Chapter Sixteen

CAYDEN

~Four months later~

“Where did you put the box with the dishes?” Hadley yells from the second bedroom, where all of my things are still being sorted.

“Probably in the kitchen.”

Moving in together has been challenging. Melanie, unbeknownst to Hadley, has been dating her boss and things have progressed to the point they are discussing marriage. Their lease was coming up and she asked if Hadley would be upset if she moved out, which would give Hadley two bedrooms for her and the baby.

I don’t know what exactly came over me but the idea of her living alone while she’s pregnant was too much. I suggested we move in together, presenting a compelling argument that she couldn’t refuse.

It’s been two weeks and I think she’s ready to kill me.

She comes out of the bedroom, hair on top of her head, and a scowl on her face. “You have to unpack. We can’t live like this. I am seriously losing my mind in this chaos.”

“I know.”

“You know or you’re going to fix it?”

The laughter from the living room causes both our eyes to turn. “Shut up, Logan,” I warn.

“I’m not saying anything, just that Hadley is right and you’re a mess.”

She smiles at my brother. “Thank you and you are very quickly becoming my favorite Hennington.”

Logan beams. “See, I told you that you’re lacking.”

“You’re going to be lacking some teeth if you keep it up. ”

He shrugs. “Hadley will protect me.”

She rolls her eyes and then turns to me. “We have to donate some of this, babe. We don’t need all these things. Melanie took a lot, but we’ve already figured those housewares out. Please, I want to start preparing the room for the baby.”

I move to her, wrapping my arms around her, pulling her to me. When she’s in my arms, it’s like all the world is settled. I kiss her forehead, keeping my lips there an extra second. “I’ll take care of it this weekend. We can go through the boxes, get rid of what we don’t need so we can get the nursery together.”

“Thank you,” she squeezes and rests her head on my chest.

“You know I’d do anything for you.”

She looks up. “Except get rid of that ugly statue.”

Logan and I both laugh. My mom and Aunt Angie went through this phase where they suddenly thought they had untapped art potential. They took a sculpting class in Nashville, where they came home with the most ridiculous pieces of what they called art. Dad warned Logan and I that we better not say anything disrespectful or he’d have us mucking the stalls for a year.

Being the assholes we are, the two of us gushed over it. I mean over the top ridiculous praise.

My father convinced her that since we loved it so much, we needed to take it with us wherever we lived. So, we had a piece of her with us.

I look at Logan. “It’s your turn to take it.”

“Hell no it isn’t. I get it almost all season so no one has to look at it. It’s November now, buddy. I am going to enjoy the hell out of not seeing it until Spring season starts.”

Hadley’s eyes narrow on him. “I am having a baby, Logan. I am… I am emotional and it causes me to feel sad and I can’t…” The tears start and I am impressed.

Logan gets to his feet quickly. “Hadley, don’t cry.”

“I can’t look at it without feeling so many things,” the fake tears are coming harder now. She sniffs. “I just…please…you have to take it.”

Logan is nodding before he can speak. “Of course. I’ll take it. Don’t cry, Jesus, it’s not worth getting upset over. Cayden, make her stop.”

She wipes her eyes. “You mean it? You’ll take it?”

“Yes, I’ll call a few of the guys and we’ll get it out of here tonight. I promise.”

She exhales, smiles wide, and then hugs him. “Thanks!”

“You…you played me!”

“I did. Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!” She lifts her hand and saunters into the kitchen.

“That woman is trouble,” he says and I stand here, staring in the direction she went.

“That woman is going to be my wife someday.”

* * * *

“That one,” I tell the jeweler. “That’s the one.”

I spent the last four hours staring at different kinds of engagement rings with her cousin helping.

“She’s going to love it,” Melanie assures me.

“I think so too.”

“When are you going to pop the question?”

I wanted to do it before we went home for Christmas, but I haven’t figured out if I’ll do it at her house or mine.

“Probably depends if her dad kills you at her house.”

Yeah, there’s that part.

“Well, if I survive next week, I guess we’ll find out then.”

“I’m really happy for you guys.”

“Have you told your parents that you’re living with your boss yet?” I ask after handing over my credit card.

“No, we aren’t like you guys. We are having a lot of fun, living together is great, but I don’t know that I want to marry him. And after his nasty divorce three years ago, I’m not sure he wants it either. For now, this works for us.” She smiles widely. “Plus, if I did, then the attention wouldn’t be on you for the Arrowood Christmas Extravaganza.”

She is having way too much fun with this. Hadley has a big case that she’s currently working on. Her boss wants it signed before the holidays, so we may not get on the road until late Christmas Eve.

“You know that you guys have me fucking terrified.”

Melanie rests her hand on my shoulder. “Cayden, you should be. I’m not trying to make it sound worse than it will be. I’m giving you my honest opinion. The Arrrowood brothers are not normal. They love their children and…they’re nuts. Good luck.”

I grab the bag from the cashier, feeling nauseous after basically paying for what feels like a down payment on a house. “Well, I love her. She’s worth it.”

“Lead with that, my friend.”

Mel heads off to do whatever Mel does and I have a missed call from my mother.

I dial it back, and start the walk back to my office where I can keep the ring away from Hadley.

“Cayden! Hi, sweetheart.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“How is work?”

“Work is good, is that what you called for?”

She scoffs. “No, I called because it’s been almost two weeks since I’ve heard from you and I wanted to make sure no one murdered you.”

I laugh. “I’m alive.”

“Clearly. You know, Logan calls home at least once a week.”

“Logan is the better son, what can I say? Some of us have to work for a living.”

I can picture my mother’s face. “Whatever that means. Are you still coming for Christmas?”

“Yes, but I will be there late Christmas night.”

“And you’re bringing your girlfriend still?” I can hear how hard she’s trying to keep this conversation light, but also it’s killing her not to know more about Hadley.

“Yes, I am bringing Hadley. We’re going to see her family and then coming to you guys.”

“Great. Perfect. I’m so excited to meet her. Logan said she’s very beautiful and a lawyer too. He said you like her a lot.”

Seems my brother has said a lot. Asshole. “Yes, all of those things are true.”

“You like her?”

I sigh. “Mom, I love you.”

“I love you too, but you could give me something here. I’m dyin’.”

“If I didn’t love her, I wouldn’t be bringing her home for Christmas.”

She gasps. “You love her?”

“I really do.”

“Oh… Oh…”

My father’s voice comes on the line a second later. “What did you do to make your Mama cry? ”

“I fell in love,” I admit.

“Well, that’ll do it. Can’t wait to meet her, Cay. If you’re bringin’ her home to your Mama, she must be special.”

I look down at the bag in my hand with a diamond I plan to put on her finger. “Yeah, Dad, she really is.”