Temptation

                    the singer continued to look around his place. just by doing so, she instantly knew that as much as he can, tex definitely adds a bit of his personality and taste to everything he does. that made the blonde admire him even more. but in the back of her mind, she wasn’t entirely sure if that’s something helpful to her in case things doesn’t end up the way she wanted it to. as soon as that thought came, all hayden did was to shake her head in hopes of it not ruining whatever she has now.

                    “well…” she bit the insides of her lips. she really wanted to hear his music, but since it seems to be a very personal thing for tex, she didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable just because she was making him do something for her. “you really don’t have to if you don’t want to– but then again, i’d really love to hear your stuff.” chuckles then erupted from her painted lips, her cheeks turning into a shade of red while she takes a sip from the drink he handed.

                      his pet absolutely has the same amount of charm as his owner does. just by lazing underneath them, hayden was already lovestruck. “he seems to be very comfortable there.” she laughed once more, then waved at the cat again. “hello there…” she whispered, giggling afterwards. “he’s always awake around this hour? or just tonight because you have a guest?”

tex’s eyes focused on the girl as he took another sip from his wine. he was still in shock at how beautiful she actually was. her golden hair reminded him of the suns rays and her eyes were a colour blue he had never seen before. “okay okay, i’ll play you something” he said, only really wanting to see her smile more. his feelings were still confusing him though, he wasn’t exactly the nicest when it came to dating women, but with her it felt different. 

he leaned down and patted the small cat, cooing gently as he looked down at his beloved pet. “yeah, he’s a night owl. sleeps all day and parties all night. kinda like me” he joked, shaking his head.

“c’mon then” he said, holding out his hand as he waiting for her to stand up. he led her to his music room, where a stand up piano sat there just waiting for someone to play it. he took a seat on the stool, making sure there was enough room for the two of them.

                   hayden slowly nodded her head. well, at least she didn’t have to worry about him being allergic to cats or not being a cat-person at all. the more she finds things they both like, the more it makes things more interesting for her.

                   she then takes the first step into his humble home. as the light revealed more of his personality, she couldn’t help but smile upon seeing a lot of music icons and heroes that she grew up listening and jamming to. she then caught sight of his cat, crouching on the floor to wave and greet him too.

                   “hmm… i could have a glass of wine too.” if there’s anything that tex should know about hayden, it’s the fact that she never says no to wine. she had always loved them. in every occasion, hayden always holds on to a glass of red or white wine. if she’s feeling it, maybe a fancy pink wine also works for her. “are you really… gonna play?” she asked, sitting down on his couch to somehow suppress the excitement that’s already evident in her face.

Tex had always spent months setting up a new place, he always crafted his space to project his personality in the best way possible. He wanted to be creative in every way possible, and it reflected in everything he did.

He grinned, walking into his kitchen, watching her for a few moments as he poured them both a glass of red wine. “I mean, I have to now don’t I?” he said with a grin, sitting down on the couch as he passed her a glass of red wine.  He was nervous to have her over at his home. He never felt this way so the fact that he did made him feel more anxious. “I see you’ve met Frankie” he said, leaning down to pat the cat which was now sprawled out underneath them. 

                       “since when did you have frankie?” the blonde asked next, curious to know how long he had been a cat-parent. most people she talks to barely had something to say about cats, or called her the cat-crazy lady, so this is definitely new for hayden. and just like the other things she liked about him, this is definitely a plus.

                        “oh!” she chuckled softly upon being corrected. it had her cheeks flaring with colors, which accentuates her soft features. “you place looks nice, by the way.” she was judging merely by the exterior of it. if he can keep it looking like that, he definitely has more to offer in the interior. “i’m honestly excited to see frankie.” that, and the other many reasons she’s ready to throw just so she wouldn’t end up scaring him by admitting that she wanted the night to last longer.

“Um, I got him in February, so it’s been a little while now. I haven’t had a cat ever but I always thought they were adorable so decided to make the leap and adopt on” he informed her.

He chuckled as her cheeks turn red, something that he had grown fond of throughout the night. Tex had never really taken a chance on someone, but with Hayden he had and he still hadn’t come to regret it. “Well thank you, come inside” he replied, opening the door for her as he waited till she walked in. “I’m sure he’ll love you.”

                   “really? that reminds me of my boy.” the blonde giggled upon visualizing benji. he had always been a momma’s boy, and his personality was completely different from her girls. “he’s very personable, and just loves everyone that pets him.”

                    hayden just kept their hands intertwined, gently swaying it as they walked their way to his home. she was sure she had passed around these streets before. “it must be special if it makes you feel at home, mhm?” she says, clearly not tolerating the way he seems to look down on things that are important to him. 

“Aw, that’s so cute” He replied, picturing the little cat that the male had seen in his photos. It wasn’t very often that he got the chance to swoon over cats with someone, he usually acted more tougher so to speak, so it was nice that he had the chance with Hayden to be a little bit closer to his true self.

The lights illuminated their figures, walking in sync as they drew closer to his home. He smiled as she seemed to always have a positive outlook about her. “Of course, I meant more the physicality of it, all of my belongings and the essence of home is perfect” he explained.

                          the blonde cooed once again as she looked over his phone’s screen. she surely couldn’t get enough of frankie. “i bet he’s such a sweetheart, specially to you.” she murmured before looking to meet his green eyes. “you’re so entertained by this, aren’t you?” she teased as a form of diverting his attention to something else, rather than the words she had just said earlier.

                         “yes, actually.” in fact, hayden remembers him not giving her a concrete answer regarding his music. she assumed that the alcohol worked its magic on her, as he seemed to have already made up his mind about it. “me too… it doesn’t really have to end this early.” a smile crept on her features again, finishing her meal after a couple of minutes. “you mentioned your apartment is just around the corner, right? we should definitely… check that out.” she then gets up, splitting their bill into two and leaving her share on the table. 

The male smiled at the thought of his cat, he didn’t know he could love an animal so much until he had adopted the small cat. “Oh he is, he’s also very calm surprisingly. When I drove here from New York he didn’t complain at all!” he said, clearly shocked by his cat’s tame nature. “Of course I am!” he replied with a chuckle, running a hand through his hair.

He felt relieved that she was comfortable by his suggestion, it didn’t mean anything after all, only a place to continue their night. “No it doesn’t!” he smiled in agreement. “Of course” he said, before paying for his share of the food. He thanked the staff before taking her hand again. “It’s nothing special, my apartment I mean, but it’s home” he told her, shrugging slightly as he led her back to his home.

tj could sense the other might have been in his head a bit. he didn’t know for what reason, but he felt something was up. not wanting to pry tj just let it go without saying much. “i look forward to it.” a mischievous grin fell on his lips, thinking of cute ways to surprise the other. “i think it might. i look forward to spending more time with you. hopefully you’ll be able to meet my little one.”

Tex grinned at his reply, sure they had some unresolved things to discuss, but he did enjoy the other’s company. “Oh please, I love kids” he said with a nod, taking a sip. “How is looking after a kid?” he asked, curious to see how Tj would be handling the situation. It was strange to think someone who he knew in college now was technically a parent. In someways he was jealous, Tex was far from settling down and he had always wanted to be a father.

                       “it’s my pleasure to meet frankie. he just looks so… small and cuddly.” the singer definitely sounded dramatic. but that’s just the way she is. she loves cats more than anything else in this world, so her excitement into meeting his cat just made her even more excited than she already is. “you should absolutely meet by little kitties too. i’m quite curious if they’ll end up liking you as much as i do.” the words the left her lips were something she didn’t expect to come out– but there’s no turning back now.

                       hayden takes another bite, then picked up a piece of potato fry. “yeah? i can’t wait to see how you’re going to describe me in your songs.” she teased again, smiling to herself before continuing to eat the flavorful meal right in front of her. she tried to slow down, mainly because the night is still young and it’s too early to end. hell, she didn’t want such a good night to end now. “since you made me discover such amazing treat, i’ll definitely bring you to the place the serves the best burrito in town.” she chuckled once again.

Tex nodded, “Yeah, he’s still not a full sized cat so he’s quite small” he responded, looking down at his phone for a moment. It was the best idea he had for a long time. Frankie brought him great comfort and made him feel less lonely, which was something he felt quite often. “You like me a lot then?” he hummed, sounding amused. 

                         knowing that he’s in for the ride had hayden smiling widely. at least, she knows whatever this is isn’t actually one-sided. she could sleep peacefully knowing that maybe, just maybe, things would be completely different with tex.

                          “yeah, they all have different personalities but i do love them all equally.” she pointed out with a grin, giggling as she shows him more pictures of her cats. “aww, he sounds like a total babe like you are. what’s he like?” she just had to know, even though hayden literally loves all cats that exist. 

                           there are definitely a few words stuck in mind that describe this whole experience with tex. she just had to reorganize them all and form it into her kind of art. but as she thinks about it, she thought that maybe, she was being carried away by how amazing their instant connection is. “mhm… i think i may have written a few lyrics here and there that exactly fits this whole thing.” she tried to sound vague, but in her point of view, she’s already giving out the information. soon enough their burgers were served and hayden did a happy dance. she grabbed a bite on her food, moaning softly. “so good…”

Tex let out a soft laugh, nodding in agreement. She was right about that. He stared down at her cats, smiling, “aw they’re all so cute! you have to let me meet them one day.” He pulled out his phone and showed her a photo, “Well, you can meet him if you’d like. He’s real sweet, huge on cuddles.” 

                     hayden could go all night discussing the variety of ideas in her mind. but she’d rather spend the whole time knowing more about him. “well, i’m not entirely sure yet.” she admits to him with a soft smile. “but from what i’m seeing now, i think i’m looking forward to it.” the smile grew prominent as the night goes by, sighing in content.

                     “more adventurous type… mhm.” she says as if she was thinking of endless ideas on what could be fun for their second date. “oh, and you have a cat?!” excitement was sensed in her aura. “i actually have three cats of now. meredith, benji, and olivia.” she figured it would be nice to share a picture of her felines. this just means more for them to talk about.

                     the next thing she knew is that she was trapped in his intense gaze. she was somehow silenced by his stares, but she was thankful that her thought bubble was bursted. “yeah? you think i’ll find something worth writing about?” she murmured as she rested her cheek on her hand as he ordered their food. once his attention was back on her, she smiled again. “oh, why did i go on a date with you…” she teased as she pretended to think. “well… i honestly think it would be cool to go on a date with someone you find interesting. i mean, you’re confident, the rugged type of cute, and a little bit intriguing.” she chuckled. “why did you ask me out, though?”

Her words made him forget for a split second that he didn’t have any issues with relationships. Maybe, just maybe he could actually them ago, but also it was too soon. He had only just met her, he didn’t want to start intimidating himself by the thought of a future together. “Oh, good, me too” he grinned, kissing her cheek gently. 

Tex laughed as she got more excited about the mention of cats. “Oh really? That’s so cute!” he said, giggling slightly as he gushed over their pets. “My cat’s name is Frankie. He’s super cute” he hummed, grinning as he thought about his cat.

                  “ah, finally.” the blonde dramatically sighed, smiling at how his hand had gripped hers tightly. “something we can disagree on. i cannot wait to figure out what’s coming.” she teased him as she laughed softly. she had never chuckled as much as she did since coming back from california, and she’s just glad to remember that her bubbly side is still around. 

                  “of course. i do want to see you again. preferably with me not unintentionally breaking a guitar string or two.” hayden’s soft giggles somehow overcasted the atmosphere. this is the fun that she missed experiencing. it was full of excitement, which is obviously something hayden has been lacking lately. “what do you like to do? are you more of an adventure type or you just prefer quiet quality times?” she asked.

                   hayden’s blue eyes widened upon seeing the diner. she had been here a couple of times, and she absolutely enjoyed their all-day breakfast menu. “i love it here.” she whispered upon squeezing his hand, a bright grin present on her face as she practically dragged him in. “did you know that this place gave me ideas on what i should write? i mean, i hang around here sometimes in hopes of finding inspiration.” the blonde found her way into one of the unoccupied booths without letting go of his hand.

Tex laughed along with her, her laugh reminded him of a fire, warm and comforting. “Oh what do you think is coming then, hm?” he asked, wanting to know exactly what she was thinking.

Her laugh sounded as if it filled the whole street, and it was infectious too. He enjoyed being around her, he hadn’t felt like this in a really long time. It was rare that he had such a good time with someone, and that he could let go so easily. He usually kept walls up, but with her it felt easier to let them down. “Um, I’m more of adventurous type I suppose. I do like staying in with my cat though, especially if there’s company. What about you?”

It made his heart skip a beat when he heard the words that came out of her mouth. The fact that he came here all the time and this was a place of inspiration to her was somewhat close to fate. “Oh, well maybe you’ll find some tonight” he winked, taking a seat next to her. He ordered two burgers for them, made small talk with the waitress before turning back to Hayden. “So, why did you go on a date with me?”

                 “lucky for you, patience is a virtue that i have.” the blonde lets a small smirk form on her painted lips, then just looked at him once again. the fact that the dim light were complimenting his facial features, making him look more astonishing. she shook her head along with the thoughts that were running inside her hazy mind.

                 she was so close to bringing up her past relationships– but she was thankful that the alcohol still haven’t kicked into her system just yet. she just offered him a small, shy smile upon meeting his gaze. that also made her wonder what goes in his mind.

                her cheeks definitely heated up when he took her hand. the feeling definitely made her heart flutter, and it had been long since the last time she felt such thing. her blue eyes looked over his, then realized that he’s definitely a few inches taller than her. “yeah? there’s a number two?” the idea alone excites her. she definitely wants to see him again. “we can do that. i mean… this is fun. you’re fun.”

“Well, I certainly don’t” Tex replied, the smoke having wrapped itself around his words. For a couple of moments he got swept up by some salacious thoughts but quickly shook his head. He had a tendency to do such a thing especially when he was in the presence of such a beautiful woman.

Endearing was the word Tex was looking for when he thought to describe her. Every time she spoke, it made his chest a little tighter but in the best way possible.”I mean, if you want there to be a second date. We haven’t even finished this one” he pointed out, squeezing her hand gently.

“Celebrate?” Freya snorted, “You’re so dramatic. If anything, this is a time to mourn for you. You won’t be getting into any more of your antics with me watching you like a hawk.” Of course, she was teasing. But there was some truth to her words. Being in each other’s proximity afforded her the luxury of looking out for him in ways that she wasn’t quite able to do before. If they thought they were close before, well, this would only transform their relationship. “And no, not hammered. God, the last time you went too hard I had to listen to you vomit over the phone. Very, very tipsy, maybe. Maybe even a little over.” 

She lifted her head curiously as he spoke, grinning fondly. “You remember.” They’d only ever said it to each other once before, when they were much younger. It warmed her heart to know that he could still recall those things. “Obviously I’m still on board,” Freya assured him, as if it were the most obvious answer in the world, “Totally why all of my relationships have crashed and burnt, how bloody cool does Freya Shepherd sound?” 

It was probably good for him that Freya would be around to keep an eye on him. When she wasn’t around, he usually got himself into a lot of trouble. Maybe once he could actually get over his addiction, although at this point in his life he felt a little more than pointless. Even still, he loved the idea of her being so close to one another. “Hey! I don’t vomit all the time. It was just unfortunate that you were on the phone to me. So, drunk is fine?” he asked with a small laugh.

There was a twinkle in his sea green eyes as she lifted her head. “Of course, how could I forget such a thing?” he replied, grinning widely. His feelings for Freya had always been confusing to him, but he tended not to dwell on them too much incase they were stronger than he thought they were. “Well, me too” he stated, gently kissing her forehead. “I know, how is it that two of the most attractive amazing people are single?” he laughed, looking down at her. “It sounds fucking awesome!”

                      being pushy is definitely a bad idea, specially when you’re on your first spontaneous date with a guy you’re dying to impress. she can wait a little longer, until he was more than ready to share his songs to her. “alright. i’ll be waiting.” she whispered, a small smirk was evident on her features as she finished her drink.

                      past relationships should not be even mentioned right now, but since they were being completely honest right now, maybe she could subtly mention that she was in one before. “most of my friends would say thirty is the new twenty, so no need to rush.” the blonde chuckled, tilting her head slightly to analyze his features again. “eh, i’m sure we’ll get there soon.” she tells him with a light laugh.

                       the blonde definitely found it adorable on how defensive he got. he looked like a mixture of innocence and adventure, which actually got her hooked. she laughed once again, then grabbed her purse and coat as she gets back on her toes. “lead the way again, mhm?”

The whisper sent a small shiver down his neck, her voice was definitely alluring. There was a part of him that wanted to hear more, but of course he had to be patient. “Waiting huh?” he asked, the thought excited him. 

He let out a small laugh at her words, shrugging slightly. He didn’t know if he agreed, after all, if he waited too long it would be too late. I mean usually you have a few relationships before settling down right? “I hope so” he replied, wondering if he was looking at his future.

Tex grinned, paying off their tab before standing up and taking her hand. He had to make a move at some point right? They walked onto the street before Tex led them in the direction of the diner. He lit up another cigarette, inhaling deeply before sighing softly. “So, does this mean we can go on another date. Y’know, since you’re having a great time and all.”

                    the blonde perked up as soon as he hinted on him actually singing a song he wrote. she had always loved hearing other people’s work, so if it ever happens, it would definitely be the highlight of the night. “what do i need to get you to say a concrete yes, mhm?” she laughed softly. 

                   hayden always hated the idea of being and growing old alone. it was the saddest thing instilled in her mind, and somehow, the pressure of marriage and having your own family was slowly creeping up on her. that’s what happens when most of your friends are settling down and having kids of their own. “did you ever consider adopting a child?” she asked him, curious on what he thought about that matter.

                   “i’m having an excellent time, hayden.” those words echoed inside her brain. this is definitely the feeling she’s dying to experience on a first date. “of course, you know i wouldn’t say no to another round.” she says with a shy smile, then noticed his tipsiness in the way he spoke. “are you sure you’re still good? we can go grab something to eat if you’re feeling the alcohol working.”

“Well, I haven’t decided on that, but i’ll let you know once I do” he stated, not sure if he was fully comfortable with sharing a song just yet. If it impressed Hayden though he might give it a chance. 

Tex definitely didn’t want to die alone, and the thought really did terrify him. He did want to get married one day. “Um, well, it’s not like I can’t have kids, it’s just I’m nearly thirty and haven’t really been in a long term relationship ever” he replied, looking away for a moment as if he was embarrassed. “Yeah, I have. I would, but I suppose it depends on whoever I am with.”

“I’m not drunk!” He said, laughing in a goofy manner, slightly embarrassed that he got tipsy so quickly. “I can handle my liquor, but if you’re saying you’d grab dinner with me then let’s do that. There’s a really good diner right near mine..” he trailed off, maybe mentioning his apartment would scare her off. “But we can go wherever you’d like.”

                     “it doesn’t have to be the full song. maybe just the chorus or a bridge. whatever works for you.” it was beyond obvious that the blonde was curious and is trying to bargain. she wanted to get to know him through his songs, and hoped that tonight (or maybe, some other day– she can wait), she’d get to learn about the things he usually writes about. “oh, you bet i’m already hoping for my lucky charms to work.” she laughed.

                     his next question definitely made her think about the future even more. this is an engaging conversation for a woman in her thirties, and she’s thankful that he isn’t terrified of bringing up these matters. “i want to be a mom. i know the entire process seems like a huge epitome of pain, but i know that it’s all worth it.” she says with a small smile, then realized that this is actually the first time she said that out loud.

                     the next thing she knew is that she was feeling her cheeks warm up again. maybe it was the alcohol intake, or maybe it was his word that were successful in charming her up. she squinted her eyes, as if she was in doubt of the words he was saying. there’s no way in hell he’s enjoying conversations like this– but hayden doesn’t believe that reminder in her head. “well… i am quite having a good time.” her delicate hand played with the glass, biting her lip to hide the smile that was growing more prominent. “are you having a good time?” she returned the question, then just hoped for honesty.

He paused for a moment, tapping his fingers against his chin as if to think about the question. By now the alcohol was clouding his judgement, and he wanted any excuse to continue the date further. “I mean, maybe” he dragged out, only continuing to be playful. “Oh trust me, they’re working” he replied, taking a moment to look at her.

The thought of the future had always scared Tex, especially as he had no real plans. Hell, he hadn’t even been in what you would call a long term relationship. He wondered if he ever would. Commitment scared the life out of him, but the thought of being alone forever scared him even more. “Yeah, me too. But I’m not sure it’ll ever happen unfortunately” he said, with a hint of sadness.

Tex noticed the blush on her cheeks and he felt slightly proud of making her react in such a way, although she had that affect on him, he was just better at hiding it. He took another sip drink, smiling softly. “I’m having an excellent time, Hayden” he replied, finishing off his drink. “So, would you like another drink?” he asked, feeling slightly tipsy by this point.

                     hayden had a small smile to smear on her soft features. if anything, she knew that all he needed was a little push to have his music out there. this reminded her of how terrified she was when she was starting, and look at her now. “mhm… maybe you can play me a song.” she teased, wanting the mood to be kept light and fun between them.

                      “yeah, me too. but that is, if i become a mom sometime in the future.” she chuckled, then remembered her cats at home who were probably making a mess right now. another thought came into mind, which mentally slapped herself for comparing kids to pets. those two were completely different towards each other. “your future kids will be lucky to have you, mhm?”

                      “the next question is…” hayden takes another short sip, amused at how many details were being revealed at this conversation. “did you accept the invitations and had a good time?” a brow raised as her blue eyes focused on his green ones. she swore she had never seen this color before. 

The male wondered if he would feel comfortable enough to play her something at the end of the night. He took another sip of his drink, trying to calm the buzzing of his nerves. She was a famous songwriter after all, and he hadn’t even finished half of the songs he wrote. “Maybe, if you’re lucky.”

“Do you want to become a mum?” He asked, curious to see what her response would be. After all, they were on a date. Although he was somewhat of a commitment phobe, he still wanted to know if their priorities lined up. “I sure hope so” he hummed. “I’ll make sure of it” he added firmly, having always promised himself that he would be a good father. 

Tex let out a chuckle, finding her questioning amusing. He thought it was endearing. “I accepted some of the invitations” he replied, taking another sip of his drink as if to make her wait. “Not as good of a time as I’m having now” he added with a wide grin. “The real question is, are you having a good time Hayden?” he asked,  looking into her eyes intensely. 

                     “ooh! congratulations!” the blonde cheered, excitement for his little achievement was heard through her playful tone. if anything, hayden had always bee the one to celebrate the smallest things in life. “did you ever… think of actually creating music for yourself?” she asked next, curious on what he’d like to do with his degree. 

                     a small smirk suddenly crept on her face. she obviously wasn’t against the idea of them going to one of her favorite places together. in fact, she was so intrigued on how they would jive together when placed into a completely different setting. but that is something she shouldn’t worry about now.

                     talking about childhood years always came with the traumatic experiences. the blonde knew that by now and accepted the fact that she didn’t have the perfect younger years. at least for her, she had her father to try everything that he could to raise hayden well. it was enough for her. “to shitty parents.” she echoed upon clinking their glasses together, laughing softly in hopes of lighting up the mood. “i’m so sorry we both had shitty parents. at least, we’re beyond better than they will ever be.”

                      his next words absolutely worked and immediately made things seem better. it had the singer blushing again, and her giggles were erupting from her intoxicated lips. “i don’t really wanna be rude– but i don’t believe you.” blue eyes squinted in a suspecting manner while keeping up with his playfulness.

The question made him pause for a moment, after all it was the only thing he really wanted to do. He was raised in an environment where a career in music wasn’t an option, yet here he was talking to someone who had made it a career. “Erm, yeah, I just don’t think my songs are all that good. I think I can play guitar well though” he replied with a slight shrug. 

Tex was surprised at how easy it was for him to talk about his childhood with her, he usually never spoke about it unless he really knew the person. It was comforting in a sense, that he could just open up to her. “I hope so, if I become a dad I’d like to actually raise my kid” he told her. Although he didn’t feel like an adult, Tex had always wanted children, to actually have a family of his own. 

He jokingly acted shocked, as if he was offended by her words. “I’ve been asked out a lot at work, but I swear I’ve never asked anyone out, aside from you. So i’d consider yourself quite the lucky lady” Tex said, following the statement with a wink.