Chapter Thirty-One

“I think it’s better I sit this one out,” Stevie said. I could hear her mother joyously singing a Stevie Nicks’s song in the background. “For one thing, you two are going to forget everything else exists besides getting naked, and I don’t want to be left sitting across from ape-boy. It’s been pleasant without him in my life. And second, the idea of a movie night made my mom extremely happy.”

“You sure?” I pinched the phone between my shoulder and ear, pulling on a pair of shorts. The rain had rolled away, like the turbulence between me and Hunter, leaving the night light and pleasant. Still hot, but that was this area in July.

The singing grew farther away, telling me Stevie was moving away from her mom. “No, it’s not okay! You are leaving me with my mother. A whole night of how’s school going? Find a job? A man? You should just move back here,” she hissed, but I knew most of it was put on. Her mother was a sweet lady who was lonely and missed having Stevie around. “You owe me, Whiskey.”

“Put it on my tab.” I grinned, fluffing out my dry hair in the mirror, freshly washed and waving almost to my ass.

Of course, when I came home from Hunter’s, my mom was right there, asking me why I looked like a drowned rat and why I was wearing a huge dirty T-shirt with Doug’s garage on it.

I told her I got caught in the rain after my shift and the guys were nice enough to give me a dry shirt to wear home, but I couldn’t even try hiding the smile blushing my cheeks. Grandma Penny sat across from Mom, trying not to laugh, her eyes glinting with “I don’t buy that shit for a moment.”

Yeah. Me neither.

I didn’t think Mom did either, but she would still rather hear the fib than know the full truth. Sorry, Mom, I’m not wearing underwear either because they are in a puddle next to Hunter’s truck, where I was for the last three hours having unbelievable sex.

She even stopped herself when I told her I was going out and not to expect me home. I could see her lips rolling together, wanting so badly to ask if I would be with Stevie but scared my answer wasn’t what she wanted to hear. I wouldn’t have lied to her but was relieved when she nodded.

“You’ll miss my lasagna,” she said. She knew that hurt; she made the best lasagna.

“I’ll forgive you this time because you’re having amazing sex,” Stevie grumbled, bringing me back to our phone call. “At least one of us should.”

“You can at any time, girl. I know two people who also need to get their head out of their asses.”

“Whatever. We’re not talking about me. Now remember I demand detailed descriptions, especially how that boy’s ass flexes.”

“Stevie.” I laughed and rubbed my forehead.

“Least you can do for me. Did you hear my mother singing?” she exclaimed, then exhaled. “I’m happy for you, Whiskey. For both of you. It’s about time you guys got your heads out of your asses.”

“Thanks. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“You better,” she huffed. “Or just come retrieve me from the mental institution.”

“Night, Stevie.”

“And you have a very good night.”

I planned to.

 

 

Hunter stood on the porch when I drove up. His hands were tucked into his jeans, a lopsided grin caving in his dimple when he saw me. The sight of him still sent my stomach into a flurry of birds taking flight.

How did one simple smile turn me into a pretzel?

I felt shy and nervous again, even though I had been naked in front of him most of today. The few hours of separation burst the comfortable space with him, making me feel bashful. This wasn’t like stepping back into old shoes, because we’d only had sex a handful of times then. Sex had been brand new to me.

Sliding out of the jeep, I strolled up to him, my smile matching his.

“Hey.” He stood on the top stair, not moving when I stepped up, cranking my head back farther, our bodies knocking together.

“Hi.” I felt lightheaded and giggly on the inside, like millions of champagne bubbles crashing into each other.

I would never confess how many guys I slept with after him. It no longer mattered because I realized not once did I feel even remotely like this. I was the aloof one, even with Luca. I enjoyed sowing my wild oats, but I had never felt this: smiling until my cheeks hurt, blushing until I could be a stand-in for a tomato, or feeling so giggly I turned into my almost seven-year-old sister. He was the only one who had ever made me feel this happy.

His hands drew up my arms to his neck, sending a shiver down my spine. His fingers gripped my face. “Two and half hours,” he muttered against my mouth. “Not that I was counting.” He tipped my head back with his thumb, sliding his mouth over mine, capturing it with a possessive growl.

Desire gripped me in a chokehold, and I pressed myself into him, deepening the kiss. He easily picked me up, dropping me on the railing, my legs binding to his hips, tugging him to me. His muscles contracted under my touch.

My thin black tank and tiny jean shorts felt heavy. I wanted to lose myself against his skin. Our mouths were hungry, and we gulped and heaved for oxygen.

“About time.” A guy’s voice bolted us apart, and we turned to see Jones saunter up the steps, a case of beer in his hand. He grinned at us, a knowing gleam in his eyes.

“Fuck off, Jones,” Hunter rumbled, still cupping my face, not able to disguise how fake his anger was.

“You two dancing around each other for the past few months was tiring as hell to watch.” Jones winked at me. “Maybe he won’t be such a bastard now.”

“Jones.” Hunter flicked his head to the door.

“Yeah, yeah.” His grin only widened. “But seriously, Jayme… Can you work on that for me? He’s been a serious pain in the ass for at least a year now.”

Sensing Hunter moving toward Jones, I grabbed his shirt, pulling him back to me. “I’ll see what I can do.” I peered at him, his eyes finding mine.

Hunger. Thirst. Desire. Need.

“Okay, I’m out of here before my innocent, virgin eyes have to witness any immoral acts,” Jones said.

“Right.” Hunter snorted at Jones’s words. “Thought Chris was coming with you?”

“He said he wasn’t feeling good.”

“Still?” Hunter’s eyebrows creased with worry. “It’s been over a week.”

“I don’t know, man. Maybe he’s sick of seeing your ugly ass.” Jones grinned with a shrug before walking into the house, slamming the screen door and leaving us alone.

“We probably should at least go in and say hi.” I let my legs drop back down, pushing off the rail.

“Why? I see those fuckers every day.” His gravelly voice dipped down my neck, his lips following.

“It’s your friend’s birthday.” I gripped his arms, not sure if I was pushing him away or pulling him in.

“Fine.” He sighed, nodding, his face still close to mine. “Jesus, woman. What are you doing to me?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.”

“An hour. That’s it.” He grabbed my hand, twisted around, and directed us through the house to the backyard. Like Hunter’s birthday party, it was small and intimate. Krista sat with a joke princess crown on her head, her feet in the pool, rubbing her growing belly. She was glowing: tan skin, salmon-colored maxi dress, her hair down, but fatigue lined her face. Megan sat next to her, drinking, as Doug and Jones splashed around the pool with a few girls I didn’t know. A handful of people drifted around the yard, close to the booze.

“Damn, the baby is kicking my kidney like a soccer ball right now.” Krista grabbed Megan’s hand, holding it to her belly. “I think it’s going to be girl. She’s already not taking shit.”

“Like her mamma and auntie.” Megan held up her beer, clicking it against Krista’s tea. Their heads turned, smiling when they saw Hunter step through the door. Then their smiles dropped as their attention snapped to me. To our hands laced together.

Crap.

What was I thinking? I shouldn’t be here. This was Krista’s birthday, and she didn’t like me. There was no reason I should have come. The need for Hunter had blinded me of doing the right thing.

With her hand on her stomach, she stared at me with no emotion. Megan leaned over and whispered something to her and she nodded, her gaze slowly moving away from me and onto the commotion in the pool.

“I should go,” I muttered to Hunter.

“No.” His hand tightened around mine, stepping close to me. “Unless you decided you don’t want me to take you to the back bedroom and do really naughty things with you.”

“Not fair.” I glowered at him.

He chuckled. “When are you going to learn I don’t play fair? And I really won’t when it comes to you.” He brushed his nose against mine. “They’re gonna have to get used to you being around.”

“They… you mean Krista.” I huffed. The boys liked me, and Megan seemed neutral.

“It’s just been us for a while now. We saw other people on the side, while we were raising Cody. But she knows you’re different.”

“Oh?” I hitched up an eyebrow. “I’m different? Not some one-night stand with a hot promo girl?”

He sniggered, shaking his head. “Don’t fish for compliments. You know we’ve always been different… but if later you want to dress in a tiny outfit and role-play, it’s totally okay with me.”

“Shut up.” I smacked him playfully, making him laugh.

“Since you’re staying here tonight, go grab a drink.” He tilted his head to the table. “Going to call Mom one last time and check on her.”

“You’re a good son.”

He brushed by me, smacking my ass as I moved toward the drink table, then strolled to a quieter corner of the yard.

Watching his broad shoulders and ass, I sighed heavily, knowing I was in deep. New York was still on the horizon, but the thought of leaving him tore me in half.

Digging through the cooler of beers, I found a cider and twisted off the cap.

“You’d think I’d be surprised to see you here, but I’m not.” Krista stepped up next to me, and I jolted back in alarm. “Neither of you can stay away from each other. Never could.”

I twisted to face her, pushing back my shoulders, not letting her intimidate me. Expecting to see hate burning in her eyes, I was amazed to only see mild annoyance pressing her mouth closed. But damn, she was still scary. Even pregnant. She was the kind of woman you knew would grab a girl’s hair and beat the crap out of her for merely getting near her man.

Not knowing what to say, I continued to watch her, gripping the bottle in my hand.

“Think it’s time you and I had a little talk.” She kept her expression like stone.

“We had one of those once. Didn’t care for it much.”

For a second, I saw a glint of humor tug her lip up, but it quickly disappeared.

“Yeah. You should have listened to me then.”

“Why? I probably won’t listen to you now.”

She gave a short laugh. “You’re feistier than I remember.”

“What do you want, Krista?” I folded my arms. “Are you here to tell me to leave Hunter alone? Because it’s never going to happen.”

She shifted back on her heels then looked to the ground for a moment.

“Are you in love with him?” I asked without malice, just curiosity. I understood all too well how hard it was not to love him.

She jerked to look at me, her eyes wide with shock. Then her face went neutral. “There are times I think so,” she said bluntly. “He’s an incredible dad, and we make a really good team… a family.” She licked her lips, her eyelids fluttering. It was the first time I ever saw her vulnerable. “But he doesn’t love me. I see how he looks at you. How you look at him, and I know what I feel is nothing close to love. Not what you guys have. He’s my best friend. I never want to be in the way of his happiness, no matter how it hurts.” Her hand went to her baby bump. “I thought I might have found what you two have.”

My mind yelled out: With Jason? Seriously? I could have warned her he was a loser. Sorry, but she should have grasped that since he was friends with Colton.

“What I’m most fearful of,” she continued, “is that Hunter will leave and no longer want to be part of our lives, because he will want a family with you instead. Cody will not understand. It will hurt him.”

“You know that will never happen.” I shook my head. “He loves Cody so much. He’d never abandon him.” I pushed my hair out of my face. “But Krista. You’re not being fair to him. Hunter will stay by your side, because that’s who he is. He will give up his dreams, his chance to do and be more because he’d never want to hurt you or Cody.”

Krista’s jaw clamped down, her body stiffening.

“Get mad at me. Fine. I can deal with it. But deep down you have to know I’m right. Hunter is Cody’s uncle, and that’s the role he should have always had. You have been a bit selfish. I understand you are scared, but from day one you’ve never been fair to Hunter. You got pregnant… with Colton… while I was still his girlfriend. Not Hunter. But even when Colton was alive, you put Hunter in the daddy role because Colton wouldn’t man up. And you are doing it again with another baby that is not his.”

“Fuck you,” she seethed, her shoulders rolling back. “You know nothing of me or the situation.”

“I don’t?” She scared me, but my mouth wouldn’t stop. Hunter and I had been through too much, and I was going to fight for him. For our chance. “I think I see and know more than you’d like to admit.”

“It’s none of your fucking business.”

“You know that’s what I said to myself before, always putting myself at the back of the line. But Hunter is my business. We broke up over this before, and I’m not doing it again.”

Her fists balled up at her sides, her face reddening with anger. Yet I could feel she knew I was right.

I moved back, seeing Hunter shove his phone in his pocket, finished with his call. “You two need to figure it out. All I’m asking is to put yourself in Hunter’s shoes. Be fair to him.”

“Hey.” Hunter walked up, his eyes darting between us with uncertainty. “Is everything all right?”

“Yeah.” I smiled at him. “Chatting with the birthday girl.”

“Righttttt.” He looked at Krista.

She forced a smile on her face. “Yep. Just a girly chat with your girlfriend.” Krista squeezed his arm, turning back to her friends. “You guys have a good night.”

“You too.” Hunter’s eyes were still narrowed in suspicion, watching his friend walk away. “Happy birthday, Krista.”

She peered back at him, nodded, then strolled back to Megan.

“Do I dare ask?” He took the bottle from me, taking a sip.

“Nope.” I frowned, swiping it back. “Get your own.”

“But I want yours.” He leaned down, kissing me. “Has it been an hour yet?”

“No, more like fifteen minutes.”

He grabbed my hand, stalking for the house. “Close enough.”