8. Chapter Eight
Maya
T he night before the funeral, Kara had gone to bed early.
She hadn’t been sleeping well and had crashed right after dinner, leaving me to fend for myself with Marcos, Jason, and Nico.
Despite the fact that the three of them had their own places, they had all but moved into Lita’s apartment, setting up a bed of cushions on the floor.
Marcos had changed the sheets in his mother’s bedroom and had taken her bed, leaving Jason and Nico on the floor.
I didn’t think they minded as I settled into the nest of blankets they had created. The guys had thrown on an action movie, something with lots of explosions and little plot with bad guys vs good guys. I enjoyed the mindlessness of it as I relaxed, feeling some of the tension leave my body.
I was sandwiched between Jason and Nico, like I had been that fateful night we’d been together, only this time I felt awkward knowing I had a boyfriend—even if we weren’t serious.
Halfway through the movie, Jason slid his hand over my thigh and left it resting there. Tired from a long week of remote learning and helping Kara plan a funeral, I ignored his hand while secretly enjoying the warmth of it. I would not cheat on Hunter, but I wasn’t immune to Jason’s touch.
When his hand started sliding up my thigh, I shook my head and shifted away, so his hand slid off my leg inside. “Don’t.”
“Come on, Maya,” Jason groaned. “You’ve refused to touch us all fucking week.”
“Because I have a boyfriend. I told you that.” I shook my head, annoyed that I even had to explain it to him.
“Well, he’s not here,” Jason said.
I sat up and quickly got to my feet. “Fuck you, Jason. Fuck you.”
“Maya,” Nico sighed.
“Fuck you too, Nico,” I shot out, looking down at them. “Cheating’s a hard limit for me; it’s not something I’d ever put up with or do to someone. I have zero respect for cheaters, so you two can fuck off. I’m done.” I turned on my heel and walked away.
Once I was in Kara’s bedroom, I had to be quiet, as Kara was sleeping, but I was pissed. It took me a long time to fall a sleep that night.
The next morning, I woke up feeling like shit. I barely slept the night before and a headache was already pounding behind my eyes and my entire body ached. I took a quick shower and got ready for the funeral, packing up all the shit I had at Kara’s.
After the initial mad dash to bring Kara home following the news of Lita’s death, I had gone back to the dorms the following morning and packed bags for both of us.
The week since then had been busy with helping Kara plan the funeral, while still managing to attend my classes online.
Rescheduling my clinical hours had been a bitch, but I’d done it for Kara.
Dealing with Marcos, Nico, and Jason all week, had been a test of my fucking nerves. The three men had been overly friendly and touchy-feely, something I could ignore due to the circumstances, until they drew the line.
My heart was hurting, while anger still roiled through me. I couldn’t believe they’d try to pull something, knowing I was seeing someone. It really made me question their integrity—and made me question if I’d even want anything further with any of them .
It was the last thing I wanted to deal with, on top of feeling like utter crap while I packed up my things and got ready for the funeral.
The sun shone brightly in the sky, though the air was crisp, when Kara and I finished packing my car, and headed to the Church together.
Marcos, Nico, and Jason had gone home sometime in the night—probably after I told them off—and left a note in the kitchen, stating they would meet us at the Church.
Kara was pissed, but I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t want to add onto the drama of the day. I’d eventually tell Kara about it some other time.
Hunter and all of our friends were waiting for us outside the church, armed with coffee for both of us. I smiled weakly, pressing a kiss to his lips as I accepted the coffee. “Thanks, babe.”
Hunter pressed a kiss to my temple and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me against him. Kara and I greeted all of our friends, grateful for the support. It had been a long stressful week, and I was so happy to see our little ragtag group.
Armed with coffee and Hunter’s arms wrapped around me, I was beginning to feel a little better, despite my still pounding head. That was until Marcos, Jason, and Nico each showed up to the funeral with a woman hanging off their arm .
“What the fuck?” Kara muttered, watching as the three men climbed out of Marco’s F150, and each looped an arm around a leggy slut in various shades of fake-and-bake tans with sky high heels and too short skirts. Fake tits poured out of plunging neck lines. It was utterly disgusting.
I felt my heart shatter in my chest. We weren’t together by any means, and I was even dating someone else, but the fact that they had never once mentioned seeing anyone, in the last five days that I’d basically been living with them day and night, killed me, especially after the bullshit they had pulled the night before.
We might not have been sexual in the five days I had stayed with them, but the lingering touches and gentle caresses had been too familiar if they were each seeing someone.
And if they weren’t seeing someone, and this was payback because I turned them down the night before?
How fucking petty. I didn’t have time for childish antics from grown men.
They walked toward the church entrance, not glancing over at me even once. Marcos snagged Kara’s hand as he passed, and tugged her along with him. I had to stifle a sob, and turn away, my heart in shambles as utter disbelief washed over me.
Hunter tugged me closer to our group of friends, and turned toward the church to follow Kara and her brother inside. Kara glanced back only once they’d been seated up in the front pew of the church, to see that our group of friends and I had opted to sit further back, giving the family space .
The funeral was a small and quick affair. A simple Mass with readings, celebrating the life of Carlita Candela. One of the women from Lita’s church group stood up and delivered a beautiful eulogy, along with Lita’s sister, Mary.
After Mass we had bundled up for the gravesite memorial. I held Hunter’s hand tightly and purposely avoided looking at Marcos, Jason, and Nico. Decked out in mirrored sunglasses, I had no idea if they even glanced my way, but it didn’t matter to me. I was only there for my friend—Kara.
Later, during the repast at a local restaurant, the women had draped themselves over the laps of what I was considering my guys . Marcos, Jason, and Nico didn’t seem to mind, as they chatted with friends and ate their meal.
My head was pounding, a stabbing pain between my eyes.
The noise of the restaurant wasn’t helping, and the screeching laughter from the whores on my guys’ laps was nails on a chalkboard for me.
“You, OK?” Hunter asked. His hand came out and felt my forehead—gloriously cool. “Shit, babe. You’re burning up.”
I sighed. I had a feeling I was coming down with the something when I woke up that morning, aching all over. Stress had a way of knocking you down though. “Can we go? My head’s killing me.”
“Yeah, of course.” Hunter immediately stood up and I handed him my keys. He had ridden down for the funeral with our friends, so he could easily drive me back to the dorms. He reached out and grabbed my hand, helping me to my feet .
I swayed, unsteady as my vision swam around me. “Wait,” I murmured, gripping his hand. I blinked as my vision went blurry and an aura arched across my eyesight. “Fuck. There’s an aura.” I gripped Hunters hand tighter and slowly sat back down.
“Migraine. We need to get you somewhere dark and quiet,” Hunter said.
“Maya, you good?” Karma asked, from where she was seated next to me. Cool hands reached out and cupped her forehead. “Fuck, girl. You’re burning up.”
“My head’s killing me,” I mumbled, unable to talk loudly. I needed to get out of the restaurant, it was too loud, everything was too loud.
“Come on, let’s get you outside,” Hunter said. He lifted me into his arms, bridal style, and carried me to the door.
Karma scrambled next to us, stopping to say good bye to Kara. Hunter kept moving though, so I only heard Karma say, “Hey girl. We’re gonna go. Maya’s not feeling well.”
By the time Hunter got me outside the restaurant, my stomach was rolling as the nausea settled in.
I fucking hated migraines. It had been a long time since I had one, and I’d completely missed the warning signs.
Now here I was, unable to see, about to puke my guts up with a pounding head, when I should have been making sure my friend was OK in the aftermath of her mother’s funeral.
“Babe, I’m gonna set you down to unlock the car, OK?” Hunter’s voice was soft and gentle .
I moaned softly, unable to speak. The cool air was working wonders on my blazing skin, but my stomach still rolled.
Once Hunter set me down, I immediately squatted down and put my hands on my head.
The thought of getting into a moving vehicle and then having to drive for two fucking hours back to the dorms made me queasy.
“Maya, are you OK?” Kara’s voice was soft.
I could only groan. I was going to puke, and soon. Movement behind Kara caught her eye, Marcos, Jason, and Nico had walked out of the restaurant. I moaned and squeezed my eyes shut. I did NOT want them to see me like this.
Karma nudged Kara out of the way and pressed a cool wad of paper towels to my forehead. “Have you taken anything yet?”
“No.” I barely got the word out before her stomach clenched hard and I was expelling my breakfast all over the pavement—Karma and Kara jumping back to avoid being hit.
I hadn’t eaten that morning though, so all I threw up was water and coffee.
Someone pulled my hair out of the way as my stomach revolted again.
“What’s going on?” my voice was soft and accented, coming from close behind her, as if he was the one holding her hair back.
“She’s got a migraine and fever, said she wasn’t feeling well this morning,” Karma answered.
Tissues and a water bottle were pushed into my hands, and I gratefully wiped my lips and nose before I rinsed out my mouth and spat on the ground again. I reached for another tissue and mopped up my tears and makeup the best I could without a mirror.
“Thanks,” I murmured. I looked up to find Hunter squatting down next to me. “I’m OK.”
“Did that help?” Hunter asked.
“My head’s still killing me, but not as bad. Can we go?”
“Of course.” He nodded and slowly stood up. He reached down and gently helped me to my feet.
I groaned softly as my head swam with the altitude change.
Swaying on my feet, someone’s hand landed on my back, between my shoulder blades, to steady me.
Looking over my shoulder, I found Marcos there, with a concerned expression on his handsome face.
Still annoyed with him, I turned back to Kara and forced a smile on my face, though it was more of a grimace.
“Sorry girl. We’re gonna head back to the dorms.”
“No worries at all,” Kara immediately said. “Are you sure you feel up to the drive? You can always go back to my place.”
I shook my head. “I’m OK, promise. I just really want my bed right now.”
“I’ll ride with you guys,” Karma said, glancing at Hunter.
I could feel Jason and Nico’s eyes on me, as I moved away from Marcos. “I’ll text you later,” I said to Kara.
“Sounds good. I hope you feel better.”
Ignoring everyone else, I climbed into the backseat of my Honda Civic and closed the door.
Hunter and Karma said their goodbyes to our friends, before they too got in the car.
Thankfully, I had already planned on going back to the dorms after the funeral, so my car was packed with my stuff.
I grabbed my pillow and arranged the backseat so I could lay down across the bench.
Karma passed me a hoodie from the front seat and I used it as a blanket as Hunter started to pull out of the parking spot. Curling up in the back seat, I closed my eyes and was quickly dead to the world for the drive back to the dorms.