5. Hunter
Chapter 5
Hunter
We drove home in silence, the weight of today’s events heavy enough to suffocate us as we individually stewed with our thoughts.
Greedy tried to initiate conversation the moment we pulled away from his dad’s house, but Spence quickly shut him down with a pointed look and a softly whispered “later.”
If I know anything about Spence, it’s that if he’s not ready to talk, there’s no point in trying.
Trouble is, I don’t think any of us truly understand what just happened. Or why.
I’m not pregnant. I can’t be. Do the guys know that, though?
We need to talk. All five of us. We all deserve the truth, as well as an explanation for Spence’s declaration and master plan.
As we step into the main living space of the Crusade Mansion, I inhale, ready to get this conversation started, but noise from the kitchen catches our attention.
My best friend is perched on the island, a mixing beater in hand. “How’d it go?” She swipes a glob of brownie batter from the utensil and pops it into her mouth.
Wordlessly, I walk toward her, snag it out of her hand, and lick one side of the paddle.
“Tem. You shouldn’t eat raw batter if—”
“If what ?” Eyes narrowed on Greedy, I take another slow, languid lick to prove my point.
I’m not pregnant. He should know I’m not pregnant. Greedy wants to be a doctor, for crying out loud.
Joey bumps her hip into my shoulder. “That good, huh?”
I peer up at my best friend, fighting back tears and resisting the urge to grab her hand, race up the stairs, and lock myself and her in her bedroom so I can tell her everything.
I’m tempted to go as far as to make a No Boys Allowed sign and stick it on the door. That’s how over it I am.
But I can’t do that. Not until Spence explains himself. Not until I know all my guys are okay.
As if she can read my mind, Joey pulls me into a hug. “Want to go up to my room?”
The offer makes me even more emotional. A major dish session with my bestie would be so good for my soul.
My throat tightens, and pressure builds behind my eyes. I’m upset, sure, but I’m also so damn angry. I hate crying out of anger.
“I have to talk to them first,” I choke out.
She looks around the room, expression calculating, as if she’s trying to deduce which of my guys made me this upset. I know that look, because it’s the same look I gave Decker for weeks after the stunt he pulled last semester.
“Come find me when you’re ready,” she eventually murmurs.
“I’ll text you.” It’s the easiest way to track her down in this enormous place.
“Decker would probably love the chance to take a swing at Greedy. If you needed backup, I mean.”
I can’t help but smile a little at that. Old rivalries die hard. I doubt Decker Crusade or any of Joey’s guys will ever forgive the South Chapel football team for abducting her during Shore Week. But Greedy didn’t do anything wrong. Not then and not now. He’s just as much a victim of today’s surprise announcement as I am.
With a deep breath in, I spin on my heel and come face to face with all four of my guys. I look at Spence first. “We need to talk.”
He nods once in acknowledgment, his expression resigned.
Good .
At least he has the decency to understand the gravity of what he did.
“I assume Crusade’s quarters are private and secure?” he asks Joey.
Brows arched, she assesses him, then shrugs. “Sure.”
Frustration flares behind Spence’s eyes. He doesn’t care for her flippant response.
I know exactly what Joey’s doing.
She’s a mastermind when it comes to sassing back, pulling pranks, and riling up her men. At this point, she and the guys mess with Decker for sport. Clearly, she has no qualms about messing with Spence either.
I purse my lips, fighting a smile. It’s difficult to do, watching the way she keeps staring blankly at him, silently daring him to push her. Greedy and Levi are smirking at one another, obviously understanding what she’s doing, too.
With a step back, I pluck the other beater from the bowl. Then I promptly stick it in my mouth, just to keep myself from laughing.
“Jo.”
The single syllable startles us all. When Kylian stalks into the kitchen and snatches the utensil from Joey’s hand, the tension he brought with him eases quickly.
“Hey,” she protests. “I wasn’t finished with that.”
Kylian inspects it, glaring at it as if it personally offended him.
“You should have never started with this,” he says to her, his blue eyes piercing behind his glasses. Without looking at me, he holds a hand out.
Sighing, I relinquish my beater. He turns on his heel, strides to the kitchen sink, and squeezes dish soap along the prongs and shaft.
When he turns on the water, Joey huffs. “I’m gonna start calling him Daddy Buzzkill.”
He turns the faucet off with more force than necessary and drops the metal beaters into the empty sink with a clatter.
“Would you like me to share the statistical probability of contracting a foodborne illness from consuming raw brownie batter, Josephine?”
I almost snort when he uses her full name. It’s rare Kylian goes full Daddy on Jo in front of an audience. Suddenly, I’m more interested in how this will play out than I am in getting our group conversation started.
As expected, my best friend doesn’t back down. She crosses her arms under her boobs, propping them up, and sits straighter. “You eat undercooked eggs all the time.”
“The eggs aren’t the only issue here, Jo. E. Coli. Listeria. Salmonella. All can be contracted from raw flour. Look.” He stalks closer and picks up the empty brownie mix box. “It says right here. In Bold. ‘Warning: Do not eat raw batter. Cook before enjoying.’”
He slams the box onto the quartz countertop as if he’s successfully made his case.
Smirking, Joey slides a little closer to him. “Maybe I just wanted to lick something tasty.”
One of my guys—Levi, I think—snorts behind me.
Kylian pulls out his phone and types out a message, all without breaking eye contact. Once he's finished, he glances at the screen, then pockets the device again.
“I’ll give you something tasty to lick. Upstairs, Jo. Now .”
She gives me a salacious grin, then she hops off the counter and murmurs “yes, Daddy” as she saunters out of the room.
Kylian looks at me, then gives the guys a single nod before he takes off after his woman.
At the bottom of the stairs, Joey spins on her heel. “Wait! The brownies. They’re still in the oven.”
“I already texted your husband,” Kylian quips with a smack to her ass. “He’ll handle the brownies while I handle you .”
Cackling, she turns and bolts up the stairs. “Hunter!” she calls when she’s out of sight. “Text me when you’re done.”
The reminder instantly dampens the lighter mood her antics brought with them.
I look to each of my guys, then start the trek to our wing of the house, a.k.a. the primary bedroom. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”