chapter 12
RILEY
“YOU GOT ME A present?” Hunter asks as I approach him in his kitchen, gift in my hands. When I walked in, he was surrounded by a lot of his friends, so I waited to give it to him when he was alone.
“I did,” I tell him, glancing down at the marbled wrapping paper.
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he murmurs, accepting the package from my hands. He shakes it a little and offers me an excited, boyish smile, one that makes the long day of shopping, looking for something just right for him, all worth it. “Do you want me to open it now?”
The two of us are in the kitchen, surrounded by muted noise, bottles of alcohol, and a platter of food. I pick up an olive and pop it into my mouth.
“Up to you. You have a lot of friends, don’t you?”
He watches me and simply grins. “Wouldn’t call all of them friends.”
“Then why are they here?” I ask, arching my brow and leaning against the countertop. “Is today your actual birthday?”
“It’s tomorrow,” he says, glancing at his watch. “Few hours to go. And they’re here because I like them and have a good time with them, but that doesn’t mean I trust everyone here.”
“Acquaintances, not friends, then,” I surmise, glancing around the house once more. “Your house is beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you,” he returns, not hiding the heated look he gives me. It looks like he’s not hiding anything anymore. He’s not toning himself down, or censoring me from his thoughts. He’s not exactly pushing me, either, though. He hasn’t touched me inappropriately, although we have gotten more affectionate with hugging, and he kisses the top of my head, or my temple.
Never my lips though.
At least not yet.
I decide to change the subject. “Who is into the gangster rap?” I ask, smirking at the music selection.
“That would be me,” he chuckles. He shrugs. “I like hip-hop and R and B.”
“And it’s your party, so tonight we all have to like it?” I tease him. I actually don’t mind the music; I just didn’t think it would be his genre of choice.
He sends a wink in my direction. “Everyone else, yes. But you can ask the DJ for anything you like. Tell him I said so.”
“Free music rein? How did I get so special?” I flirt. Or at least I think this is flirting. It’s been a while since I’ve had to do so.
“I don’t know,” he says softly, eyes dropping to my lips. “I wish I knew. You just are.”
I clear my throat, and turn to the crowd, away from those eyes of his. “OMG” by Camila Cabello starts to play and I nod my head toward the door. “Callie is probably looking for me.”
We walk through the double doors together, side by side. His hand casually brushes mine, and I pretend I didn’t feel it. Someone calls him over, and he leans down and says to me, “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be sitting with Callie,” I tell him, and head in her direction. As soon as I sit down, she’s on me.
“Hunter, Hunter, Hunter,” she murmurs. “You are one lucky woman.”
I turn to watch him standing, facing away from us, speaking to a group of men, and can’t help but drag my gaze down to his ass. His is the best I’ve ever seen: round, tight, and completely bitable.
I wonder what he looks like naked. The picture I imagine has me shifting on my seat and squeezing my thighs together. I clear my throat and swallow a mouthful of the gin and tonic. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
“I’ll come with you,” she offers, standing up. I’ve never really had a lot of close female friends before, and I’ve definitely never had one who wouldn’t let me go to the bathroom alone, so Callie’s offer has me feeling oddly content. She links her arm through mine and we walk back into Hunter’s house, passing a lot of unfamiliar faces on the way.
I finish my drink and place the cup on the kitchen table as we walk past it. “Any idea where the bathroom is?”
“Nope,” she says cheerfully, glancing around. The house is huge, and there’re a few different doors we could try. There’s a staircase that leads upstairs, but also a hallway with several doors. “Let’s see what’s behind door number one.”
She opens the door, only to reveal an impressive theater room.
“What about there?” I ask, pointing to a door down the hall. Callie knocks on the door to see if it’s vacant, but a deep voice replies with “Someone’s in here.” We both back away from the door.
Awkward.
“There’s probably another one upstairs,” I whisper, leading her toward the staircase. I’m busting to go at this point, and need to make it quick.
“Time to break the seal,” Callie comments, snickering to herself.
“Just how many drinks have you had?” I ask her, noting her rosy cheeks and extra-happy expression.
“Just two,” she says, with a silly smile on her face, then adds, “And a few shots.”
“You did shots without me?” I tease, pretending to be outraged.
“You were inside, talking with Hunter,” she says with a defensive tone. “You flirt, you lose.”
“I was not flirting.” I quicken my steps.
“You weren’t not flirting,” she replies, teasing me. “Just admit it. You are so into him, and now you have no excuses to hide behind anymore. I for one can’t wait until the two of you finally fuck. I’m team Riler. Or does Huntley sound better?”
“Please, Callie, never say that again,” I advise her in a dry tone. “And yes, of course I like Hunter. I mean, what’s not to like? But my divorce just went through last week. Last week. It’s not smart to jump into something.”
“I know,” she agrees, but then adds, “You know I’m just teasing you. Yes, I think Hunter would make you happy, but I see where you’re coming from. You should do what’s right for you, because you know what?”
“What?” I ask.
“I may go on about how hot Hunter is, but he’s the lucky one to have you, not the other way around,” she says, reaching out and squeezing my shoulder. “Although, for the record, imagine how hot the birthday sex would be. Especially after over a year of no sex.”
Birthday sex sounds fucking fantastic, but I don’t think I’m ready for that. I’m in no rush right now, and I hope that Hunter is okay with that, because Callie is right, I do want him.
We find the second bathroom, but that one is taken too.
“Dammit,” I groan, just as the door opens and a dark-haired beauty walks out, bumping straight into me.
“Shit, sorry,” she says, blue eyes flaring. “I keep bumping into people everywhere I go tonight.” She wipes her hands on her tight white jeans.
“Hey, if that’s the worst you do tonight, I’d say you’re doing well,” I point out, shrugging it off.
She laughs, rubbing her nose with the back of her hand. “You make a good point.”
I watch her movements, and it hits me exactly what she was probably doing in that bathroom.
“I have my moments,” I reply, glancing to Callie. “Do you want to go first?”
Callie nods and disappears into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
“Are you okay?” I ask the woman. I wonder if this is what I looked like when I was stupid enough to take cocaine back in the day. I remember the rush, the loss of reality, and the addictive yet temporary feeling of euphoria that the high would give me, but I also remember the rest of it. The way I hurt everyone around me, the way I lost control of my own life and who I am. I feel sorry for the beautiful girl, and I hope she’s just taking something as a party drug, and that’s it. I wouldn’t wish a drug addiction on my worst enemy.
“Yeah,” she replies, offering me a smile. “I’m good. I’m going to head downstairs. Was nice meeting you.”
“You too,” I say, and watch her leave.
Does Hunter know people are taking drugs in his house? I wonder how he knows this chick. Should I say something? Or is this none of my business? I don’t exactly have any proof, and I can’t tell him how I do know about it, considering my previous drug use never came out in court. I still don’t know whether Jeremy told Hunter any of that, but he hasn’t said anything to me. Callie comes out, and I quickly use the bathroom, then we head back downstairs and make our way to the kitchen.
Callie tucks her hair back behind her ear and glances up at me, her brown eyes filled with mischief. “So, do you want to catch up on those shots, or no?”
I study her. Blond. Petite. Unassuming. Maybe even sweet-looking. But the chick’s middle name should be Trouble. “Are you trying to be a bad influence on your boss?”
“Maybe,” she replies, grabbing a clear shot glass and starting to pour. “Or maybe I’m just looking out for you, because it’s a party and you never let loose. You’re always working, stressing, or overthinking. How about you just let your hair down and enjoy yourself for once?” I can’t be sure, but I think I hear her mutter something about Hunter under her breath afterward.
“Fine.” I catch the shot she slides my way.
“You doing a shot without the birthday boy, Riley?” Hunter asks me as he walks into the kitchen, coming up to stand right next to me. He smells good. I want to lean closer to him but refrain. Callie pours Hunter a shot and we all clink them together in a toast to Hunter.
“Happy birthday, Hunter,” I say, before we down the ice-cold liquid. I make a face as the taste hits me, but the other two don’t even flinch. Hunter picks up my present that he’d left on the table and smiles to himself.
“I should open this now,” he says, ripping open one side. Callie steps back and mouths “Kiss him,” before disappearing outside, leaving Hunter and me alone once more. I watch, a little nervously, as Hunter rips the rest of the paper and opens the box where there are two items—hand wraps to wear when he’s boxing, and a wallet monogrammed with his initials, HB.
I saw his hands in the pub one day, and he told me he’d been boxing at the gym bare because he lost his wraps and kept forgetting to pick up some new ones. I figured I’d save him a trip. I would always see his worn wallet, and when I finally asked him why he didn’t just get a new one, he told me that his mom once told him it’s bad luck to buy yourself a wallet. She told him that it’s good luck for someone to gift it to you instead, with money inside, no matter how much the amount. So inside the wallet is a twenty-dollar bill.
“You are so thoughtful, Riley,” he says, voice low. “I love them both, thank you.”
He pulls me into a hug, and I rest my cheek on his warm chest. I’m glad he likes them, really glad. I close my eyes for a second and allow myself to block everything else out except being in his arms. “You didn’t have to get me anything,” he rumbles. “But those are the best gifts I’ve ever received. I guess the even better gift is knowing that you actually listen when I ramble on.”
I laugh at that, lifting my head and smiling up at him. “I’m happy you like them. I had no idea what to get a man who has everything.”
“Not everything,” he murmurs, hand tightening on my lower back. I press my hands against his chest, but then he pushes his body away, putting some space between us. I take the hint and drop my hands completely, the two of us just silently watching each other.
Behind the lust, and the want, his eyes look right into my soul. He sees me. I don’t know how it happened, or why, but this man in front of me really sees me. It makes me feel uncomfortable and vulnerable, but also accepted and not alone. It’s why my guard was always up around him. Why I was so standoffish. It’s why I didn’t like being around him, yet craved it at the same time.
Sometimes you just don’t understand what you have with another person. Maybe there’s a draw, or a tether between the two of you, one that sometimes doesn’t make sense, and I have to wonder why it’s there in the first place. I believe that you make your own fate, and if you want something bad enough you need to fight for it, because nothing worth it comes easily, but why do I have this soft spot for the man standing in front of me? It makes no sense. Maybe connections hold no logic, no explanation, and maybe it’s just up to you what you do with them.
Up to me.
Preston walks in, interrupting us, and saving me. “Okay, who has a condom on them? It’s kind of an emergency. Some lube would be great too.”
Nothing or no one can ruin a moment like Preston.