"So where is Robin?" I ask, looking out the window, watching the lights flash past us.
"Well, after telling me she hated me, she went back to New York."
"That's it?" I look at him, the red light illuminating his face.
"That's it." The light turns green, and he presses the gas.
"Well, she obviously doesn't hate you enough to ruin your life." I state, and he smiles slightly.
"Ruin my life." He chuckles, and I sense a slight bitterness to it.
"Wrong choice of words..sorry." I bite my lip, sighing. He shakes his head, taking my hand and placing a long kiss on it, his eyes still glued to the road.
"Wait, don't turn in yet." I say, and he stops the car just outside the gates.
"What's up-" I cut him off, pulling him to my lips, only letting go when our faces were flushed and our lips swollen.
"Okay." I say, and we smile at each other.
He sits back in his seat, nothing but a cheesy grin on his face, driving us into the driveway.
. . .
"Hey Zoey, hope you're good. We should go out tonight, call me back okay?"
"Zoey! Sup, it's me...again...just wanted to make sure you got the voicemail, which was me telling you to call me back so we can make some-"
"Hi! Before I was rudely interrupted, just...call me back, let's go out. Okay. That's it. Call me back. Bye."
I sigh, my eyes wide, deleting each voicemail Truitt had sent me in the past hour.
"You gonna call him?" Hayden chuckles, passing me the cigarette as he gets up from bed. I take a long drag, deleting the last one.
"Are you actually giving me a choice when it comes to Truitt?" I gasp mockingly, feigning shock. I smirk when he gives me a look, putting the cig out and walking over to him.
The muscles in his back flex as he puts his shirt on, and I hug him from behind, resting my face on his back.
"I'll always give you a choice." He says softly, the low vibrations ring through my cheek. I kiss him, before turning him around.
"And I love you for that." I gleam up at him, scrunching up my face when he kisses my nose.
"Let's get something to eat before you go home."
. . .
Christmas finally came around, and it was perfect as usual. Quiet family time was everything I ever needed, and Hayden being there only made it better.
"I didn't really know what to get you, so I thought I'd let you add a few more charms to that bracelet of yours." Hayden says louder than usual in front of my parents, and I give him a weird look. He hands me a small box, before winking at me privately.
"Thanks for telling me what it is." I roll my eyes playfully, opening it.
"Really look at em when you're alone." He says, cautiously quiet. I nod, closing the box.
"Thanks Hayden." I hug him innocently, and strain as I let go, wanting to stay in his arms forever.
We continued exchanging gifts, I got Hayden a graphic tee of one of his favourite zombie films which he absolutely loved.
"Well, I'd better head home-"
"No no no, you've had way too much to drink, mister." Mom chimes in, shaking her head at Hayden.
"I'm fine!" He puts his arms out, stumbling slightly. My mom raises a brow, looking at him pointedly. I giggle, sipping on my third glass of 'special occasion' wine, feeling a slight buzz.
"Fine." Hayden says, blowing raspberries at her. Dad was weirdly quiet, threatening to fall asleep, his head dipping every now and then.
"Okay, bye." He says, yawning as he stands up. He pulls mom's arm, wanting her to follow him.
"Okay! Goodnight everyone!" She sings, and me and Hayden laugh.
"Merry Christmas!" They say drunkenly, swaying as they leave the living room. There's a silence that lingers until we hear their door shut outside, and we give each other the same sheepish grin.
I laugh when he pulls me onto his lap. He covers my mouth with his hand, snickering as he puts a finger to his lips. I try calming my giggles down, unsure of why I was even giggling.
"Shhh!" He laughs, kissing my collarbone.
My legs are either side of him, my hands travel to his soft hair as I push back the dark waves, a small smile playing at my flushed lips.
"How'd I get so lucky?" He says, and I make no effort to hide my smile or blush.
"Shut up." I reply, pushing his face away slightly. He finally kisses me, I taste the wine on his lips, it doesn't take too long before we are completely lost in each others embraces.
I feel his large hands cup my behind, squeezing lightly before lifting me, laying me down on my back on the couch swiftly.
He looks down at me, and I see nothing but love in his baby blue eyes, I am in awe.
He kisses down my neck, and I squirm in delight under his touch. He nips gently at the skin, travelling further south.
And then I'm brought back to reality, when I hear a noise outside. I sit up, and he backs off immediately.
"Too dangerous." I say, slightly breathless. He nods, his throat bobbing up and down as he swallows.
"Yeah." He rakes his fingers through his hair. He smiles, but it's distant.
"Open your present." He grabs the box from the table, handing it to me.
I do as he says, taking the charms out one by one.
"A monkey, a bathtub, a yellow car and...the Superman logo..I'm sorry, but what?" I giggle, and he smiles.
"You're gonna hate me for being so cheesy, but.." he starts pointing to each charm.
"They represent our 'firsts'. Our first date technically was at the zoo, hence the monkey. Our first kiss was in your bathroom, the first time we said 'I love you' was when we were in the Jeep, and well...Halloween was when we first bumped uglies,"
"Bumped uglies? Wow." I laugh, shaking my head. He chuckles too, biting his lip.
"You were Superman." I smile to myself, remembering each event, feeling a warmth spread through my body. My Superman.
"Here." He says, taking the charms along with my wrist, attaching each of them onto the bracelet, placing a small kiss on it when he was done.
"Thank you. I love it." I caress his cheek, pecking his lips.
"Zoey?"
We immediately break apart, looking at the door, where my mom stood looking at us with her eyebrows slightly furrowed. My heart beat increased, feeling the thump through my ears.
"It's getting late, we have to go to the market tomorrow morning." She says simply, and I nod. She eyes us carefully, and I clear my throat.
"Okay mom, Hayden and I were just talking-"
"Yeah. Okay." She nods, turning back after saying goodnight again.
I sigh, though I wasn't sure if I was relieved or not. My heart still raced, my mouth dry, my stomach clenching. And I could tell by the way Hayden looked at me, he was feeling and thinking the same too.
. . .