GRACIE.
"Look uncle Hayden is making pancakes! "
I chose that moment to direct my gaze to meet his, he returned my stare unflinchingly.
I resisted the urge to squirm especially when he began to make his gaze over to us.
Thankfully Hazel chose that moment to tug on my clothes, breaking off the magnetic pull he had on me.
I straightened down to her level to Wipe off pieces of pancakes from the corners of her chin and fingers.
"I also helped him out, isn't that right uncle Hayden? " she rushed out in an exciting gush and I couldn't help the tug of smile that formed on my lips. As much as it worried me that she was getting too attached to him in such a short space of time, it was also heartwarming to see her looking so alive and excited.
"That's very good Hazel, but in case you need something or you are hungry you can just ask me, you needn't have to trouble your... Uncle Hayden " I averted, avoiding looking upwards where I could feel his gaze burning right through me.
I brushed her tangled hair with my fingers, I couldn't tell her just yet, judging by how happy she seemed to have had a new friend she would probably take the news that he was her father very fine but I still couldn't bring myself to.
"Hazel, can you leave your mom and me alone for a moment? " I tensed a little at his sudden words.
Her gaze directed from Hayden to mine and I found myself nodding slowly in approval, immediately she skipped off he tugged on my arm pulling me up to my feet to meet in unwavering gaze
"When are you going to tell her the truth? "
I flinched a little at the sharpness of his tone.
"I need more time, I just can't burst in on her with the news that she has a father when I've clearly told her before that she doesn't "
He sucked in a sharp breath, if I wasn't mistaken he seemed a little hurt by what I said, the grip he had on my arm tightened a bit pulling me closer so our noses were almost touching.
"I think she'll be perfectly fine !" he clenched out with unmistakable annoyance lacing his words.
"Hayden. " I began when he abruptly let go of me setting some distance between us.
"I don't even need you to, I can always tell her that I'm her father myself! " he breathes out heavily.
It was my turn to inhale sharply, we had a staring battle for what seemed like an eternity. I exhaled aloud, there was no way I could get out of this.
"Hayden..I'll tell her soon, I promise, just allow her to get accustomed to this place and everything.. "
My answer proved satisfactory because his hardened glare seemed to ease gradually until it completely dissipated....almost as if it hadn't been there in the first place.
"I want to know all about her..what she likes, her favorites, hobbies, tell me everything ..." He spoke softly directing his gaze to where she sat just a few feet away...
My heart clenched tightly at the sudden softness in his gaze, he wasn't as hard-hearted as I thought, it wasn't even two days yet but that was already enough to instill this kind of emotion inside of him.
His gaze redirected back to me observing me for a moment.
"Tell me everything, at first when you found out you were pregnant did you consider getting.....you know ..." he trailed off slowly.
This was the first time I've ever seen him looking at a loss for words, I knew what he was asking if I did ever consider an abortion.
I wondered if my answer was important to him but either way I decided to go with the plain truth.
"No. "
His gaze flickered a little with some emotions, relief, and......pride? I couldn't be sure, I mean I decided to keep my baby, not because of him, I did it all for myself so I could find someone to give all the love I had wasted on the wrong people I had called family, and so I would have someone who would love me, but most importantly... To have a child who would experience what I never did.
Freedom...
He was still staring at me expectantly so I continued.
"I was confused at first, I couldn't even protect myself so what could I do with a baby... But I never thought of getting..."
"I'll never hurt her " he cuts in, his gaze searching mine thoroughly ...like he wanted me to believe him
And I did.
After watching the both of them together only a few moments ago I knew he was also getting attached to her just like she to him.
I've noticed he manages not to curse and swear in her presence, he even cooked for her while I slept.
He was really trying to be a good father to her.
"I'll never let any harm come to our little girl, I promise you that, " he said again, sounding even more fiercely this time.
A knot tightened in my throat, I swallowed hard to force it down.
I couldn't look away from his intense searching ones even as I asked the question that had been nagging inside of me.
"What about me?... Are you going to hurt me, Hayden?" My voice came out as a faint whisper but I knew he heard me just fine.
Something flickered in his gaze followed by a long deafening silence.
"Do you think I'm going to hurt you? " He finally spoke
"You already did, even yesterday you kidnapped my daughter and.. ."
"I just wanted My daughter.... and you " he cuts in dragging out the last part slowly
"And I'll do just anything for that....to have you with me, Even if it means...." He left the rest of his words unsaid.
My stomach knotted at the sudden darkened chill in his gaze, I shuddered a little inside.
"Even if it means what Hayden ?"
He kept silent to my question, instead he averted his gaze from mine and just begun to walk away when I spoke.
"I don't want to hate you Hayden...I've done that for so long ....I'm just really tired..sometimes I feel like I can actually understand you but... other times you just scare me so much... that. I want to run far away...but... "
He paused midway through and spun around to meet my gaze.
"I'll always find you " he completed
"Yes," I whispered blinking at the sharp sting burning at the corners of my eyes.
His gaze flickered with something gentle, I sucked in a sharp breath when he slowly completed the distance between us.
He cupped my chin gently to meet my gaze.
"Then don't hate me anymore, I won't hurt you bunny....enough of that, I said we are going to be a family, I'll make it legal as soon as possible "
The meaning of his words slowly made its way inside my head, I felt the blood drain out of my face as my frantic gaze searched his.... praying desperately that I was mistaken.
His gaze was raw and intense which oppose the gentle manner in which he brushed his lips over across my forehead.
The sharp ring of his cell made him blink as he averted his gaze from mine.
"I'll be back " he murmured and left but not before casting me a last meaningful look.
I stared after him, my heart pounding furiously against my ribcage.
Just now his last sentence, what had he meant by that?
My weak knees faltered and I leaned onto the counter for support.
He couldn't possibly have meant that...
He couldn't.