Page 8 of Blinded By Hate

“I’m really happy you’re here,” Alex says from right next to me. She’s working on the yams. “Hayden has never brought someone home and you being here really makes him happy,” Alex says with a sad smile on her face.

“I’m happy I’m here too. Hayden makes me feel special and that’s all I could ask for.”

“You changed him. In so many good ways, Jaclyn, and I can’t help but be grateful for you.”

I smile at her and shrug because I have no clue what to say to that. “I’m just showing him my love.”

The past few months have been hard on us. Eric is following us around like a creep making me feel anxious and like there is someone constantly watching me in the shadows. I swear I sometimes see a man with a black hood following me. I don’t tell Hayden anything because I don’t want to worry him, especially since he started fighting again for Marco. He knows there is something wrong and how I feel anxious constantly but I don’t tell him anything.

It’s just a funk and it will go away.

“I just wanted to let you know. I appreciate you a lot and am very thankful to have you in Hayden’s life. He needs someone like you.” I smile at her before continuing the mac and cheese. Eventually we hear a door open and then the sound of a baby crying. “And there is my sister-in-law. Let me go get her so you can meet her and her family.” I nod and Alex walks away. When she comes back she is holding a baby in her arms and a woman and man follow behind her with two boys.

“Woah,” one of the boys says as he stares at me from across the room but next thing I know he is right next to me. “I’m John,” the boy says before grabbing my hand and kissing the back of it.

I laugh looking down at him. “Nice to meet you.”

“Jaclyn, this is Carter’s brother Jake and his wife Via. These are their three boys. The one next to you is John. He is a little flirt with everyone.”

“They’re just saying that.” John winks at me, still holding my hand.

“And then this little guy is Jax and that is Jared,” Alex says while holding baby Jax and looking over at the older boy who is Jared.

“Nice to meet you guys.” I smile from across the island. “I would shake your hand but it’s currently being held onto by John.”

“John, dude, let her go.” I hear a familiar voice walk through the kitchen and my eyes connect with his gray ones. “She isn’t into scrawny teenagers with acne.” Hayden grabs John’s shoulder and moves him away from me.

“Relax, Hayden. Don’t worry, I won’t steal your girl, yet.” John winks at me. “I’ll see you at dinner, cheri.” John leaves the kitchen as he smirks at me.

“Little fucker,” Hayden mutters making me look at him and glare.

“Be nice,” I mouth to Hayden and he just rolls his eyes and winks at me.

I blush and look down at the mac and cheese bowl.

I was supposed to be mixing the cheese together.

Jake, Via, Alex, and Jax all leave the kitchen. Alex says she’ll be back to finish up the yams after she catches up with Jake and Via and finds Carter.

“So you’re Hayden’s new girlfriend?” Jared sits on a stool in front of the island.

I furrow my eyebrows and look at Hayden who is now standing next to me. “New?”

“It’s been a while since we have seen Hayden. Last time I saw him, he was dating this other girl.”

“We weren’t even dating.” Hayden says before placing his hands on my hips and resting his chin on my shoulder.

“Then what do you call that kind of relationship?” Jared asks with a devious smile before looking at me.

“Fuck off,” Hayden says, his grip on my hips tighten.

Jared chuckles. “I’ll see you guys at dinner. Nice catching up Hayden.” Jared gets off the stool and walks away.

Before I can turn around and ask Hayden what that was about he kisses my shoulder and moves away from me to the other side of the kitchen where the turkey is marinating.

Eventually the turkey gets put in the oven and is the only thing we are waiting for.

The doorbell rings and Alex says it’s her parents.

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