Page 65 of Restrained

HAYDEN

I’m nervous, actually fucking nervous.

I take a deep breath and ring the doorbell, standing outside Lola’s beach house in my usual three-piece suit.

I considered toning down the professional look to meet my sister, who came from the same background as I did, according to Lola. More than likely, her attire until at least her teen years was tattered t-shirts and thrift store jeans.

But I decided against it. This is who I am now, and I’ve worked hard to get here.

The door finally opens, and I can’t stop the grin from spreading over my usually stoic face when I see Lola. She’s dressed in all pink today. Her camisole is a lighter pink than the knee-length skirt she’s paired with white heels. Her blond hair has been left down. She’s fucking beautiful.

I notice that even her lips are a light pink as she kisses me and takes a deep breath. She pulls away, a grin playing on her pretty lips. “I wasn’t sure you’d actually show.”

“I don’t shy away from much.” Except commitment. Real feelings. Talking about the past.

All things this dinner implies.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

She gestures for me to come in, and I do. As I start to look around, we’re quickly joined by a fast, dark headed boy, running away from a pretty, well-dressed brunette woman chasing him in a navy blazer.

“Baz! Stop!”

The child giggles and wraps his little arms around Lola. “Aunt Lola! Save me!” He’s still laughing as the woman I'm assuming is his mom stops chasing him, puffing the hair out of her eyes.

She turns to Lola. “Sorry, Lola. He’s not having it tonight.”

Laughing, Lola looks down at the boy, mussing his hair with her hand. “That’s okay. We don’t need to be so formal, right Baz?”

The boy scrunches up his nose. “Uncle Asher said he’s not wearing a damn suit. I’m not going to either!”

I see pink rise to his mother’s cheek, but I'm pretty sure she’s fighting her laugh. “Sebastian, that’s a ‘no no’ word.”

Lola laughs and cups his face in her hands. “What are we going to do with you?”

His little shoulders kick up. “I don’t know.”

Lola turns to me. “Hayden, this is my nephew, Sebastian.” She turns his little shoulders so he’s facing me. “We call him Baz.”

I look at the little boy and smile. He’s cute, but even when he’s not talking, you can tell he’s a handful. “Nice to meet you.”

He smiles a crooked little grin and then looks up at Lola. “He’s wearing a damn suit.”

I smirk as his mother moves to him, covering his mouth playfully and holding her other hand out to me. “It’s really nice to meet you, Hayden. I’m Vivienne.” She looks over at the boy with adoration in her eyes, dropping her hand from his mouthand laughing as she feigns frustration. “And this little monster is mine.”

Baz growls, “I’m a monster!” Then he laughs and runs quickly out of the room.

Lola shakes her head, placing one hand on her hip. “That kid.”

Vivienne laughs and groans. “He’s something.”

“He’s a Sterling. Good luck.”

Vivienne laughs at that. “I’m going to go put the jacket back in the closet. I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

Lola nods. “It’s really no problem.”

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