Passion's Instinct

Nineteen

Two Years Later

Hayden

"Okay, so make sure to put him down for a nap, and feed him lunch. Got it?"

"Sounds great," I said.

Natalie smiled. "Thank you so much for doing this, Hayden. I promise you, I won't be long."

"You mean, you won't be gone for more than five hours?"

"Oh, stop. You know what I mean. I love you." Natalie kissed me, and kissed Sawyer's head, who was in my arms. "Be good for Daddy, okay?" He smiled at her as she touched the tip of his nose playfully. She walked out the front door with her purse, and just as she was about to climb in the passenger's seat of her friend Scarlett's car, I stopped her.

"What about the premiere tonight?" I called, shielding my eyes from the sun with my arm.

"What do you mean, 'what about it?'"

"Will you be home in time?"

"Of course!" she replied, stepping into the car. "I wouldn't miss it!"

She shut the door on the car, and I waved until she was out of sight.

"Alright, Sawyer. Mommy's gone, so guess what that means? Yep, baseball." I sat down on the couch and set him beside me, turning on the flatscreen. Rubbing his head full of curls to keep him occupied, I watched the baseball game that was on with 99% of my attention. The other 1% was focused on whatever else was going on in the house.

When Natalie was home, she wouldn't let me watch sports because she said I was too focused on that and nothing else. I loved her and all, but it was sort a novelty when she was gone.

When the game was over, I slid a frozen pizza into the oven and sliced some avocado. I flipped on the radio, and Sawyer and I danced around the kitchen to the music. 

"I'm hooked on a feeling! I'm high on believing-- come on, Sawyer, sing with me!" I lifted him and bounced up and down with him in my arms. "--that you're in love with me!" Still belting out the lyrics to the song playing on the radio, I sat Sawyer down in his high chair and strapped him in, attaching the tray to it. From the cutting board I slid cubes of avocado and small squares of pizza onto his tray. His face lit up, and immediately, he dug in. 

While he was busy with that, I made myself useful by refilling the dog's food bowl and taking out the kitchen trash. 

My phone started to vibrate, and I turned the music down before I pressed the button to answer. 

"He-yo?" I heard Sawyer say behind me. I smiled. He said that every time the phone rang or vibrated. 

"Hey," Scarlett's voice said. Immediately, I was confused. She didn't usually call me.

"Hey. Somethin' wrong?"

"Nah, Natalie just wanted to check in. I'm not sure why she had me call you, but.. here I am! She forgot her phone at home, so we had to use mine. Sorry for the confusion or the unrecognizable number or whatever."

"Naw, we're all good. Right, son?" I glanced at Sawyer and he smiled, his cheeks smeared with pizza sauce and avocado mush. I half-laughed. "Just tell her we said hey and the baby's about to go down for a nap." 

"Got it. See you later, Hayden. Oh, and have fun at the premiere tonight!"

"Thanks. I'm sure we will. Talk to you later."

"You too. Bye."

"Bye." I dismissed the call and looked at Sawyer. "Alright, buddy. Let's get you cleaned up."

**********************************

After Sawyer got his nap and I got ready for the premiere, we turned up the music again and I fixed dinner, which was beef. I belted the lyrics, once again, while rummaging through the cabinets for the seasoning. I moved my head dramatically and my expressions; dramatic as well. "And all you'd ever hear me say, is how I pictured me with you! That's all you'd ever hear me say... since U been go-one! I can breathe for the first time! I'm so moving on. Yeah, yeah... thanks to y-"

"Hayden?" 

I turned around to see Natalie standing behind me, already dressed for the premiere of Revenge of the Sith.

"Uh... I... " I stuttered. 

We stared at each other for a while until Natalie burst out laughing. I laughed along with her, and when it finally died down, she smiled and pulled me towards her by my necktie, kissing me softly.