Those That Came Before

Stolen Moments

The rain began to fall, a light sound coming from the roof that was almost inaudible. Hadley laid in the big king size bed, staring up at the vaulted ceiling of the guest room upstairs. The room completely dark with the exception of the moon peaking through the plaid drapes of the floor to ceiling windows. The sound of a door creaking open and shutting drew her attention to the closed bedroom door. She sighed heavily. 

Not two hours before, she was in a lip lock with her best friend's husband in the kitchen of the home they shared together. A lip lock with the one person that brought all the feelings back. Memories from three years ago that have caught her off guard til this day. Hadley saw a shadow walk slowly passed the door and heard another one close. Soon there were hushed voices whispering arguments in the night. 

Hadley turned on her side to look out the window and will herself to sleep, ignoring the fighting that was inevitably going on in the next room. 

The following morning, there was a loud knock on the door that forced Hadley awake from a deep sleep. She yelled for the person to come in, sure it would be Blair standing there bright and early with a Thanksgiving mimosa or something boozy at 8am. 

But the tall muscular figure took her by surprise. Hadley sat up abruptly, smoothing down her chocolate brown locks that showed evidence of a good night's sleep. 

"Uh, breakfast is all ready if you are hungry. Get it while you still can. Kolby will be here soon." His chuckle made Hadley's nerves calm down. 

"I will be right down. Don't want to miss out on those wonderful cinnamon buns." She offered up a smile, trying to lighten the mood even more. 

"Yeah, I got in to them myself already. Earned a slap to the hand from Blair, but it was worth it if you ask me." 

Hadley laughed as Brantley shut the door with a nod. She pushed the cream colored comforter off and placed her feet on the dark hard wood floors of the guest room. She stood up, adjusting her plain gray tee shirt and leggings. Slipping her feet in to the black fuzzy slippers she packed in her duffel, she padded down the hallway. The sound of Christmas music gracing her ears as she reached the top of the stairs. It was her favorite time of the year. Everything always seemed so bright and cheery, no matter what the circumstances. 

"Grab a glass and drink up," Blair pointed her thin manicured finger toward the mimosas sitting on the island begging to be sipped along with breakfast. Little cranberries floating atop the bubbly goodness.

Hadley sipped the sweet drink as she walked around the kitchen to get herself one of Blair's famous cinnamon buns. The one things she could actually make. It was almost a relief when she heard Mama Becky was doing the cooking for today. She placed her champagne flute on the counter as she took a very large bite of the gooeyness. She closed her honey colored eyes, relishing in the loveliness. As Hadley opened them, she noticed Brantley smirking at her from his seat at the table. Blair's back was to the two of them. Hadley blushed, almsot as if they shared a secret moment together. She took a white paper napkin from its porcelain holder and wiped away the extra melted frosting. There was time when Brantley had licked that from her pink lips. She turned an even darker shade of crimson as the memory was swept away by the sound of Blair bringing her back to Earth. 

"Hello? Black Friday shopping tomorrow morning?" Blair waved a handful of flyers from the local mall in the air. 

"Uh, yeah. Sounds good." Hadley agreed, finishing her food and placing the plate in the sink. "I am going to go shower before everyone else gets here." She threw back the rest of the mimosa and walked passed Brantley as quickly as she could. 

Hadley didn't know what had gotten in to her. She was usually so put together and acted so cool. But my goodness the kiss from the night before was playing with her mind. And her emotions. It brought her back to simpler times. Nights at the bar. A drink in her hand. A water in his. Acting like it was only the two of them in the corner on two stools. What she wouldn't give to go back to the good ol' days. 

But now, a hot shower to calm down her emotions was exactly what she needed. 

A/N: Leave some love! It keeps me going! Hope you like so far :)