“We’re busy,” I grit out, trying to keep my tone smooth. “But you should use the time to get to know your in-laws.”
Lily bounces in her seat, linking her arm through Jaxon’s. “That’s actually perfect. Mum and Dad would love it too. She’s always telling him to get to know you better. Tomorrow, they’re taking Sunday to messy play.”
Instead of listening to him try to dig himself out of the hole he’s dug, I lean back on two legs of my chair before reaching around and tapping Faith on the shoulder.
“What’s the plan for today?”
Her chair scrapes along the tiled floor, and I cringe at the grating sound. “We’re booked into the spa today. It’s a part of this facility but on another plot of land. The guy on the desk said it would take ten minutes to walk there,” she explains before taking a breath. “Did you bring your swimming costume, like I asked?”
“Yeah, but I’ve got to tell you, I was worried for a minute that you wanted us to go swimming in the lake. I’d have done it, like, for you, but I really didn’t want to freeze my tits off.”
She lets out a mirthful laugh. “God no. It’s quiet here due to the cold season, so one of the owners said we could have the private pool they have for private parties. We’ve got champagne and health snacks waiting for us when we arrive.”
“Yummy,” I mutter dryly.
“Shut up,” she chuckles. “They’ve got a sauna, hot tub and gym there. After lunch, we’ve got treatments for those who pre-booked. Then a make-up artist and hairdresser are coming to do our hair and make-up ready for our cocktail making and our night out.”
“Can’t I go with the lads?”
“We’re separating?” Clayton sputters.
“Dude, cut the cord,” Maddox jibes.
I roll my eyes at him before nudging Faith. “No, you can’t. Even Mum and Sunday are coming. They have a kids pool, but they’ve said we’re welcome to bring her into the private pool.”
“All right,” I sulk, dropping my chair to all fours.
“What am I meant to be doing?” Clayton asks, sounding nervous.
“You came,” I remind him. “Don’t blame me for this. But for your information, you’ll be spending the day off-road mud karting.”
His expression lights up as he grins at me. “I guess I could bear to be apart for that.”
I snort at his attempt to be funny. “I bet.”
“That is so sweet,” Lily gushes. “I never want to be apart from Jaxon either.”
Jaxon gazes softly down at Lily, pulling her into his arms before addressing Clayton. “Just make sure you wear your seat belt. They’re going to kill you. I’m talking from experience, mate.”
Maddox slams his fists down on the table, causing everything to shake. “We said we were sorry for that. You didn’t die, so you really need to get over it.”
“Over you guys nearly beating me to death? Of course I’m over it.” Jaxon stops when Lily tenses, squeezing her tighter. “Sorry, princess.”
“He wasn’t joking?” Clayton sputters, drilling holes into the side of my head.
I grimace, shrugging. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Already a sense I’ll be 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.”