Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Cassidy
W ell, fuck.
I remain frozen, phone in one hand, and Wanda in the other. Hunter has been on my mind, and in Wanda and my company for days, but that was in spirit. Not a literal sense. Today, he has virtually joined us.
We’ve been talking all the time, but today was the first time he breached any kind of sexual or non-platonic topic. I admit that I baited him with the shower line. He took it and I’m grateful.
The man has had me in knots. Every morning I wake up with him on my mind and throughout my day I just want to hear about what he’s doing and then fill him in on mine.
My week is so boring, so I feel like I’ve been making an immense amount of small talk. He takes what I give him and makes it into meaningful conversation. He makes me feel like he cares about the stupid bullshit, and not like I’m putting him out. I’ve never really felt like I was putting anyone out before, but the only people I really made an effort to talk to were my dad and the girls.
Today I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to hear that he still thought about me sexually because I have been thinking about him fucking me, eating me, and playing my pussy like a fiddle daily. Multiple times daily.
He was so good at telling me his thoughts.
That’s because he’s a well-read man.
Hunter has the literary world at his fingertips in that house, and that doesn’t go unnoticed by him. He doesn’t spend hours in that room, like I would if I had it. But it’s not wasted space to him either.
He has a country accent, but the words he uses with it. Genius.
“Howdy, Partner,” I finally say into the phone, my voice small. I don’t recognize myself.
“Howdy Howdy,” he jokes lightly. “How are you feeling after a round with that friend of yours over there? Or was I mistaken by that buzzing sound?”
I bark out a laugh. Leave it to Hunter to make me laugh and feel good about using my vibrator on the phone with him.
“I’m good and Wanda is feeling included. So, no jealousy on her part.”
“None on mine either, although I wish I could watch you two in action.”
“We’re a private show, no tickets sold, buddy. Sorry.”
“I think I can convince you otherwise.”
“From a bajillion miles away? I’d like to see you try.”
“Don’t tempt me, Cass, I’m up for any challenge when it comes to you.”
My stomach drops. He is, I can feel it in my gut. The man isn’t easily deterred. He’s not bullshitting me. He’s the real deal. I’m so far out of my element.
“Throttle down, big shifter, I’m not challenging you. ”
“Okay. Tell me about your workout, the one with Georgie, not Wanda.”
And just like that he changes the tone of our conversation to comforting. So easy and carefree. I tell him every tortuous detail of how Georgie attempted to murder me in her gym. He laughs at me, and I giggle, actually fucking giggle, when he cracks jokes here and there.
Our conversation is simmering at a very calm, casual pace, and I sink deeper into my sheets. I still haven’t showered and I’m still not wearing any pants from my round of self-love. Yet, I’m in no hurry to get off the phone.
He’s telling me about his day, about taking Jake for a drive and white-knuckling the oh shit handle in his truck. He’s got a soft spot for that boy, and it makes me proud that someone is looking out for him.
“I think not havin’ the trailer today made things so much worse, he kept thinkin’ he had the extra weight in the back. I hope my kids are more natural behind the wheel.”
A cold sweat dots across my brow.
“You want kids?”
Hunter is silent on the line. I hear him take a deep breath and rustle around in his bed.
“Well, yeah. I would like to have kids. But if I had a missus who didn’t want any, I’d listen to what she had to say…”
“Right, well I’m sure you’ll meet someone who wants kids.” I’m clipped. I don’t want to imagine Hunter married with littles running around. The idea of some woman with a kid on her hip and Hunter’s arm around her shoulders makes me physically ill.
“Cassidy, we don’t have to talk about this.” He’s so calm, it works like a cool balm.
“Hey!” I cut through, sugaring my voice. “There is this flea market I know about. I’ve gotten some bookshelves and stuff there. Want to check it out this weekend? Maybe we could find you that patio set you need.”
I definitely just invited Hunter up here; I’ve thought about it since Sunday night when he said he needed one. I adore this flea market. It’s open every weekend and is filled with regular shops plus some travelers. I stand up to start pacing, realizing what can of worms I’ve just opened.
“Come up to the city?”
I’m sweating and switch the phone to my other hand and ear. Clearing the small lump in my throat, I push on.
“Well, yes. You could maybe come up whenever you’re done with work and maybe stay here?” I’ve never asked a man to come over and stay with me. I’ve never planned on more than one time.
“Overnight?”
“Yes?” I might actually throw up.
Why do women put themselves through this? I have never experienced this in my thirty years of life until now.
It is not until this moment that I realize that what Hunter says could affect how I feel. If he says no and rejects my invitation, I might actually feel… sad about it?
I’m so confused. I have officially reached the point where I must tell the girls. They have already been hounding me for information since Mary opened her mouth and Lynn has connected the dots. I can’t get away from this anymore. I don’t really think I want to, either. I might need their input.
“What night?”
“Well, you have the market on Saturday. So, you could come up Saturday night and we could go Sunday morning? Or we could totally just go Saturday, and you can head home the same day. I think you would like what this place has to offer. Nothing is really new, but that’s more than half the charm. Plus, the pricing is super good. Although now that I’m thinking about it, I’m sure you have something like this down by you. Maybe you don’t need to make a trip if it’s too much trouble. It’s just a patio set.” I’m rambling. Please shut me up.
“Cass, stop. That sounds great. I’ll come up Saturday and we’ll go Sunday mornin’.”
I take a deep breath and relief washes over me. I hate this. Come on girl, get your shit together!
“Okay, cool.”
“Cool?”
“Yeah, cool.”
“Right,” he chuckles. So not cool. “Well, I’m usually done with the market by three. I’ll try to get out to you by dinner. Sound good?”
“Yes.”
“I think it’s ‘bout time you take that shower, I’m sure your sweatin’ all over again.” I hear the humor in his voice.
“Shut up, Country Charm.” Hunter busts out laughing.
“You turned this Wednesday from any typical day to pretty damn amazin’.” He can barely get the words out through his laughter.
“Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. Get some sleep. It’s way past your bedtime.”
“Goodnight, Beautiful.”
“Night, Hunt.”
Well, fuck.