November 2018

We'd been in the car for a little over 15 minutes, and I was getting increasingly impatient with each passing minute. "Are we there yet?" I whined. I still had no idea where he was taking me, we were getting further and further away from town meaning it was getting challenging to pinpoint where he was taking me.

"Nope." He laughed "we've still got around half an hour to go."

"Am I allowed a hint? You know I hate surprises."

"Why don't you just sit back and enjoy the scenery, Luce." He replied "you're not going to get anything out of me. I want this to be a surprise, this is our first date, and I want it to be special."

With that my mouth stayed firmly closed for the rest of the journey. It made my heart swell knowing how serious Hayden was taking all of this, to think I'd been missing out on this all these years.

After half an hour of starring out at fields and flocks of sheep. We pulled up outside one of the cutest little restaurants I had ever seen in my life. It was a small Greystone building that was covered in vines, and due to the change in season, the leaves were giving off a gorgeous burnt orange hue which contrasted beautifully with the pale grey brickwork. I was speechless, this place was like something out of a dream, I could only imagine what the interior would look like.

"Wait here." His voice tore my attention away from the building momentarily. As I watched him climb out the car I watched him, slightly confused to as what he was doing. Moments later the passenger side door opened, I watched as he held his and out to help me from the car.

I blushed as I took his hand, as soon as my feet hit the gravel he pulled me into him. Without even having a moment to process what had just happened he placed a light kiss on my forehead. "Do you like it?" He murmured. It took me a while to even remember where we actually were, especially now that our bodies were in such close proximity to each other.

"I love it." I replied, "how did you find it?" I was genuinely curious as to how he'd come across such a quaint little restaurant. Fine dining wasn't usually his thing, he'd more than often opt to buy greasy takeaway pizza or go to McDonald's.

"It was around about a year after you'd left." He began "I was feeling pretty shit, so I decided to go for a drive. I had no idea where I was going, I just wanted to get away for a while. I'd been in the car for a while, and out of the blue, I found this place. I pulled into the car park and sat there for a while, watching all the happy families and couples. While I was watching I made a promise to myself, if I ever found you again I'd bring you here and tell you how much you mean to me."

I was utterly speechless. I couldn't believe how much thought had gone behind our first date, I always knew that Hayden had a romantic side. What I'd never imagined was that I'd be on the receiving end of it, everything was finally falling into place, and I couldn't be happier.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into a crushing embrace. "I love it." I whispered "and I love you. This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me, thank you."

"You deserve the best, and I plan on giving it to you. I've got some good news too, but I'll tell you inside I don't want you to get cold. I smiled at his words, I felt like a love-sick teenager again.

He took hold of my hand and began leading me into the restaurant. As we stepped in through the door, it was as if we'd walked straight into someone's home. There was a roaring fireplace in the centre of the floor and off to the side was what I assumed was the seating area.

The whole place was as if it had been plucked from a dream, the exposed beams the plush leather seats that complimented the rustic wooden tables perfectly, this place was truly amazing.

"This place is beautiful, Hayden," I said. After we'd been seated at our table

"I'm glad you like it. Are you ready for the good news or do you want to wait until after food?" He asked. As I was thinking I took some time to study his face, his eyes looked brighter, and he had that boyish grin back, but most importantly he looked like my Hayden again.

"Now, if you don't mind" I replied

"I've spent the past week visiting some of the rehabilitation clinics we spoke about. I found one, and I think it's really going to help me, Luce. It's a 70-day inpatient program, and it covers a range of things, I went and visited the man who runs the program today, and he thinks he'll really be able to help me. So, I went ahead and booked it, I know it's soon, but I'll be leaving on December 15th, and if all goes well, I should be home by the 23rd of February."

"Oh my god, Hayden. That's amazing, I'm so proud of you."

"I don't think I've ever been so scared in all my life, but I know I'll get through it with you by my side." He looked happy, but I could tell he was completely losing it inside, he was finally going to face his demons and I just hoped he was going to go through with it.

"Will you be able to come home for Christmas?" I asked, I secretly hoped he would. I'd imagined countless Christmases with Hayden, and I cuddled up on the sofa together surrounded by friends. "I had the option to, but I decided to stay in the clinic." He replied "before you freak out let me explain. For the holidays the clinic offers a one-week period where the 'patents' get to go home and spend time with their families and then just after New Year's they have to go back, but if I stay there, I'll be able to work on myself more. I want to do this properly Luce, I want to be good enough for you. I'm sorry if I've disappointed you but I'm doing this because I love you."

I felt like such a selfish bitch, part of me was screaming inside to tell him to come home for Christmas, he needed to be surrounded by people who loved him. However, the more rational side of me knew it was the right thing to do. That week off could ultimately destroy all of the hard work that he and the doctors had undertaken in those crucial few weeks.

In the end, the rational side of me won. "Of course, I'm not disappointed. You need to do what's best for you, and I'll be with you every step of the way."

The rest of the meal went by perfectly, but the night went by much too quickly. It felt like we'd been there mere moments before we were walking back to his car and making our way back to town.

"Did you have a nice time?" He asked as he pulled up outside Ricky's house. Wait, what were we doing back here?

"Yeah, I did, it was perfect. Thank you so much, you're the most thoughtful person I know."

"There's a but in there somewhere. What's on your mind?"

Shit, am I really that transparent?

"N-nothing." I murmured "I just didn't expect to be coming back here tonight." Well done, Luce. You've made yourself look like a right tool.

"Sweetheart, there's nothing more I want to take you back to mine and peel that dress off that I'm more than sure you put on to tease me all evening. If you were any other girl, we'd have done just that, but you're not just any girl, Luce. You're special, I want to do this right. You're worth so much more to me."

"Ugh." I groaned "why do you have to be such a gentleman."

"I promise I'll make it up to you. He chuckled

"Yeah, you better or I might just -."

I didn't have time to finish my sentence as he closed the space between us and placed a feather-light kiss on my lips. The pressure was almost none existent, but the kiss still managed to send shock waves through my body.

"That's all you're getting for now." He replied, "especially when you're wearing that dress." His voice had taken on a distinctly husky tone. I wanted nothing more than to push his buttons to see how far I could push him before he gave in, but I knew he wanted to do this properly and I loved him for it. "I love you, Hayden Williams," I whispered against his lips.

"I love you too, more than you'll ever know. Now get yourself inside before I change my mind."

Turning to open the door I gave him one last kiss before I hopped out the car and made my way to the front door. I didn't even have to knock the door as I was met with an overly excited Ricky.

"Get something comfy on, sweetie. I want to know all the juicy details."

I laughed at him and agreed to meet him downstairs once I'd changed. Just as I reached the top of the stairs, my phone vibrated.

To: Lucia

From : Hayden

I know I messed up in the past , not once or twice but multiple times.

And I remember the day that I lost you, drowning my sorrows in drugs just

to be able to see your beautiful face once again.

But now I have you here with me , feeling the same way.

I choose you over them every day , from today I'll always choose you.

What I simply want to say with all my heart is that I love you.

A/N

This is the first part in a 3 chapter update I will be posting this week. If everything goes to plan I'll have another update sometime tomorrow then the final one will be up at the end of the week.

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to @Coconutt88. Thank you for all the amazing comments you've left on this book and Day and Night. I hope you enjoy the chapter ❤️😘

also a huge thank you to @swallowedbywords who wrote Hayden's beautiful good night message. Thank you so much ❤️❤️