Chapter 20: Just You


    The next morning, I woke up to find Hayden’s arms around me loosely. Our legs were tangles together


    and I could feel his warm, steady breath on my neck. I rolled over toy on him and smiled. His eyes


    fluttered open sleepily. When he saw me, he closed his eyes and smiled.


    “I love you,” he said sleepily. I chuckled and kissed him gently. His hands went to hold my waist as he


    deepened the kiss. I felt him get excited as he pulled me closer to him. I chuckled and pulled away from


    him. He looked at me briefly before he flipped me over and kissed me again. My legs went around his


    waist automatically.


    “Hayden, no,” I muttered. I might have been saying no, but both of our bodies were saying yes. Hayden


    hesitated before he stopped kissing me. His head lolled in the crook of my neck as he tried to catch his


    breath.


    “I don’t think I’ll be able to hold out on this bet any longer,” he muttered into my skin. Iughed and


    slipped from under him to stand. I stretched and smiled at him.


    “You’ll be fine,” I said. He practically groaned before he sat up.


    “I guess I’ll go take another cold shower… again,” he said grumpily. I bellyughed as he walked to his


    bathroom. After we showered, we drove to the warehouse for practice. We ran the routine in the


    costumes a few times before we changed and just rxed.


    “Hey, we’re still going to your dad’s charity ball thing in three weeks, right?” Quinn asked. I nodded.


    “Hayden is going with us too,” I informed her.


    “Charity ball? Is your dad rich or something?” Luca asked.


    “He’s rolling in it,” Hayden answered for me. I rolled my eyes at him.


    “Is not,” I countered. Quinnughed and rolled her eyes.


    “Yes he is Jojo,” she said, backing up Hayden. I looked at their faces. They seemed so smug about it.


    Luca’s face was different. He looked like he just came up with the best n in the world.


    “Do you think that your dad might need some entertainment for this event?” Luca asked. I saw


    immediately what he was getting at and it worried me. I automatically started shaking my head. I


    wanted that week away to just be Hayden and me, but I could see now how that wasn’t going to


    happen anymore. “Maybe the crew could perform,” Luca suggested. I wanted to p Quinn for even


    bringing it up.


    “No, uh uh, no way,” I started. The others were starting to get excited about the idea now. Their eyes


    brightened at the thought. “No way, it’s in a few weeks. It’s too short of a notice,” I tried. The only one


    who didn’t seem all that excited about it was Hayden. I looked to him and he shrugged.


    “We could just do the tango number we just did. We already have the costumes and the dance ready,”


    Luca tried exining. I tried to picture us doing that dance at the ball. People would be mortified. My


    eyes widened and I shook my head.


    “There’s not a chance in hell of us doing that one. Half of the people there would have a heart attack,” I


    said.


    “We could water it down to the basics and the girls could wear the outfits your dad gave us for the


    lyrical,” Jason offered up. I sighed and closed my eyes. There were really determined to do this. I


    sighed. There was no way I was winning this one.


    “Fine, I’ll ask,” I agreed. “But there are no guarantees,” I added quickly. Luca smiled satisfied. Hayden


    kissed my head.


    “Ready when you are,” he said. I thanked him quietly and stood.


    “Well I’m out of here,” I said, d for the interruption. I turned to find Lana smiling mischievously at me.


    I rolled my eyes as she smirked at me. She looked like she knew something t hat I didn’t. It, surprising,


    didn’t bother me that much.


    “Hey, Hayden!” Sophia called after him. Hayden turned and looked at her. “Call meter,” she said. She


    was starting to bother me with her persistence. I walked forward without him. He grabbed me around


    the waist and I squealed.


    “Not interested,” he yelled back. He threw me over his shoulder and smacked my butt. Iughed and hit


    his back. He carried me all the way to the truck before he set me down. I pushed my hair back behind


    my ear and smiled at him. I inteced my fingers with his and just smiled at him. He chuckled and


    kissed my head. “What?” he asked. I reached up and kissed him gently.


    “Nothing,” I smiled. “Come on, you’re going to talk to my dad with me.” I said. His eyes widened as I got


    in the car. He started the car before he looked at me.


    “I’m good with parents and all, but… I don’t think I should meet your dad,” Hayden said nervously. I


    leaned over and kissed his cheek.


    “You’ll be fine,” I assured him.


    Back at the apartment, we ate and watched a few shows before it came time to call my dad. I set up my


    of the camera. My dad smiled at me. “Hi, princess. How’s it going?” he asked. My dad was a bit more


    on the epting side than my mom was. It was part of the reason that they got a divorce. He was open


    to new ideas and untraditional ways of living. My mom, however, believed in living by the Bible.


    “Hi daddy,” I smiled. “It’s going good.”


    “You’re still thinking about bringing Hayden, aren’t you?” he asked. I nced at Hayden before I


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    nodded.


    “I actually needed to talk to you about that,” I started. “The crew was wondering if we could perform at


    the ball; just as a little entertainment in between the other songs or something. It’s okay if you say no,” I


    exined. My father only chuckled.


    “Of course, sweetie. You’re dance crew can perform. I’ll pay them for their time and get them rooms in


    the same hotel as you. Maybe even rent out the hotel ballroom as a practice space for you guys


    beforehand. I’m just d that you found something over here that you enjoy. I’ll support whatever it is


    100%. You know that,” he agreed. I groaned inwardly before I remembered Hayden sitting beside me.


    “Oh, dad, this is Hayden, my roommate, dance partner, and boy… friend,” I said, hesitating on thest


    one. Hayden gave a tight smile before he stuck his head in the picture. Hayden gave a little wave.


    “Hi, Mr. Campbell. I’m Hayden McCormick,” he introduced himself. My dad waved back.


    “Nice to meet you son, but you can call me Peter,” my dad said. “Jobear, I’ve got to run, but call me


    again tomorrow, okay pumpkin?” he said. I was a little disappointed that he had to go so soon but I was


    used to it by now.


    “Okay, daddy. I love you, bye,” I said, before signing off. I closed myptop and set it aside.


    “Your dad seems pretty cool,” Hayden said. I sighed and moved toy down in my bed.


    “Yup, he’s the best,” I said dryly. I loved my dad but it seemed like he was trying to buy my love


    sometimes. I wasn’tining about it, I’d just wished that he actually spent time with me. It only got


    worse after Thomas died. I wanted him to care that I was rooming with a guy. He wasn’t the protective


    type, but I wished that he was. Hayden kissed my head before he stood.


    “I’ll call Luca and let him know,” Hayden offered. I sat up and my eyes widened.


    “No!” I said quickly. I sighed and slumped my shoulders forward. “I don’t think I want them to go,” I


    admitted. Hayden sighed and sat on my bed in front of me.


    “Why?” he asked curiously. I shrugged and looked away from him for a moment. Bringing my eyes


    back to him, I sighed.


    “I don’t think I want everyone meeting my dad. I’m afraid that they’ll treat me differently; that’s why I


    didn’t tell you at first.  And what if something goes wrong? It’s a really fancy, high-end charity ball. Plus,


    the tango piece would be way too sexual for that setting,” I exined in a rush. Hayden pulled me on to


    hisp and kissed my head.


    “Nothing is going to go wrong, Jo. And we can just push up the date for the lyrical and perform that


    instead. Your dad picked out the costumes so I’m sure he’ll be okay with them. We can change up the


    dance if you want to make sure that you’refortable with the dance. Everything will work out; unless


    you don’t want it to,” he said. I sighed and shrugged.


    “I don’t know,” I said unsurely.


    “If you don’t want us to go, just say so,” he said softly. I looked at him.


    “I want you to go. I wanted us to go,” I said. He smirked at me.


    “You wanted me all to yourself,” he noted. I shrugged. He chuckled. “You will have me to yourself… and


    then we’ll perform with everyone and I’ll meet your dad, and it’ll be fun,” he assured me. I gave a soft


    smile before I gave in.


    “Okay,” I said quietly. Hayden pulled out his phone and called Luca to tell him the good news and the


    conditions. We watched movies all night until I fell asleep.