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I sat next to him, digging into my delicious sandwich. “This is so good!” I mumbled between bites.
He smiled as he ate his grilled chicken pasta. He shrugged off his beige blazer, laying it on the stool next to him.
“Do you dress business casual all the time?”
“No.” His eyes darted up toward the ceiling then back at me, with a slight twinkle. “Maybe I do.”
“I’m going to change that. When we go bowling Saturday. Wear a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers, not loafers or boots.”
“Fine, only if you wear whatever dress I pick out for you to wear to dinner when we are on our trip next week. Do you have a passport?”
“As long as the dress isn’t a mini dress, I’m fine with that. And yes, I have a passport. What country are we going to?”
“It’s a surprise. What countries have you been to?”
“Hmm, let’s see. Italy, Canada, France, England, Russia, and Japan.”
“Wow, you’ve traveled a lot.”
“Both my parents were teachers. My mother was an elementary school teacher. She taught third grade. My father was a college professor. They wanted me to see the world.”
“Where did your father teach?”
“Georgia State University, where I attend school.”
“Where does your mother teach?”
“She taught at Garden Hills Elementary before she became ill.” I zoned out while staring at my salad.
There was a silence between us.
“She passed away when I was sixteen, from Ovarian Cancer.”
Hayden rubbed my back. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
“My mother fought Breast Cancer.” Hayden’s voice was low as he spoke.
“The doctors removed both of her breasts. They didn’t have to, but it was her request. She said she wanted to cut down the chance of the cancer returning. The doctors explained cancer can return in other areas of the body. She told them she understood. She said she just wanted the chance to be here for me and my sister. I am deeply sorry for your loss. I don’t know what kind of person I would have become without her in my life. I was twelve when she was diagnosed. She’s been cancer free for eleven years.”
“That’s good.”
I raked over my salad. “You said you don’t know what kind of person you would have become. I can answer that. I had a boyfriend in high school then I shut him out. I didn’t have many friends throughout high school. Only friend I have is my cousin Karena. I’m good at shutting people out. Sometimes I’m not sure if I want happiness. I try to remember my mother told me to live my life to the fullest.” I stepped away from Hayden. The balcony has always been a place for me to think. Overlooking the city lights on the balcony, I took a deep breath.
CHAPTER EIGHT
LYDIA
Hayden placed his jacket over my shoulders and snaked his arms around my waist.
“I won’t let you push me away.” He kissed my cheek.
“Hayden, you can’t be the man I live out my life with.”
He turned me around in his arms. “Why, because I know you’re a stripper. Get that shit out of your head. I see beyond the stripper. You want to better yourself. You have goals and aspirations. I love your work ethic. Working to pay for school. Nothing’s wrong with that.”
I smiled. “Hayden, I don’t work to pay for school. I have a full scholarship. I work to pay my father’s medical bills. My father became ill after my mother passed away. He has a rare blood disease. He hasn’t been able work.”
His smile was bright. “You are a saint! See, I am a good judge of character.”
His lips fell against mine. “You are going to be the one woman to steal my heart.”
“Hayden, please. I’m sure you’ve been in love before.”
“Nope, I haven’t. I had a girlfriend for a split second in high school. Long enough to go to Prom. I liked being single until I met you.”
“Come on, let’s go inside. Hayden, we can hang out. I don’t have to be your girlfriend. I told you that won’t get you my virginity.”
Hayden sat on the couch, pulling me down onto his lap. “If you want to keep lying to yourself, go right ahead. You want me to be your man.” Hayden pulled me closer.
