Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Claire

"I get that you like him but isn't he a little old for you?" My best friend of many years, Sasha, asks me as she raises an eyebrow at me, "I mean I don't blame you when it comes down to it because he is definitely sex on a stick, but I would have kind of thought that you would have preferred to keep him at a distance when you had no idea if being around him would even be a good thing."

"I don't know if he will be a good thing." I correct her, wondering how I haven't started drooling, "I mean truthfully, it's nothing that I haven't figured out before. He is just my type and I feel happy and content with him. I think that I could truly have my happily ever after with him and I don't want to end up losing him to Dad either. Dad hates this when I like anyone."

"I think your dad is just a little too overprotective." Sasha corrects me, a small smile on her face when she looks at me, "But I guess that I don't blame him. He has so many enemies, Claire, so many that would try to use you."

"Hayden is not like that." Is all I can say now because it's true.

When I think about Hayden, it brings butterflies to my stomach.

He is drop-dead gorgeous, that is the first thing that I noticed when I looked at him. Besides being really tall and muscular, it was like every part of him was sculpted to perfection. I knew what I ached to do with him, longing for a lot more but I was also afraid. I was afraid that after everything that came from it, it was going to change.

His short, curly black hair went around his ears a little bit, slightly longer on top. His eyes are a deep green that sent an intense feeling through me that was really almost too much. It was like nothing I had ever felt before, longing to do a lot more when I looked at him. I keep thinking that after everything when I looked at his angular face, he was molded to be a god himself.

"Maybe I should ask him on a date." I finally decide, hoping that I'm not thinking too much about it, "I don't know if it'll be a good idea but I kind of want to see what might end up happening then. Don't you think that would be the right thing for me to do?"

Sasha shakes her head almost, "No, you need to make him ask you out. You do not chase a man, Claire, you make sure that they chase YOU. Do you understand me?"

Her words make me smile because she is definitely my best friend. I love her and she knows how to bring a smile into my world. When I have looked at her, it's like nothing else that I have dreamed about. I just want to do things my way and I don't want to dare think about another way it might go. I just hope that it turns out alright.

That is what I need right now.

I wish I could make her understand where I'm coming from but that is definitely not the easiest thing to do. After everything that has happened so far, I just keep trying to decide if it is going to be alright. I don't know if it will be but when I look at Sasha and then think about my feelings towards Hayden, I do hope for the best.

Before I can process any more thoughts, my bedroom door opens and I'm a bit mortified to see dad walking in. I'm an adult now, have been for a few years and he knows that I hate when he does that. He must have seen the look of irritation on my face because he gave me a sheepish smile, already knowing that he is in a little bit of trouble.

"I'm sorry, I forgot." He apologizes to me, seeing how Sasha ducks her head and looks away, "is everything fine in here? I just wanted to check up on you before I head out."

All I can do is nod my head even though I have a lot of questions to ask him. I want to find out more about Hayden and see if dad knows anything. I know Dad and Hayden are actually pretty close as Dad normally praises Hayden for being quite quick on his feet and really smart. I know that Hayden was just someone that Dad felt like he could always trust.

"I want to go on a date with Hayden." I blurt out, seeing how Dad's head whips around and he is looking at me with surprise, "and I know that you might not be okay with it but it's what I want. He seems like a really nice man and that he would put someone else before himself. Truthfully, I kind of feel like he has already wormed his way into my heart, and I would like to see where things end up going."

I'm confessing all of this to him, and I don't know how I'm doing it. Truthfully after everything that has happened, I wouldn't have had the balls to tell Dad the truth, but I do here. I know that he likes Hayden, and he might be more approving. I know that this whole thing could end up biting me in the butt if I'm not careful, but I am really just trying to do all of this the right way.

I need Dad to know what I want and that I'm a big girl.

"I approve." He finally says which shocks me because I didn't think that he would, "Hayden is a good wolf and I have a feeling that he is going to take over for me the minute that I decide to step down. He is definitely good enough for my daughter."

I couldn't believe that he was saying this to me, making me wonder if maybe I had made a mistake in believing that Dad would not be supportive, "Dad, thank you. I kind of thought that you were going to be really weird about this, but it pleases me that you weren't… I hope that maybe we will be able to see where everything ends up going… Right?"

I'm laying everything down and I know it could end up biting me in the butt. I don't know if it will but it's pretty clear to me that this whole thing could go up in smoke. When I look at him, I just wonder if dad realizes how happy he has really made me. If he knows that this moment has made everything for me and now, I'm going to go have my happily ever after if given the chance.

"Do you know if he likes me?" I ask Dad, seeing how Sasha looks at me with wide eyes, "I can't really read his expression when I meet his gaze. It's like he is indifferent to everything and nothing bothers him. I could lie and say it doesn't bother me, but it does a little bit. I'm just worried that I'm going to give him my heart and he is going to end up trampling on it. What if that does end up happening?"

"I don't know if he likes you." Dad tells me, a sad smile on his face, "Truthfully, I highly doubt he would tell me even if he did because he knows how protective I am of you. I can't say that this decision is what I wanted for you, but I know that he is going to be able to give you everything that you need. If he rejects you… You just have to accept it, okay? He is allowed to do that."

I hate the idea of rejection, but I slowly nod my head, "Okay, dad, I understand. I hope he doesn't reject me, but I will understand if he does. He has no obligation to me, and we have to let our feelings through."

Something about Hayden has always been odd though, drawing me in much closer than anyone has done before. I don't know what is going to come from it but all I can think about is the future and how I long for him to be by my side. To love me and never let me go, that is what I need right now. If anything else happens, I honestly feel like I might end up dying if given the chance.

Oh, fuck me, what else can I do?

How can I see how Hayden feels?

"I'm going to tell him how I feel." I finally reveal, hoping that I don't live with any regrets, "I hope that you two will continue to route me on no matter what happens."

As Sasha and Dad agree, it's an oddly intense feeling that makes me crave a lot more. I don't know if we will be fine, but I do know that I'm not going to lose anyone again.

I can promise that.