33. CHARLOTTE
33
I was petrified.
I was petrified to tell him I was coming, and I’m petrified now, walking out of LAX airport, waiting to meet his gorgeous face. It’s ridiculous because I’ve spent my entire senior year with him, but my heart keeps pounding in my chest, stopping for a second when my eyes finally lock with his.
He looks the same, yet totally different. His arms have buffed up even more, stretching his tattoos in a breathtaking way, peeking out from under his black t-shirt. The California sun has given him a tan that makes his hazel eyes pop from under his backwards snapback with an intensity that heats my core within a split second.
Why does he have to be so fucking hot?
I swallow hard, wondering how he’s going to react. Rapidly blinking, I wait until a ghost of a smile expands to a full, devastating smirk, and I take that as my cue to drop my shit and run toward him, launching myself against his body.
I wrap my legs around his waist, holding my arms tight around his shoulders as I bury my nose in his neck, breathing in his woodsy cologne. His nose snuggles in my hair, his scorching lips finding the skin on my neck to plant a lingering kiss on the spot underneath my ear.
“God, I missed you, babe,” he breathes, his mouth flush with my ear .
His arms are locked around my body, and he tightens his grip, tugging me even closer as I lean back to cup his face.
“I missed you too,” I confess, my eyes moving back and forth, looking into his deep hazel-brown ones. My lips part, feeling the need to cover his mouth with mine, even though I’m not sure if I’m still allowed to do that. When I notice his gaze moving to my lips, he fists my hair, bringing me closer to his face, that same hunger appearing in his eyes that I’ve been seeing for so long, yet now feels like a distant memory.
“I know we agreed on friends , but I’m not sure I can let you fly back to North Carolina in a few days without having one more memory of your lips on mine.” His voice sounds husky, and I bite my lip as a longing feeling boils inside of me.
“I think you can have one freebie.”
“Yeah?” A boyish grin appears on his face, and I brush my nose against his, softly nodding as he crushes his lips against mine.
The touch of his lips covering mine feels overwhelming and satisfying at the same time. God, I missed kissing him . His hands rub my hips as we stay connected, and I do my best to not let my tongue dart out, knowing I won’t stop if we cross that threshold again.
“Ahem.” I register Jason demonstratively clearing his throat behind us. “How about we take this to the house and the two of you can suck face there?”
“Hi, Jason,” I quip with a giggle when I break our connection, pressing my forehead into Hunter’s shoulder. He lets go of my legs, softly putting me back on the ground, then brings me back against his chest, pressing a lingering kiss on my forehead.
He feels like home, and all I want to do is cuddle up against him and watch a movie. I look up as he dips his chin, feeling happy as fuck that he’s standing in front of me again.
“Maybe that was a bit too friendly,” he jokes, causing a chuckle to leave my lips .
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Come on, let’s go.” Jason gets my bag while Hunter throws an arm over my shoulder, escorting me back to a black Escalade.
“ This your car?” I stop on the pavement, his arm falling from my body as I stare at the enormous car in front of me.
“Pretty sweet, huh?” Jason chimes in, throwing my bag in the backseat as he holds the door open for me. With my mouth agape, I take in the extravagant vehicle, then twist my head toward Hunter.
“It’s not mine,” he explains. “It’s just a car the AFA provided for us to use. I’m not rich, Charls. I promise .” His gaze is filled with pain, confusing me a little.
“Yet!” Jason bellows as he climbs behind the wheel, and Hunter gives me a small push to urge me into the car.
I get in, smelling the fresh leather as I look around inside, realizing how different his life must really be right now.
Hunter gets in on the passenger side, then glances over his shoulder. “You good?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I’m good.”
I think.
I rest my head against the window, taking in the streets of LA as we drive to their house. Palm trees stand tall in the sunlight, just like in the movies, and the number of Chihuahuas prancing down the streets makes it clear we’re no longer in Braeden, North Carolina. But it isn’t until we reach the house they live in that it’s perfectly clear how much of a difference there is.
Jason drives to a brown gate, opening it with a code, before he moves forward to park the car in front of a modern white house. The house has tinted windows that are floor-to-ceiling high, surrounded by perfectly white concrete walls, and you don’t have to be a genius to understand this is a multi-million-dollar home .
I’m gawking, blinking in awe, as Hunter opens the door for me, giving me a measured look while waiting for my reaction.
“ This is your house?” My eyes are as wide as saucers, and my hand reaches out to pinch Hunter on his arm.
“Ouch! What was that for?” He rubs the area with a slight scowl.
“Just wanted to make sure I’m not dreaming.” I slide out of the car, looking at the big house in front of me with narrowed eyes, while the sun burns on my back.
This is the kind of house you see in those reality shows everyone likes to watch. Spacious, luxurious, and nothing I’d ever see from the inside if Hunter and Jason weren’t my friends.
“Pinch yourself, then!” he bellows, giving me a light push.
“No fun.” I shrug, sauntering to the front door until I wait for him to open it.
He walks in first, followed by Jason carrying my bag, and I saunter behind him, looking up at the high ceiling, before my gaze lands on the glass stairs. The floor is a brown marble, making it look rich as fuck, while the black steel finishes make it anything but stately.
“Who owns this house?” I blurt as I keep walking farther before my sight settles in on the backyard. Particularly, the infinity pool that almost stretches the width of the entire yard.
“Sweet Lord, I know you told me you had a pool, but I didn’t expect it to be this big?” My jaw drops to the floor, and I give Hunter an incredulous look, then turn toward Jason, who’s looking at me with his arms folded in front of his body, a pleased look on his face.
“Not bad, huh?” Hunter says as his phone starts to ring, and he pulls it out of his pocket, glancing at the screen. “I gotta take this. Jay, can you show Charls her room?”
“You mean your room?” Jason’s remark has me frozen on the spot .
The blood seems to leave Hunter’s face, my heart cramping with an increased tempo.
We didn’t discuss where I would be sleeping, and now the awkward look he’s throwing me doesn’t help to put me at ease.
“My own room, Jason,” I reply with a tight smile. Hunter presses his lips together with what I think is disappointment, but it’s gone when he nods before he leaves us. Jason studies my face, ignoring the last five seconds. With a sympathetic smile sliding on his cheeks, he walks toward me, giving me a slight push in the opposite direction. “Come on, Roux. This way.”
“Jason, this house is—I don’t even know what it is? This is like a dream.”
“I know, it’s like we woke up in MTV cribs or something.”
“Oh my god, it really is.” I follow him to the guest bedroom, and I jump onto the perfectly made king-size bed, shaking my head. Everything has a soft cream color, from the duvet to the curtain and the fluffy floor.
“This is your guestroom?”
“Yeah, on your left is Hunter’s room. The asshole claimed the biggest.” Jason points a thumb to his right. “Jensen sleeps down the hall.”
“Jensen?”
Jason’s eyebrows glue together, raking a hand through his light blonde hair. “He didn’t tell you about Jensen?”
I shake my head, my shoulders instantly tightening, wondering if that’s some chick that moved in with him.
“He plays for the LA Knights.”
“A hockey player?” My neck stretches with a tiny smile, wondering if that brings up bad or good memories for Hunter.
“Yeah, you’ll meet him later tonight, but he still had practice.” Jason’s leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed in front of his body. “You settle in for a while, get some rest. We’ve got a party tonight. ”
“We’re going to a party?” I give him an unimpressed look. The last thing I want to do right now is go to some party. I’d much rather spend some time with them, just hanging out. Catching up. Hearing all the silly stories I’m sure they have after living here for the entire summer.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Hunt won’t leave your side for a minute.” He throws me a wink that I’m guessing should be reassuring, but instead it feels like someone just punched me in the gut.
A party.
Yay.
I’m staring out of the window at the Hollywood Hills, the Hollywood sign clearly visible if I stretch my neck to the right.
I can’t believe I’m here.
I’m not really a glamor kind of girl. I don’t do parties, and I rarely dress up, but I’ve seen the movies, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t dream of seeing the Hollywood Hills at least once in my life.
And here I am.
“Not a bad view, huh?” I turn around as Hunter walks into the room.
He’s wearing dark jeans, with a navy dress shirt, looking clean and fresh. His sleeves are rolled up, showing off the chiseled curves of his tattooed arms, while his boyish grin peeks out from under his snapback.
He takes my breath away.
“Not bad at all.” I turn back around, putting my gaze in front of me as he stands next to me. It’s weird; it feels like something is standing between us. Like an invisible wall of questions and thoughts keeps us from being fully…well… us.
“It’s not mine, Charls.”
I furrow my brows, glancing at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“This. It’s not mine. It looks nice, and right now, it seems like I’ve made it big time. But it’s not mine. If anything, it’s just a piece of candy that they’re dangling in front of my face. They barely paid me for that first fight. Until I win some actual fights, this is just pretend.” He waves his hand through the air with a look on his face I can’t quite explain. He’s supposed to be happy. He’s supposed to finally feel like he’s getting somewhere, but I still catch the darkness threatening to pull him under.
It’s as black as that day he found me reading at the creek, and it tightens my throat because this is not the Hunter I’d gotten so used to seeing before graduation.
That Hunter was lighter. Happier.
When I realize what he’s saying, I cock my head, my eyes slightly annoyed.
“Hunter Hansen, don’t you dare be ashamed of what you’ve accomplished.”
“But that’s just it!” he counters. “I haven’t accomplished anything yet.”
“No, but those people at the AFA know you’ll be the best there is. Don’t pretend you don’t deserve this. You do. You worked damn hard for this.” I give him a slight push, trying to make him laugh, poking to see if the boy who left me is still somewhere inside of him.
“I guess.”
“Well, I know .” I grab his arm, giving it a squeeze. “Don’t be that little boy your mama wants you to be. She doesn’t matter. Nobody matters.” Not even me. “Only you. And you’re doing damn good. ”
His face falls as he turns his body toward me, his hand reaching up to cup my face. “God, I’ve missed you.”
He slightly moves his head, as if he’s doubting whether to kiss me, and I feel that same flutter in my gut that I’ve been feeling for a long time.
“I’m here now.”
He shakes his head, like he’s trying to snap himself out of whatever thoughts are running through his mind, before he lets go of my face.
“Taking you to a party tonight.”
“Yeah, I heard.” I pull a face that makes him roll his eyes.
“It’ll be fun.”
“Hunt, I’m not the party girl,” I start, followed with a sigh that vibrates my body from head to toe. “You know this. Can’t we just watch a movie?”
“You know these parties are nothing like the shit in high school?” He cocks a brow as I keep a straight face, unimpressed at his attempt to convince me.
“You found me reading at the creek.”
“Come on, Charls. You’re only in LA for two days. You can’t go back to Julie, telling her you didn’t go to a party, right?”
“I think she’d understand,” I deadpan.
“Shut up, don’t be a bore. We’re going.” His voice holds a finality that makes me repeat his words with a mocking tone, like a five-year-old, and his gaze darkens. He takes a step closer, getting in my personal space the way I’m used to. The way I’ve been yearning for the entire summer. I glare up at him, daring him with my eyes, as his narrowed ones move back and forth.
“Don’t tempt me to shut you up in the only way I know is effective.”
God, I want him to. But I know we can’t cross that bridge anymore. Not if I want to keep my heart intact .
“Stop flirting with me.” I swallow hard, doing my best to keep his gaze like a warrior, resisting the urge in the tips of my fingers to rip his clothes from his body.
“Get dressed, babe.” He winks, making my heart melt on the spot. “We’re leaving in an hour.”
He walks out, closing the door behind him, and I let the air slip from my lungs.
I need to make sure I don’t touch any alcohol tonight, because I’m not sure if he’s going to keep pushing my buttons like that. I want to be pissed at him, remind him we agreed on friends. But as I look up to the ceiling, thinking about what to tell him to make sure we don’t move past that threshold again, I realize there is no way.
Because this is exactly what our friendship has always been.
Confusing as fuck.