Page 11 of My Forbidden Holidate

My mother’s eyes sharpen like knives and she throws daggers in Hayden’s direction. “I was just leaving. Star, honey, call me when you need something yourbabysittercan’t provide.” She walks out the door with her head held high and her shoulders back, and I follow her out the door.

“You haveno rightspeaking that way in my house,” I hiss, clenching my fists by my side. “Do you know how confusing that is for Star? Having people she loves arguing? She’s dealt with that enough from the divorce. She doesn’t need to go through that again.”

“Then make wiser choices,” my mother retorts, placing her hands on her hips. “The help?Really, Daniel? She’s barely over eighteen, and you’re thirty-five!”

“Her age is none of your business. That woman in there is more of a mother to Star than herown motherever was, and I’m going to marry her. I love her. You can either get on board or keep your opinions to yourself.”

My mom shakes her head and opens her car door. “I hope you don’t regret this.”

“I won’t.” After she drives away, I walk back inside and lock the deadbolt with more force than necessary. I shake off as much of my anger as I can so that we can still have a nice family breakfast this morning.

Upon entering the kitchen, I find that Hayden and Star have quickly set the table and are waiting for me. “I’m sorry about that,” I tell Hayden, taking my place at the table. “She shouldn’t have said those things.”

“It’s okay,” she assures me, taking my hand.

“It’snot.” Looking between her and Star, I can feel my emotions building. Star’s playing with her fork and staring at her untouched pancakes, and Hayden’s smile is gone. None of that is OK. “Ineverwant you to feel like you’re just our babysitter. Not after last night. You mean too much to me. To this family.”

I’m damn near to proposing, but I don’t want to do it like this. I also need to speak to Star first, even though I know she’d be elated. I can’t ambush Hayden like that, though, not when emotions are so high for all of us right now.

I need to cool it.

Taking a deep breath, I smile at them both. “Let’s forget all that for now and dig in. It smells great.”

Star brightens up immediately, but I can tell that my mother’s words have hurt Hayden. She’s quiet, reserved, and might be planning her escape.

But I was serious when I told her that I’d never stop kissing her after that first one. I’m never going to stop loving this woman, and I’ll do anything to keep her by my side.

7

Hayden

Dan invites me to stay with him for the next few days, but I have classes and exams and unresolved feelings about what happened at his house, so I stay in my dorm and only see him and Star when I come over to babysit. Every day that I pick up Star from school, she hugs me and says that she wishes I would sleep over again.

“Soon,” I tell her again and again. But I’m not sure if it’s a good idea.

Her grandmother’s words keep repeating in my head. I’mthe babysitter.He shouldn’t taste aside dish.Wincing as we pull into his driveway, I put on my brave face for Star. Dan shouldn’t be home for a few hours. I can decompress before he arrives.

We haven’t had any alone time since Valentine’s Day, but he’s quick to kiss me senseless any time Star leaves the room for a quick minute.

He leaves me breathless and wanting with just alook, let alone his lips on mine. I’m desperate for him to touch me like he did that night, but my heart breaks a little every time I go back to that morning.

Star and I haven’t made blueberry pancakes since.

I click the garage door opener and my eyes bulge out of their sockets at seeing Dan’s car in the way. “Wh—what is your dad doing home, Star?”

She squeals and undoes her seatbelt so fast that it clinks against the door. “Daddy’s home!”

That doesn’t answer my question, and I follow her inside with trepidation. He’s never home this early. Is he sick?

“Dan?” I call as I walk down the hallway. “Are you home?”

I walk into the kitchen to find rose petals leading the way to the living room, where a giant nest has been built out of blankets and pillows on the floor. Star is already making herself at home in the middle, and Dan rounds the corner from the bedroom hallway with loose sweatpants slung low over his hips.

“You’re here early,” he remarks, running a hand through his damp hair. “I haven’t finished setting everything up.”

“Movie night!” Star cries, already clicking on the TV with the remote.

“Traffic was light,” I find myself saying, but Dan’s already turned his attention to his daughter.

---