Hunter
thirty-seven
CELESTE’S brOKEN ARM is not normal.
When I noticed it on the dance floor, she explained it away like it was no big deal, but her eyes were shifty.
She seemed apprehensive and wanted to change the subject.
Knowing my father’s true nature, it’s difficult for me to believe he didn’t hurt her.
They’ve only been married for two months and dating for I don’t know how long.
But it wouldn’t shock me if he’s already started abusing her.
The problem is, I have no proof, I don’t know how to get any proof, and confronting him might only make it worse. It also kills me that I can’t really talk about it with anyone.
It’s the day before Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve Eve, as Stevie says. She and I are cuddling on the couch, watching Elf, which is one of her favorite Christmas movies. I haven’t seen it in years.
I have my feet propped up on the coffee table.
She’s nestled against me, my arm around her, my hand on her hip.
It’s fucking heaven. I hope all the drama we’ve had is behind us, and I haven’t paid her for sex since that whole shit went down with the school newspaper.
Perhaps our arrangement wasn’t my finest idea, but I can’t regret it either.
I still want to deposit money in her bank account, so she always has cash no matter what.
But I won’t do it until she gives me the green light.
She’s been making more jewelry and marketing her designs all of the past two months in time for the holidays. I offer my support and give her advice if she asks for it, but otherwise I stay out of her hair.
I kiss the top of her head and she snuggles closer to me.
“Don’t go home tomorrow,” I say.
She laughs. “Don’t be silly.”
“I need you to get me through the next week of parties.”
“You’ll be fine without me. You’re a big boy.”
“I’m just a baby.”
She tips her head back to look at me, grinning. “You are ridiculous.”
We watch 15 more minutes of the movie, and then I say, “I hate New Year’s Eve.”
Stevie sits up and stares at me. “What? Why?”
I shrug, eyes on the TV.
“Everybody loves New Year’s Eve. It’s fun!”
I shake my head. “Not me.”
“I don’t believe it,” she says, snuggling against me again and turning her attention back to the movie.
Ten minutes later, I muster up the strength to say, “I hate it because it means the start of another year without my mom.”
Stevie doesn’t react at first. Then she grabs the remote and pauses the movie. Sitting up, she looks at me very seriously. “I didn’t think of it that way. I’m sorry.”
“I would never expect you to make the connection.”
“You must miss her so much.”
“I do.”
“Was she wonderful?”
“Yes.”
“I wish I could’ve met her. When did she die?”
“When I was eight.”
“Oh my god, you were a baby.”
“Yeah.”
“But you have good memories of her. Right?”
I nod. “Most of them are great. Some are awful.”
Stevie grabs my hand and squeezes.
I think about my mom every day. I miss her every day. Every night, I hope she will visit me in my dreams. I visit her grave, alone. I celebrate her birthday, alone. I talk to her in my head every day but talking about her with someone else is lifting a weight off me I didn’t even know was there.
“I saw her die.”
Stevie sucks in a breath. “Oh my god.”
“My father pushed her down the stairs and she broke her neck.”
Stevie covers her mouth with one hand. “And you saw it happen? That’s terrible.”
“I hope it’s okay that I’m telling you all this. I haven’t talked about it in a long time.”
“Oh my god, baby, of course it’s okay.”
“I told my grandfather and the police what really happened, but they didn’t believe me. Or they did, and didn’t care, because protecting my father was more important. I still resent my grandfather for that.”
Stevie shakes her head. “I’m so sorry.”
“Jamie is the only other person I’ve ever told this to.”
“What about Ryder?”
“I never told him.”
Stevie intertwines our fingers. “Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me.”
“I’m also telling you because I think—I think my father is hurting Celeste.”
Stevie’s eyes widen. “You think—her arm!”
“Yeah.”
“Oh shit.”
“Yeah. Exactly. And if he did that to her, I have to stop him from doing anything worse.”
“How can I help?”
I lift our intertwined hands and kiss the back of hers. “I’m not getting you involved in my bullshit. I will take care of it. I just needed to talk to someone about it. It’s been weighing on me since that party.”
“Maybe I can invite her out to lunch next month. Maybe she’ll confide in me.”
“Yeah, that’s not a bad idea. She obviously likes you a lot.”
Stevie nods, then shifts and straddles me, placing her hands on either side of my face. “We’re a team, okay? A tiny hockey team of two. You’re the center, obviously, and I’m the goalie, and—”
“Wait. You’re the goalie? Why?”
“Because that’s the most important player on the team.”
I stare at her, then burst out laughing. “What?”
“Yes!”
“I have to tell Martinez you said that.”
She pushes me on the chest playfully. “Shut up. It’s true. The goalie does all the work. Can you imagine 35 or 40 pucks flying at your face every game?”
I shake my head, still laughing. “No, can’t say that I can.”
She shifts on my lap and I groan. “Anyway,” she says. “We’re a team. You’re on the attack, making big plays and scoring, and I keep you safe by preventing others from scoring on you.” She drops a kiss on my nose. “Deal?”
“Yeah. Deal.” Placing my hands on her waist, I pull her in. “You’re my new favorite goalie.”
She rubs herself against me, then gives me a long, thorough kiss. It’s so fucking hot, and my dick is immediately hard. “We haven’t fucked in forever.”
“We had sex last night!”
“That was forever ago, princess.” I kiss her throat, placing my hands on her tits. She’s wearing way too many clothes, but it’s going to be fun peeling them off her. I rub her nipples, making her moan, then capture her mouth in another deep kiss. “You’re so fucking hot.”
She smiles against my mouth. “You’re hot.”
“You’re hotter.”
That makes her giggle. She leans in to kiss me again, but I gently hold her back.
“Hey, thanks for letting me trauma dump on you.”
She frowns. “Stop. Don’t call it that. I’m glad you told me. I’m here for you. I’m the goalie, remember?”
I tuck her hair behind her ear. “You’re the hottest goalie I’ve ever seen.”
She smiles and snuggles against me, sliding her arms around my back. Her head rests on my shoulder. “I want to protect you. You’ve been protecting me since day one.”
I kiss her temple, hugging her tight. “I have to tell you something about that day.”
She lifts her head. “What?”
“I didn’t just happen to drive by when you were closing.”
“Then what?”
“I came back on purpose to ask you out after your shift.”
Stevie’s mouth makes an adorable O. She blinks, like I’ve told her a secret of the universe. “You wanted to ask me out?” she says.
I nod.
“But instead you saved my life.”
“And then made you sign a sex contract.”
A small smile plays on her lips. “I wanted to sign it.”
I run my fingers through her hair. “That’s all behind us now.”
“Yes,” she says. “We’re starting fresh. And I’ll be protecting you as much as you’ve been protecting me.”
She doesn’t know it, but I feel more protected with her in my arms than she could ever guess. This last week, with her staying at my place, I’ve felt more content and peaceful than I can ever remember. And I’ve been sleeping like a baby.
“You do protect me,” I say. “Trust me.”
I want to say more, but something holds me back. Instead, I hold her as tightly as I can, hoping my touch says it all.