Forevermore

4

I look over from my seat on the counter as he jerks awake.

"Morning."

He looks over at me confused then shakes his head.

"Shoot I'm sorry, I just crashed." He says and I shrug.

"It's fine, you weren't any trouble." I say and he laughs.

"Where's the bathroom?"

"Down the hall to your right." I say then take a sip of my coffee as he gets up. He walks down the hall and I hop off the counter and move over to the waffle maker and grin as it beeps. I put my waffle onto a plate then cover it with syrup. Footsteps sound and I look up as Lidia walks into the kitchen with a groan.

"Well, good morning sunshine." I say and she flips me off and grabs a water bottle from the fridge.

"Eventful night?" I ask and she groans.

"You have no idea." She says and I grab the bottle of aspirin and put it down in front of her.

"Thanks girl." She says as the flush of the toilet sounds.

"What was that?" She asks and I take a sip of my coffee.

"Thanks again Selena- oh, hi." Hayden says as Lidia looks up at him.

"Hi. Who are you?"

"Hayden, and you must be Lidia?"

"Yeah." She says and he nods.

'Who's Hayden?' Lidia mouths to me but I ignore her.

"Do you want some food or something?"

"Thanks, but I should really be headed home. I pick Lilith up from school today." He says and I smile.

"Alright. Let me walk you out." I say putting my coffee down then walking past Lidia. I walk him to the door and lean against the frame as he walks out.

"Thank you again."

"Of course. Thank you for keeping me company." I say and he smiles.

"Anytime." He says then goes to leave.

"Hey, Hayden!" I call and he turns back to look at me.

"Give me your phone." I say and he hands it over. I put my phone number in then save it in his contacts.

"Text me sometime and we can do something." I say and he smiles.

"Will do. Bye Selena."

"Bye." I say and he waves as I shut my door. I walk back into the kitchen and instantly Lidia starts off.

"What in everything holy, was that sexy man doing; standing in our kitchen?"

"He spent the night."

"He what?" She asks.

"Yeah, we met at that cute little coffeehouse down town, then I realized he was this guy I went to high school with. We walked and talked and ended up here."

"Oh my gosh, finally!"

"Calm down Lids, we're not a thing or anything. He's a divorced husband and father of a young girl. I seriously doubt he's looking for a relationship right now. We're just talking and catching up, I don't even know if we're actually technically friends yet."

"Right." She says and I roll my eyes.

"I'm serious."

"Mhmn, for now." She butts in and I sigh. She falls silent and I smirk crossing my arms as I look over at her.

"Just say it." I say and she claps her hands together.

"He is so hot. I'm so jealous of you right now." She says and I roll my eyes.

"Sure, he's cute, but there's nothing else." I say and she rolls her eyes.

"You're so in denial!" She exclaims then the doorbell rings.

"He's back." She sings and I laugh getting up with an eye roll. I walk over to the door and open it.

"Hey Evan, come on in." I say and he does just that. 

"She's in the kitchen." I say then shut the door behind him. I follow him in.

"Was it him- Evan." She says with a smile and gives him a hug.

"I'm gonna go grab a shower. Please behave." I say to her and she smirks.

"Always." She says and I roll my eyes then walk down the hall to the bathroom. I walk in and turn on the shower water then strip my clothes and climb into the shower. 

~~~~

"How's this look?" Lidia asks later that day as we put up our Christmas decorations.

"Great Lids. God, I never understood why you didn't go into Interior Design." I say and she shrugs finishing up on the inside of the house. 

"Me either honestly. I'm pretty good at it." She says and I laugh then head outside to do my part. I finish putting the reef up on the front of the door then move to the actual yard. I set up the two reindeer we use every year, then hang the icicle lights from the front porch. When I'm done, I step back to rate the house.

"Looks good." I turn at his voice and smile as Hayden jogs over to me pulling out his earbuds.

"Hey, I thought you were picking up Lilith?"

"That was at one o'clock. It's seven now." He says with a grin.

"She doesn't stay with you over night?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"Not during the weekdays. That was one of Jasmine's requirements. She has to sleep over at her house every week night and every other weekend. Every other day during the week I get her from twelve to six. Then every other weekend, I get her all day and night long."

"Seems unfair, somewhat." I mumble and he shrugs.

"It was either that, or she got full and complete custody, meaning I wouldn't be able to see her at all."

"What gave her any choice in that?" I ask, like needing to defend him. I'm sorry, but that's so not right!

"She's got a stable job and husband. She was better suited to parent our daughter then me."

"Wow." I say taken aback.

"Yeah, so, I'm lucky to get what I get. She makes it out to be fair, cause she understands that Lilith is mine too." He says and I nod.

"Anyways, funny, this house was bland and blare literally eight hours ago, when I left." He says and I laugh.

"Christmas spirit just hit us I guess." I say with a grin.

"Selena come look at this please-- oh, hi Hayden!" Lidia calls and he waves.

"Hey!" He calls back.

"You know what, take your time, it'll be up all day!" She calls and I roll my eyes turning back to Hayden.

"So, running huh?"

"Don't ask why." He says and I laugh.

"How much more decorating you got?"

"At least two more hours."

"Seriously?"

"Ha yeah, we're just a tad obsessed." I say moving my thumb and pointer finger just barely apart. He laughs reaching toward me and I take in a breath as he lifts the lights from around me.

"So I see." He says and I laugh as he lets them drop back down.

"Well, I'm sure I stink so I'm gonna get home and take a shower."

"Alright, see ya later." I say and he waves putting his earbuds back in then jogging off. I turn back to the lights and start to cover the bushes taking a deep breath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~