twenty

TWENTY

HAILEY ROLLED OVER and saw the empty side of the bed.

"Why do you always get up so early?"

"You know that it's Kota and Laci's wedding today, right? Or are you slow." Walker said, putting his suit into his bag. Hailey looked at her husband who was glowing from the sun shining into the room, still admiring his beauty years later as if she just laid her eyes on him.

"It's not until twelve and it's..." Hailey clicked on her phone. "only nine."

"But the drive is about an hour, dummy. Get up, we still have to wake the kids." Walker said, grabbing her hands.

"Nah." Hailey said, pulling Walker down on top of her.

"Hails..." Walker trailed, looking down at her.

"Sorry, I'm still tired." Hailey shrugged, sitting up and holding herself up.

"Can you wake up Noah, Sophie, and Kenz?" Walker said, referring to their twins and younger daughter.

"Yeah, yeah." Hailey groaned, putting on her socks and then standing up.

"Love you, Hails." Walker smiled, jogging up to her and kissing her on the forehead and pushing her out the door softly.

"Love you, too, Walker." Hailey rolled her eyes with a smile, then opening up Sophie's door.

"Out, mom." Sophie complained, already being up probably because of Walker being loud.

"No, get up. We're taking you to Finn's." Hailey said. Finn suggested to watch because he wasn't invited, because Laci thought she wasn't strong enough and would run to Finn instead.

"Uncle Finn?" Sophie jumped up.

"Sure?" Hailey tilted her head at the new name.

"I'm up! You can go wake up Noah and Kenley, I'm up." Sophie said, grabbing a bag to put her clothes in since they would sleep over.

"Okay, bye." Hailey shrugged, walking to the room across from Sophie's.

"Bye!" Sophie shouted back.

"Hey, Noah. Up, up, up." Hailey said, opening Noah's door and turning on the light. "Damn, you're messy. Wait, I can't say that, I'd be a hypocrite."

"Stop talking to yourself, mom." Noah groaned, pulling the blanket over his head to cover the light from his eyes.

"Wanna go to 'uncle Finn's'?" Hailey repeated the name, wondering if her kids just came up with this name and stuck with it.

"Oh, yeah." Noah said, sitting up.

"When did uncle Finn become a thing? We're not even related. The only uncles you two have are uncle Kota and Uncle Tanner." Hailey scoffed.

"Finns in third place. Tanner is in first because he's the best." Noah responded, getting his bag and opening his dresser.

"I liked Tanner better than your dad when we were younger." Hailey said, then feeling arms wrap around her shoulders.

"Did you now?" Walker asked, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Yeah, actually." Hailey said, then kissing him on the cheek.

"Get out of my room with this corny bullsh—"

"Hey." Walker warned, lifting one arm off Hailey to point at Noah.

"Walker, don't be a hypocrite." Hailey said, softly playing with his hair when she lifted her arm up.

"Yeah, did you not curse at my age?" Noah asked, shoving an outfit into his bag.

"He did. A bunch." Hailey said, shoving his arms off her shoulders to go to Kenleys room.

"Exactly." Noah shrugged.

"Fine. Exception. You're lucky you have your mother, Noah." Walker said, then following her like a lost puppy.

"Kenley!" Hailey shouted, knowing it was gonna be hard to wake her up.

"I'm scared." Walker said, creeping up behind Hailey because Kenley wasn't easy to wake up and would scream at you.

"I don't know how you let that slide. Kenley, wake up! We're taking you to uncle Finn's!" Hailey yelled, clapping her hands.

"Mom, stop!" Noah yelled, closing his door.

"Uncle Finn's?" Kenley sat up, immediately standing up and running to her dresser.

"You're staying overnight, so pack PJs. If you're not done in ten, no more Target for a week." Hailey said, then walking away to her room.

"Yeah, yeah." Kenley shooed her away, rolling her eyes subtly.

"How do you do it?" Walker said, putting his arm around her shoulder.

"You're very touchy." Hailey put her head on his shoulder.

"You're very touchy." Walker said sassily, kissing the top of her head.

"Whatever, we're getting McDonalds on the way, just so you know." Hailey clarified, walking into her room.

"Yes ma'am." Walker said, grabbing his bag. They were coming home, but it was gonna be late when they left, so they decided to just let the kids stay overnight.

Hailey was proud of the family she made. What would've happened if Walker never felt sorry?

a/nbyeeehxhdhdhsida yappathon right now but sobbed last night because my old crush literally vented to me about how ugly he was. what?? do you know how many nights i've sat in my bed and wished i could tell him how bad i wanted him and how fine i thought he was. i wish i could've told him how many times i've looked at HIM. ONLY HIM. i didn't get a crush on another boy all year because I WANTED HIM. all the times i've stared at him in my second period. all the times i've found HIS face in a lunch room full of kids. i wish he knew how BAD i wanted HIM. i'm glad i moved on but holy shit dude you're killing me rn.

also, thanks for reading!! ily guys and thanks for any attention on this book, i really appreciate it!!chat guess who was at the wedding 😏 the uber driver mason don't think i forgot