Chapter 5
Chapter Five
HUNTER
THE BEST BOYFRIEND EVER
“We need more shots!” someone calls out. I’m not sure who. After dinner, the drinks started flowing. I’m guessing with an open bar, people will get their fill.
“Ollie, you want more?”
“Yes,” he answers.
“You sure?” I ask Ollie. His eyes are starting to glaze over behind his glasses.
“I’m totally fish.”
“Fish?” I laugh.
“Fine. I meant fine.” He hiccups.
A tray of shots is brought out and Ollie grabs two, downing both. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him drink this much.
“You’re a lot of fun, Sharon,” Ollie tells the woman standing next to him. “We should go out more often.”
Her eyes light up. Christmas lights from her sweater sparkle in her eyes. “We should. You can bring Hunter. We’ll have soooo much fun.”
“We can make crackers.”
“Crackers?” I question Ollie, sipping on my drink. “What are crackers?”
“Crackers, Hunter. Crackers.”
“The food?”
“There’s a cracker farm. They grow crackers. We can make crackers,” Sharon says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“Okay, whatever you two want.” I sip on my water, shaking my head at these two.
“Kevin!” Ollie shouts.
“Ollie, you rang?”
“We need to go make crackers.” He giggles. Straight-up giggles.
“Crackers? Where can we make crackers? This will be the next office party. Excellent idea,” Kevin says.
Crackers? Really?
I have no idea where this came from and have no idea what Ollie is even talking about.
“We could even make soup!” Ollie claps his hands, he’s so excited at the idea. “Everyone could come over to my house for a soup day.”
“What?”
This time, I really am confused. I’ve never heard Ollie invite anyone over to his house. He only invites the guys over on rare occasions.
Eight-drink Ollie apparently wants to be the center of attention.
“A soup night? I love this idea.” Sharon claps, her eyes glowing. “We could do it after cracker day.”
“Yes.” Ollie hiccups. “We have to do this!”
Ollie sways into me and I wrap a supportive arm around his waist.
“Aww. You two are so sweet together,” Sharon coos. “How did you guys start dating?”
“Umm…” Ollie starts.
“I was sick one day and he brought me soup to make me feel better. It was perfect and we’ve been dating ever since.”
“That’s so precious.”
“What can I say? I know the way to my man’s heart,” Ollie says, turning his drunken gaze to me.
His eyes are like hot chocolate, warm and soft. The feeling of his gaze slides through me, heating me from the inside out. A shudder racks my body at the way he is studying me.
I want to kiss him.
Shit.
I don’t know if we could get away with that. Ollie is a bit too drunk and I don’t want to do anything to throw him off his game. He’s doing great so far tonight.
Even if he’s talking about going to a cracker-making class with his coworkers.
“I wish my husband knew me as well as you two know each other,” Sharon says.
“Well, we have known each other all of our lives,” I say. “Makes it easy.”
“You two really are the cutest. I’m just so happy that Ollie is happy. So happy,” Sharon says. If possible, she’s more drunk than Ollie.
“I’m soooo happy,” Ollie slurs. “Hunter is the best. The best boyfriend ever.”
“Why have you kept this slab of man all to yourself?” Sharon asks. “He is quite handsome, Ollie.”
“He is so handsome,” Ollie repeats.
“Okay. I think it’s time to head home.” I grab the drink from Ollie and set it on the table. “We don’t need to hear how handsome I am.”
“But you are,” Ollie slurs. “The handsomest boyfriend. To ever handsome.”
“Sharon, it was very nice to meet you. I need to get this guy in bed.”
“Damn right you do!” she shrieks.
“Not what I meant.” I shake my head. Ollie sways, ready to pass out.
Looping my arm around his waist, I steer him out of the bar. A cold gust of wind hits us smack in the face.
“Sharon really likes you. Like, really, really likes you.” Ollie hiccups.
“She was nice.”
“She thought you were quite handsome too.”
“I think you did as well.”
“Because you are. I mean, have you seen yourself?”
I smile. “Okay, now I know you’re drunk.”
“I can be drunk and think you’re hot, Hunter.” Ollie comes to a dead stop on the sidewalk. “Oh my God. Did I say that out loud?”
“It’s fine.” I grab his hand and try to drag him to the car, but for a drunk person, he’s surprisingly strong.
“I really shouldn’t think about your abs. I know you have them. I felt them. And those tree-cutting arms. So strong.”
“Do I need to put them to good use tonight and carry you to the car?”
“You would?”
I step in front of him and stare down at him. His breath comes out in puffs in the cold air. “Yes. You, Ollie, are drunk and need to get home. You’re going to have a wicked hangover tomorrow.”
He slaps at my chest. “I’ll be fine.”
“Sure.”
This time, when I start walking, he comes with me. Opening the passenger door, I help Ollie inside and make sure he gets buckled in. His soft hands try to swat mine away, but hold on instead.
“Thank you, Hunter.”
“For what?”
His head is resting on the back of the seat, eyes closed.
“For tonight coming. I mean, coming tonight.”
“Hey.” I flip my hand over and squeeze his. “You know I’m here for you. Mainly because otherwise you wouldn’t get home.”
“Right.”
The rest of the ride home is quiet, Ollie now snoring next to me. Soft music plays in the cab of my truck as I tap my thumbs on the steering wheel.
Tonight was a fun, but weird, night. When Ollie needed a fake boyfriend, I figured it’d be like any other night when the two of us hang out.
Turns out, it was anything but.
It felt good, way too good, to be on Ollie’s arm. To have him stare at me with something like…affection?
It was the alcohol. Definitely. Because Ollie isn’t feeling anything for me other than friendship.
I scrub a hand down my face as I pull into his driveway. I need to lock up these feelings for Ollie. He doesn’t feel the same. I don’t want to jeopardize our friendship. It’s a one-night thing.
That’s it.
Since he’s still half asleep, I help Ollie inside and into his room. He collapses onto his bed immediately. I undo the laces on his shoes and toss them to the side.
“Will you spend the night?” Ollie sighs as he sinks into his mattress. A happy, drunk smile sits on his face. “Please, Hunter?”
“You got it.”
Okay, so maybe a two-day thing.
Then that’s it.
For real.