The Boy Next Door

Chapter 10

⠀⠀⠀Brandon wakes up Thursday morning to find himself alone in Hayden's bed. He groggily crawls out from under her comfortable covers and stumbles over to the attached bathroom to get ready for the day.

⠀⠀⠀When he emerges from the bedroom, sporting a fitted baseball t-shirt and khakis, he hears an abundance of voices coming from the living room and kitchen area, many more than just Hayden, David, Evelyn, and Michael. He gets there and sees Wyatt's sister Lucy squished into an armchair with Michael and his other sister, Katie, in the kitchen along with her parents. Wyatt and Hayden sit next to each other on the couch, the Thanksgiving parade on the TV and a box of doughnuts on the coffee table in front of them.

⠀⠀⠀"Hey, Sleeping Beauty," Hayden teases when he sits down on the couch next to her.

⠀⠀⠀"Why did you wake me up?" he asks. "I hate being the last one to get out of bed."

⠀⠀⠀She tilts her head up and kisses his jaw. "You're so cute when you sleep."

⠀⠀⠀Wyatt looks away from Hayden and back at the TV, trying to block out the flirtation between the couple next to him by focusing on the performances and floats.

⠀⠀⠀His peaceful oblivion is interrupted by Hayden slapping his arm.

⠀⠀⠀"What was that for?" he asks.

⠀⠀⠀"You don't get to be in a pissy mood today, okay?" she demands.

⠀⠀⠀He holds his hands up in surrender. "I ain't in a bad mood."

⠀⠀⠀"Good because you have to be thankful for me today since it's Thanksgiving and I'm your best friend," she says.

⠀⠀⠀Wyatt raises his eyebrows. "Who said you're my best friend? That title goes to Dustin."

⠀⠀⠀She clenches her chest. "Did you hear that cracking noise? That was my heart breaking."

⠀⠀⠀The rest of the afternoon is filled with adults cooking, Michael running around playing, and Wyatt and Brandon subtly fighting for Hayden's attention, while she remains completely oblivious to that fact.

⠀⠀⠀Dinner is finally ready, and the two families gather at the table on the back patio. Hayden sits down next to Wyatt, and Brandon sits down next to her.

⠀⠀⠀"You'll get used to the smell," she tells Brandon, noticing the look on his face. She kisses his cheek and turns her attention back to the food being passed around the table.

~ ~ ~

⠀⠀⠀After dessert is eaten, the adults go back inside the house to clean up, instructing the kids to stay outside and hang out.

⠀⠀⠀"I'll help you with the dishes," Brandon offers. "It's the least I can do."

⠀⠀⠀Hayden looks down at a plate that has not yet been taken inside and scoops some of the left over mashed potatoes onto her fingers. While Wyatt is looking over at his sisters, she goes up behind him and smears the potatoes on his cheek.

⠀⠀⠀"Oh, Hay, you are so dead!" he teases as he picks her up and slings her over his shoulder.

⠀⠀⠀As on Halloween, he dangles her over the fence dividing the yard from the pigs.

⠀⠀⠀"Wyatt," she pleas, "stop."

⠀⠀⠀"What's the magic word?" he asks.

⠀⠀⠀"Please!" she cries. "Please stop!"

⠀⠀⠀He lifts her back up, and she wraps her hands around the back of his neck for sturdiness. Once again, their faces are very close to each other.

⠀⠀⠀And all Brandon can do is look out the window and see Wyatt look at Hayden the way he looks at her, and Hayden look at Wyatt back.