We are not an opposites-attract situation when it comes to our interests. Hadley and I are two sides of the same coin. Outgoing, sometimes unintentionally flirty, and like to have a good time. We both love life and always want to make the best of it.
But where I grew up with loving parents, Hadley had a mom who loved the bottle more than her. She still doesn’t know who her father is, and it forced her to grow up before she needed to. It hardened her heart to the world, but the woman still manages to be a vibrant ball of sunshine. Even through her dark spell at the beginning of college, she never failed to brighten my life just by being who she is.
Where I am a Christian, Hadley is skeptical about God. Rightfully so with her upbringing, but I wish she could see her worth through her Creator’s eyes. To feel His love and know she always has someone in her corner.
But until she comes to that realization, I will be the man in her corner. I will love her. I will make sure she knows her worth.
And maybe through that, she will open her eyes to God. That’s my prayer for her.
Did I ruin all of that last night? With my incessant flirting and ridiculous, irresponsible actions? I chose to challenge and banter with her because Idowant to be hers. It isn’t a game.
Tugging the neck of my sweater away from my skin, I let the cool mountainous air of Tennessee waft over me. We didn’tdoanything. Soon after I sat her in my lap because I’d lost my dang mind, we just sat there. No words, just listening to Jake and Melanie bicker back and forth on the screen. I enjoyed her presence, my arms wrapped around her waist. Her back relaxed against my chest like she belonged. It was as if she was Neil Armstrong and I was the moon.Plant that flag, Hadley. You can stake your claim to me.
We wrestled a lot as kids. That woman has never been one to shy away from a challenge, which meant that she’d end up tangled in my arms (to be honest, I ended up in hers because she continuously bested me before I discovered the holy grail of weights) and on my lap plenty of times. Last night, however, was not two kids wrestling and cutting up. It was two grown adults giving an inch into the emotions they were feeling. At least, I think her emotions were matching mine?
When the movie was over and my legs were tingling from sitting too long, I realized Hadley had fallen asleep. Her head had fallen into the nook between my shoulder and face, her breaths hitting my neck in soft, hot patterns. Drool dribbled down her chin, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Why was a sleeping, drooling woman in my lap the most beautiful thing I had ever seen?
I picked her up, limped around the room to gain feeling back in my legs and glutes while trying not to drop her, then carried her up the stairs. Tucking her in, I kissed her forehead and decided to admit the one thing I could never say aloud—I love you Hadley Dawson. More-than-a-friend love you.
HereIsit,backin my truck with the windows rolled down at Hadley’s request, wondering what is going through that pretty mind of hers. Did she feel every nerve ending in her body light up like the Fourth of July as I did? Did she remember falling asleep with her back to my chest and her head nuzzled into my neck? Did she realize how I couldn’t breathe throughout the entire movie because my body felt like it was going to explode like popcorn under prolonged pressure?
I glance over at her. She has rose gold headphones on and her feet propped on the dashboard. The sun pours through the window, lightening her platinum hair and reflecting off her tanned skin. She’s bobbing her head along with whatever song is pleasing her—probably Dolly Parton—looking like a picture of perfection.
She catches me looking, and with a sly smile, she pulls her headphones down, strands of blonde hair caressing her face.
“See anything you like?” Oh yes. Yes, I do.
“Get your feet off the dash, Dawson.”No, keep them there. I like the view.
“Let me drink water,” she fires back. “And I would love more coffee. And for crying out loud…I need food.”
I glance at the time. 12:48 pm. We have only been on the road for a little over two hours. Two hours left to get to her next planned stop—Charlotte, North Carolina.
“Yeah, we should probably stop for lunch soon. Need to keep Hangry Hadley at bay. Find somewhere on the GPS.”
She sticks her tongue out at me like a three-year-old, but I can’t complain. Her spunkiness and childishness are things I live for. Crave.
She starts typing away on her phone.
“But no fast food,” I quickly add, knowing her affinity for McDonald’s french fries and barbecue sauce. She looks my way, sporting a pout.
“I’ll die if I don’t get to dip crispy 19-ingredient golden fries into fake barbecue sauce.” Hadley pretends to swoon. No way am I eating there.
“Fight me for it?” I suggest, glancing at her in time to see her eyebrows shoot up. She can’t resist it. She sets her left hand out in front of her, palm open, and places the right on top of it in the rock position. Since I’m driving, I take my right hand off the wheel and put it into the rock position over the air between us.
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot,” we say in unison, a practiced dance.
She pulls rock, as is typical for her first round. I pull scissors, always satisfied to give her the first win.Point, Hadley.
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.”
I draw a rock as she draws scissors. Point, Braxton.
Now for the kill. She’ll pull paper, and I’ll pull scissors.
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.”
I lay my hand palm down over the air, and she…pulled rock again?
