Xavier's POV
"Sir, what should I cook for lunch? Miss. Hazel is coming today." our cook reminded me but what she didn't know is that she didn't needed to. I have been counting every hour from the last four days, just so I could see her again.
"Make pizza for her. She loves it." I said. "No, Pizza sounds too informal. Bake some kind of savoury pie." I told her but then again doubt filled my mind. "No, actually can you please make some kind of Chinese for her?"
She raised her eyebrows suggestively and I flushed red in embarrassment.
Was I behaving too odd?
"I'll make all three things." she assured me and I muttered thank you. After she left, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I was wearing checkered shirt with khakee pants.
'I look like a middle-aged Dad.' I thought to myself.
'You are a middle-aged Dad.' the voice in my head replied.
'I don't have to look like it though.' I pointed out.
Pulling out a black shirt and blue jeans from the cupboard, I took a bath, changed into the new clothes and combed my hair back.
"Dad." Jade's vocie reached my ears. She was standing at the doorframe, with her hands tightly wrapped around her doll. "Is my dress pwetty?"
I noticed her wearing the white frock that I bought her last month. It had red polka dots over the flowy part and lace pattern on the bodice.
"Yes baby, you look like a princess." I praised her and picked her up in my arms. "Come on, let me tie your hair."
"No. I don't want pigtails." she said, shaking her head. "I like my hair open, like Hazel."
I chuckled at her pronunciation of Hazel's name. She pronounced it as Hajel. "Jade, do you like Hazel?" I asked, placing her on the bed.
"Yes." she nodded. I pinched her cheeks lightly and bent down to zip her shoes. "Dada, does you like Hazel?"
"Um..." I looked around to find anything that would save me from this conversation. "I... I do. I like Hazel. She is a nice girl."
"And pwetty too!" she added.
I smiled awkwardly at this. "Yep, she is pretty."
I was combing her hair when Cecilia came to tell me that Hazel was here. Before I could say anything, Jade hopped out of the bed and rushed towards the stairs. Calling her name, I followed her as she ran down the stairs.
"God Jade, you could have fallen-" my words got caught in my mouth when I saw her jumping on Hazel. She picked her up in her arms and hugged her, while laughing at her childish actions.
She looked really cute and fresh in the casual attire. Her hair were down in her natural texture and she was wearing a blue shirt with white pants.
"Hi." she said once she noticed me.
"Hi." I replied, tearing my eyes off her face and moved to prevent Jade from smothering her. "Sorry. She just got too excited on seeing you."
"It happens." she smirked.
I led her to the the living room and sat down in front of her. Jade chose to sit beside her instead of me and I made a fake pout at this.
"Accept it Mr. Davis. Your daughters likes me more than you." she grinned proudly.
"I don't have any issue with that." I commented and her smile turned shy. She diverted her attention from me and indulged herself in playing with Jade.
I excused myself saying I have something to do in the kitchen. The reality was that seeing her with Jade gives me a hope of having a family with her and it was selfish of me to think that. I left her years ago and now, I don't have any right on her.
"Let me." I said to Cecilia, taking the pasta sauce from her. While she baked the pie, I made the pasta and within some time, all the food was prepared.
After helping Cecilia in setting the table, I went to the living room where both Jade and Hazel were laughing on God-knows-what. I leaned against the wall and watched as Hazel tickled Jade and as a result, Jade shifted uncontrollably in her seat.
"The lunch is ready." I announced and they both stopped. Walking towards them, I crouched forwards and pulled Jade in my arms.
"Dada, I am a big girl now. Put me down." she huffed, acting all adult in front of Hazel.
"Really, your highness?" I said as I stepped towards the dining room with Jade still in my arms.
She nodded in yes. I put her down on her seat and pulled a chair for Hazel. "Thanks." she said and light shade of red appeared on her already rosy cheeks.
One thing I noticed, Jade imitated every action of Hazel. She ate whatever Hazel put in her own plate and even copied her speed of eating. Watching her getting this attached to her scared me because I knew things with Hazel weren't permenent. Sooner or later, I was bound to mess up because of our history.
"I'm sleepy." Jade told me once she had eaten the food.
"Come on-"
"I'll take her." Cecilia said and whispered something in Jade's ears. In return, Jade cast a glance at both of us and chuckled, muttering something back in Cecilia's ears. Soon, both of them were out of the dining room.
An air of awkwardness fell all around us. Being with her alone made me clumsy and that's why I ended up dropping the spoon on the floor twice.
"The pasta is delicious." she said, twirling her fork on the plate.
"Thanks." I said.
I stood up to help Cecilia in taking the dishes back to the kitchen. When I came out, Hazel was already stood up.
"Are you leaving?" I asked, hoping it didn't sound desperate.
"I thought I would wait until Jade is awake." she said.
"Oh... Good." I whispered nervously and felt sweatdrops on my forehead. Her presence makes me stressed for unknown reasons. I forced my brain to think of something to say but it chose not to help me. At the end, I said, "Would you like to watch a movie?"
"Thriller?" she said, raising her eyebrows.
"Sure." I said and followed her to the living room.
She chose the movie which was a crime thriller. I didn't peg her as someone who would enjoy watching someone skin another human being alive. It made me somewhat terrified of her.
"God!" I screamed and shut my eyes on a certain scene where the villain stitched his own wounds with a needle.
Beside me, I heard the sounds of laughing. Opening my eyes, I watched Hazel crouched forwards, holding her stomach and laughing at me.
"Aww. You got scared." she said, pouting.
"I wasn't scared. I was disgusted. There is a difference." I said.
"Is there?" she smirked.
"Yes, there is." I retorted.
"OK." she nodded and acted like she understood I could feel the taunting smile on her lips.
I let out a small groan and forced myself to complete the movie even if it made me nauseous. I was not a thriller movie fan and specially not of a movie with such graphic details.
"See, I watched the whole movie." I said out loud once it ended.
"Do you need a candy?" she batted her eyelashes at me and it took me a minute to realise that she was taunting me again.
Ignoring her remark not-so-subtly, I noticed the time. Jade wasn't awake yet and the sun was about to set.
"I'll go check on Jade." I said and she followed me to her room. She was sleeping peacefully on her bed, with her soft snores filling the room.
"I should go now." Hazel said, assessing the time on her watch.
"Jade, do you want to hug Hazel Good-bye?" I asked, gently rubbing her head.
She shifted on the bed, tightening her hold on her teddy. "I'm sleeping." she said and snuggled deeper.
"Ja-"
"Don't wake her up." Hazel said and walked around the bed to reach the other side. After leaning down, she pecked Jade's cheek and muttered "Good bye sweetie." in her ears. Jade just scrunched her nose in return and started snoring again.
I accompanied Hazel to the main gate where her car was parked. She walked in front of me and with every step, her hair would bounce on her slim waist. She had grown even more beautiful in the last few years, if that was even possible.
Once we reached her car, she turned around and watched me with her attentive gaze. There were so many things I wanted to say to her, like if she was free the coming Friday.
"Bye." she said and opened the door of her car.
Say it idiot.
Say it.
"Hazel." I called her name and her movements stopped immediately.
"Yes." she turned around again.
"Would you like to go to the Annual Gala of our firm? I've a Plus one invite." I asked her and my whole body started tingling in anticipation. I couldn't decipher her expressions so I had to wait for her to speak something.
"Like a date?" she raised her eyebrows and I felt all the blood drain from my face. On watching my horrified expressions, she started laughing. "I'm just kidding Xavier. Sure, I would go."
"Great. This Friday?" I told her and she shrugged. "I'll pick you up."
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