Chapter 18: No Take Backs


    After collecting myself, I walked back out to the main room. I could see the curiosity all over Hayden’s


    face.


    “Who was that?” he asked, trying to sound calm. He seemed nervous though. I chuckled and walked


    over to him. Holding on to his hips, I pushed up on my tippy toes and kissed him gently as a smile


    spread across my face.


    “I’m so d that I’m here,” I said instead. Hayden only frowned.


    “You sounded upset… like you were arguing with someone,” he noted. My smile feel and my hands


    slipped away from him. I walked to the kitchen and grabbed a ss of water.


    “That was my dad,” I finally answered. “It was nothing, he wanted you to… it was nothing,” I stopped


    myself. I felt his arms slip around my waist. He rocked my gently as his lips pressed against my temple.


    “If you say so,” he muttered. I smiled lightly and stepped out of his embrace.


    “I’m going to go get ready for bed,” I said. He pulled my waist closer to him as he gazed at me


    intensely. My breath caught at his smoldering look. His other hand pulled my chin up to kiss him. My


    eyes fluttered close. Both of his hands pulled on my waist. Heid my down on the couch and


    practically ripped off my pants. I pushed on his shoulders gently. “Hayden,” I muttered. He pulled away


    and searched my face for a moment. I tried to catch my breath as I sat up.


    “Sorry, I just… I don’t know. I-I’m going to go take a cold shower,” he muttered, getting up. He went to


    his room and locked the door behind him. I shook my head and pushed my hair back. What was that?


    I went the whole week without bringing up the ball to Hayden, but the more I thought about it, the better


    it sounded. Hayden dressed up in a tux, him meeting my father, the wine, the food, the entertainment. It


    was appealing. I talked to my dad a few more times. He offered to let Hayden and I stay at a hotel if I


    didn’t want to use the beach house or apartment he had down there. Practices were running smoothly.


    At the end of the week, a box arrived at the warehouse. We’d just finished running through the


    contemporary routine and were taking a break.


    “Where did thate from?” I asked, grabbing my water bottle. I twisted off the cap and took a drink.


    Luca picked off a note that was on top.


    “I hope these will lift a little load off of you and your friends. I love you, Jobear. Call me if you need


    anything. Also, I went ahead and sent your dress. Love, Dad,” Luca read off. My eyes widened and I


    almost spit up my water. I saw Hayden looking at the box curiously. I tried to grab the box, but Luca


    already had it open. Luca pulled out a costume. My dad sent us costumes, for the girls and guys. I


    rolled my eyes. I was sick of him trying to buy me. Luca distributed them. Everyone looked happy. The


    costumes were really impressive and they looked extremely expensive. I went around and snatched


    them all up before I put them back in the box. I didn’t even look for my all dress.


    “What’s the matter with you?” Lana asked. I turned on my heels to face them.


    “He can’t just try to buy me when he feels like I’m mad at him!” I practically yelled, my voice going up a


    few octaves.


    “What’s the $15,000 dress for?” I heard Jason say from behind me. I turned to find him holding up a


    corset top. It was long and had silver beading on the high waist. It had a straight neckline. It was


    elegant and beautiful. It was also very expensive. I just stared at it. This was ridiculous. I sighed and


    closed my eyes.


    “I’m going to kill him,” I breathed.


    “$15,000? Are you serious?” Hayden asked.


    “He’s… excessive,” I tried to exin. “I’m going to send all of this back and we’re going to pretend like


    this never happened,” I exined.


    “Are you rich or something?” Lana asked. I immediately started shaking my head.


    “No!” I snapped. “I’m just… me,” I said. Luca chuckled.


    “You can be you all you want, but we’re keeping these costumes. They’re too good to send them back.


    Plus, I won’t have to take costume costs out of the budget now. Feel free to send the dress back


    though, but I don’t know why you would want to,” Luca said. I sighed as Luca took the costumes out of


    the box andid them out on the couch. I picked up the dress in its clear cover and folded it over my


    arm.


    “That’s fine,” I sighed before I started walking out. Hayden jogged to catch up to me.


    “What was that back there? You seem… mad that your dad got you a beautiful gift. What is it for


    anyway?” he asked.


    “Hayden, you ask too many questions,” I said, getting in the passenger seat. Iid the dress over my


    in my stomach ad my heart dropped. “Hayden, stop it,” I stuttered. He only kissed my neck harder. A


    smile spread across my face and I pushed his shoulder back gently.


    “There’s that smile,” he said. A soft smile spread across his face.


    “Let’s just go home,” I smiled, rolling my eyes. He kissed my cheek before he started the car. Hayden


    cheered me up for a moment, but I didn’t forget about my dad’s present. As soon as I got home, I went


    to my room and called my dad.


    “You sent it to the warehouse?” I yelled as soon as he answered.


    “I was trying to do something for you,” he argued.


    “If you wanted to do something, you woulde spend time with your daughter; not try to buy her


    forgiveness!” I snapped back. I knew that I was probably making him feel bad, but I couldn’t help it. I


    was just so angry.


    “Fine, Jordyn, I’ll take them back,” he said defeated. I sighed and calmed down.


    “It’s toote now. They’ve seen the costumes and they’re keeping them, and you always pick out my


    dress; I’m not going to stop that tradition now… Look, I’m grateful for the gifts, but you could have told


    me first, or sent it to my apartment instead of the warehouse,” I said, calming down. I sighed and


    looked at my bed. “I told you yesterday that I didn’t want them to know,” I said softly. I heard a light


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    knock on my door before it creaked open. I turned to see Hayden slipping into my room.


    “I’m sorry, Jobear, but… are you bringing Hayden?” he asked.


    “No, he’s not going,” I said, turning away from Hayden. Hayden squeezed my waist gently and kissed


    my neck.


    “Please, sweetie, really think about it. I would love to meet him. I’ll stay out of your hair, I promise,” my


    father said.


    “I’ll think about it,” I finally said to shut him up. Hayden’s lips were way too distracting right now.


    “I love you, Jobear,” he said. Hayden started rocking me side to side.


    “I love you too, daddy,” I said softly. I hung up my phone before I put my arms over his and closed my


    eyes. “Mhm, I’m going to go take a shower,” I practically whispered. Hayden kissed my neck again


    before he let me go.