The Boy Next Door

Chapter 15

⠀⠀⠀Late Christmas night, after both the Coopers and the Willises have finished opening their presents and eating their meals, Hayden lays in her bed watching A Christmas Story on the TV on her wall. There's a knock on her window, and a smile grows on her face because she knows who is outside in the freezing Kansas winter to see her.

⠀⠀⠀She skips over to the window and opens it up, quickly ushering Wyatt inside so he's not out in the cold for longer than necessary.

⠀⠀⠀She looks over his outfit of pajama pants and a hoodie. "How didn't you freeze?"

⠀⠀⠀Wyatt shrugs. "I moved quickly and just had to hope that you were still awake in your room so you could get to the window fast."

⠀⠀⠀Hayden smiles and kisses his cheek. "Want to watch the best movie of all time with me?"

⠀⠀⠀He looks over his shoulder at the TV behind them to see what was on. When he recognizes the movie, he nods his head. "I would love to."

⠀⠀⠀Taking his hand, she tugs him over to her bed, which she jumps on while he kicks off his shoes. He climbs onto the bed next to her and wraps his arm around her shoulder. She rolls onto her side to rest her head on his chest.

⠀⠀⠀"Did ya get anything good?" he asks.

⠀⠀⠀She nods her head against his hoodie. "I got a lot of clothes that I really like. What about you?"

⠀⠀⠀"Mainly clothes and stuff to use on the horses." He shrugs. "Nothing too exciting."

⠀⠀⠀Hayden shoots up abruptly. "I got you something!"

⠀⠀⠀Wyatt looks at her in confusion as she crawls over him to reach for something on her night stand. He props himself up against the headboard as she sits on his lap facing him, so in more of a straddle. "I thought we weren't getting each other anything."

⠀⠀⠀She shrugs. "It's not anything big."

⠀⠀⠀She places a green headband on her head and smiles down at him.

⠀⠀⠀He flicks the green leaf dangling off a long stem attached to the band. "Is that mistletoe?"

⠀⠀⠀"Maybe," she says as she leans in and kisses him.

⠀⠀⠀His hands wrap around her waist as hers go to the back of his head, running her fingers through his hair. His lips are sweet against hers, and his touch is soft. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is forced. Neither of them are trying to push anything farther than just kissing.

⠀⠀⠀"How did you get in here?"

⠀⠀⠀David's voice at the door causes Hayden to jump, and Wyatt's face immediately turns red. This is the man who he has worked for for years, and he just walked in on Wyatt making out with his stepdaughter. Embarrassed is an understatement for how Wyatt feels.

⠀⠀⠀"The window," Wyatt replies.

⠀⠀⠀"Well, I think it's time you leave out the front door," David instructs.

⠀⠀⠀Wyatt nods his head and swings his legs off the side of the bed to shove his feet back into his boots.

⠀⠀⠀Hayden kisses his cheek. "Merry Christmas. I love you."

⠀⠀⠀"I love you too," he says as he stands up. "Merry Christmas, sir."

⠀⠀⠀David doesn't say anything until he hears the front door close.

⠀⠀⠀"Hayden..." he begins.

⠀⠀⠀She rolls her eyes. "Don't even try to lecture me. We weren't doing anything wrong."

⠀⠀⠀"Sneaking a boy into your bedroom through your window ain't doing anything wrong?" David questions.

⠀⠀⠀She crosses her arms over her chest. "I wasn't trying to sneak him in, and no, there wasn't anything wrong. We were just watching a movie and kissing a little bit."

⠀⠀⠀He glares at her. "Don't let it happen again."

⠀⠀⠀"I can't promise you that," she mumbles.