7. Hunter
CHAPTER SEVEN
HUNTER
O ne lone streetlamp lights up the bird icon on The Flamingo, Ashlie’s dingbat-style apartment complex. It’s more like a giant shoebox covered in faded pink stucco, but the whimsy fits her to a T. Her red hatchback is nestled in her spot under the building. I double park behind it and pull out my phone.
Ashlie
You’re late!
Me
Naw, I’m not. Just pulled up.
Ashlie
gimme 10 minutes…
Me
It’s already 9:30. Hurry up.
She finally slides into my car with a star-shaped wand, her sleeveless pink dress hugging every curve before giving way to a glittery tutu. I’m pretty sure she’s wearing wings, but I’m too busy trying to keep my mouth from dropping open to investigate. The soft curls framing her face, the glitter dusting her freckled cheeks—she has me in a trance.
“Are you gonna drive?” She motions toward the road like I’m the one making us late, and I spot a pink bandage wrapped around her thumb.
“What happened?” I nod to her hand.
“I tried taking your advice and got burned.”
My eyebrows cinch while I wait for an explanation. I have no idea what she’s talking about.
“You told me to pick up some old hobbies. I used to bake all the time, so I made cookies.”
I’m impressed she actually listened to me. “Were they good, at least?”
“Wouldn’t know. I burned my thumb when I took the pan out of the oven and dropped them all on the floor…”
“I mean…” Grimacing playfully, I back out of the parking spot and ease onto the road. “Maybe try a book next time?”
She sighs. “Are you done?”
I glance as she adjusts her hair in the visor mirror, painstakingly tearing my eyes away when she bites her bottom lip. You can’t go there . “What are you supposed to be, anyway?”
“Really? I have wings and a wand… What do I look like?”
“The Tooth Fairy?” I laugh as she pushes my shoulder.
“Boy, the Tooth Fairy could never .” She swipes a finger under her glossy lower lip, and I struggled to focus on the road instead of my dick twitching at her costume. “I’m just a fairy. What are you supposed to be?”
I flash a grin. My black button-down and jeans give no indication that I’m wearing a Halloween costume. “A Handsome Devil.”
She snorts and slaps the visor closed. “I’ll get out now. There’s not enough room in your car for the three of us.”
“Three of who?”
“You know… Me, you, and that big ass ego of yours…”
“Ooh, I see how it is!” I chuckle, squinting at the starbursts from the taillights ahead of me.
“You know, it’s a crazy thought, but I bet your glasses would help you see the road better…” she teases.
“Naw, I’m good.” Driving at night has always been like this. It’s not that bad, just makes my eyes tired.
Her phone buzzes, and the brightness from the screen frames her face in a sensual glow that has my breath hitching. Why the fuck can’t I stop looking ?
“Willa’s meeting us outside. She’s bringing a friend,” Ashlie mumbles, clearly distracted.
I tap my thumbs on the steering wheel, still fighting to win the internal battle between keeping my eyes on the road and stealing another glance at her. “Cool. Aiden from work is coming too.”
Studio 99 puts on the best holiday-themed nights, and Ashlie drags me along to every single one of them. I pay the attendant and creep through the rows of cars, managing to find a parking spot along a concrete retaining wall.
She places her house keys in the glove box before turning to face me. “Okay, club rules apply: leave the same way you came, and send out a warning for any exes.”
We made this deal a couple of years ago when we both had multiple exes come out of the woodwork on the same night to terrorize us at the club. Since then, we’ve had to utilize it a handful of times. I’m sure the full moon in the sky will make it an interesting night.
“Yep. Got it.” Climbing out of the car, I bob my head to the muted dance music drifting from the two-story warehouse across the parking lot. The neon 99 buzzes brightly against the black stucco. Ashlie steps next to me, head lowered as her thumbs move swiftly across her phone. In the brightly lit parking lot, my eyes peruse down her short velvet dress to the golden boots zipped up to her thighs, and back up to the matching wings around her shoulders. Fuck, she’s fine as hell . I take advantage of her distraction, using the extra seconds to let my eyes wander all over her again. “You good?” I ask, dropping my gaze.
“Yeah. Willa’s already here.” Head down, she starts the long journey through the parking lot. I swat away the thoughts flying into my head as I follow. Thoughts about leaning her against one of these unsuspecting cars to see if that dress feels as soft as it looks. She’s off-limits . Even without a boyfriend in the way, I’m not her type. She likes the pretty boy fuck nuggets who pretend they want something serious. They front-end all their empty promises and dip when they realize they can’t deliver. At least I’m honest about playing the field.
“Ooh, girl, let me borrow that dress!” Ashlie hugs her sister once we make it to the doors.
“Ash, I’ve got a good five inches on you. This dress will swallow you up.” Willa’s draped in a white flowy gown that clings to her full curves, reminiscent of a Greek muse. Her brown and black twists are swirled into an intricate S shape, and gold jewelry hugs her upper arms.
“Mmm, true. It looks good on you, though! I’m surprised you actually showed up this time.”
Willa slips a hand on her hip and rolls her eyes. “Oh, whatever. I’m not that bad. Hades here is my friend, Isaiah.” She gestures to the tall Black man next to her, his thick locs falling around the shoulders of his mesh shirt. The ring in his nose and snake bite piercings on his lower lip give a modern spin to the Greek mythology theme Willa has going on.
Isaiah waves just as my phone buzzes in my pocket. A message from Aiden prompts me to look around the crowd. I don’t see him until he’s almost weaved his way to our group. He’s dressed in a white button-up and dark slacks, his usual tinted glasses hanging off his nose. Aiden’s another remote analyst at work, and we get along better than most coworkers do. “Hey man,” I say, bumping his fist as he joins the group. “What are you supposed to be?”
“A data analyst,” he says, like it should be obvious. Then he smiles, nudging me with his elbow. “I’m kidding. I’m a pocket door salesman…?cause I’m so short…”
Snorting, I shake my head. Aiden’s clever, if anything. “You remember Ashlie. This is her sister, Willa, and Willa’s friend, Isa?—”
“ Zay ?” Aiden gasps, stepping across the circle to give him a hug. “When did you get back?”
“Hey, Aid.” He smiles at my coworker.
“You two know each other?” Willa asks.
“Yeah! Isaiah is a bartender at my favorite bar downtown. Well, he was before he took off for the East Coast. How did the show go?”
I don’t hear the rest of their catching up since I’m suddenly distracted by the tall butterfly winged brunette walking toward us. Ava’s already seen me, which is bad news considering I haven’t responded to a single message she’s left in the weeks since the engagement party. “ Shit ,” I whisper, turning sideways like I can hide.
Ashlie sneers when I bump into her. “What’s your deal?” she grumbles, regaining her feet and glaring up at me. She scans the crowd when she sees my grimace.
“ Hunter ? Is that you?” Ava asks, putting a hand on my arm. I sigh, turning slowly as I force a grin on my face. Her dark green dress clings to her like a second skin, and platform boots set her high enough to be at eye level.
“Oh , hey , Ava.” Ashlie’s cheery voice is eclipsed by her mischievous smile. Ava’s eyes narrow as she scowls at the fairy costumed spitfire next to me. “Great minds…” She points between the two of them, and the glower on Ava’s face deepens.
“Oh, please . I’m not a fairy.” Ava scoffs. Ashlie stiffens next to me. If I know anything, I know the one thing Ashlie can’t stand is people being rude to her for no reason.
I glance at my best friend, who’s tapping her finger on her lip. “Hmm. A giant then? Or an avocado? The green dress really nails that.”
Choking back a laugh, I peep the livid sneer on Ava’s face.
I’m surprised when Ashlie wraps her arms around my waist and looks up at me through her lashes. If she were any taller, she’d be able to hear the speeding of my heartbeat. “Huntie-baby, can we go in now?” She nuzzles her face into my side as her fingers rub my back, leaving tingling imprints in their wake. Off-limits, Hunt .
“I thought you two were just friends,” Ava says through her scowl.
“Things change.” Ashlie shrugs, flashing a sassy glare that makes Ava take a step back. She pulls me to the entry line, and right before we get to the door, turns and waggles her fingers at Ava.
The thumping bassline swallows Ashlie’s laugh once we step inside the doors. Intermittent flashes of color paint the packed main dance floor as she tips on her toes to yell in my ear. “She’s gonna follow you all night. You know that, right?” She drops her arms from my waist, and I dig fingers into my palms to resist pulling them back around me. Luckily, Willa, Isaiah, and Aiden manage to make it in right behind us, serving as the perfect distraction. After a brief gameplan, they head upstairs to the lounge.
Pulling Ashlie onto the main dance floor, we move to the beat under the purple and green strobe lights. Tonight’s supposed to be fun, and watching her hips sway as she dances circles around me is my idea of a good time.
I lost Ashlie about an hour ago, but the scantily clad nurse grinding on me right now is cute enough to keep my interest. She tosses a wink over her shoulder and places my hand on her hip. I’m sure it’s supposed to be seductive, but her bony ass is wearing a hole in my jeans. I should touch base with Ash, just to check in . Her costume rides up her thigh as she presses into me, and I surprise myself when I look away. Naw . Not interested . The crowd is thinning out, anyway. That’s my cue.
A strobe light shines right in my eye, and I spot Ashlie’s latest ex across the dance floor with some blond in a bikini. I wouldn’t even call it a bunny costume, seeing as the only identifiable parts are ears on her head and a puffy tail over her ass. I really need to find Ashlie . Whispering a goodbye to the nurse, I dig my phone out of my pocket and head to the stairs. Hopefully, I can get a better view of the dance floor from the balcony.
Me
CODE RED: Marcus spotted downstairs.
I scan the second floor, but she’s so damn small, I can’t make her out in the blended sea of bodies. Looking over the balcony, I finally spot her at the bar, standing next to Willa. Marcus has crept closer to them with the bunny under his arm. Shit .
Springing back toward the stairs, I dodge several wasted dancers who get in my way. I don’t know why I have this sudden urge to get down there and save Ashlie from this encounter, but my feet won’t stop until I’m next to her. By the time I reach her, Willa’s gone, and I’m breathing hard.
“You good?” Ashlie sways backward to look me up and down. I shake my head when she offers me the seat next to her, but she pulls my arm until I’m sitting on the stool. Her eyebrows dip as she takes a sip of her drink.
“You see my text?” I ask.
With a slight tilt of her head, she pulls her phone out of her dress. “ Shit !” Eyes wide, she looks around the room. “You sent that twenty minutes ago!”
“Yeah, no shit… I looked all over for you.”
“Hey, Ashlie. Hunter,” a deep voice says from behind us. I turn toward Marcus, who’s dressed as a doctor of all things, standing with his spray-tanned arm slung over the bunny’s shoulders.
Ashlie stares at her ex with a twisted-up expression, clutching her drink like it’s a life preserver. Is she even breathing ? Feeling like I need to save her from whatever that look is on her face, I pull her between my legs, wrapping my arms around her waist. “Oh, hey, Martin,” I say.
“Marcus,” the big dumb doctor corrects me. I nod, rubbing Ashlie’s upper arm to ease her out of her haze. Her hold on that glass is so tight, I’m surprised it hasn’t cracked under her fingers.
“I got you,” I whisper in her ear, and it snaps her back down to earth.
“Hi, Marcus.” She takes a sip of her drink, and then another, before settling back against my chest.
“I just wanted to make sure we don’t have any hard feelings.” He slides a hand through his slicked-back hair before extending it toward Ashlie. “I thought we could be friends.”
“Naw,” I say, pulling her closer. “She’s good on friends.”
“I’d like to hear that from her…”
“How about she gets back to you by email? Five to seven business days sound good?” My molars grind as I stare at the idiot next to me. This asshat really has no idea how close I am to toppling the stool and ramming his face in. The fucking audacity he has to do this with another woman under his arm is astounding.
“Are you two—I thought you were just friends.”
“Things change.” Ashlie turns away from Marcus and leans into my chest, her hair tickling my chin. She’s wedged into me so tightly; the smell of jasmine threatens to override the few logical thoughts I have left. It would be the easiest thing to kiss her right now. Just completely ravage her mouth the way I’ve been wanting to all night. Blaming it on the ruse of being together would be the perfect fallback. But as much as I want to, it would devastate our friendship, just like the first time.
“Bye, Marcus.” Dismissing him with a nod, I move Ashlie with me and swivel toward the bar. I don’t check to see if he’s left, knowing my fist won’t leave his face alone if he’s still behind us.
“Thank you,” Ashlie whispers, staring into her drink. She’s carried a brave face since the breakup, but I know her better than that. The slump in her shoulders gives her away, her shaky breathing adding a cherry on top.
“Hey.” I lower my face to hers until our eyes meet, and damn it if my breath doesn’t catch at those honey-brown irises looking so distraught. “I got you. Always,” I say softly. She gives me a sad smile before downing the rest of her drink in one large gulp. Signaling the bartender to send another, she sets the empty glass on the bar top. “How many of those have you had?” I ask.
“Not enough to make up for that interaction.”
“And how many is that?”
“Not enough, nosy .” She shakes her head while looking over my shoulder. “And now Ava’s shooting daggers at me.”
I start to turn, but Ashlie brackets my head to stop me. My breath stalls as her thumbs stroke my face. Fuck, her fingers are the softest damn things I’ve ever felt .
“Don’t look. That’s what she wants. Do you trust me?” The mischievous twinkle in her eye knocks me speechless. I nod, swallowing hard at the stroke of her silken fingertips grazing my neck. “You should see her face, Hunt.” She leans in close, giggling quietly as her gaze darts over my shoulder and back. Her eyes lock onto mine just as someone slams into the seat next to her, knocking her forward.
With a near silent gasp from her, we’re nose to nose. I slip my hands around her waist to steady her, the warm stream of her breath tickling my lips. I can almost taste the fruity hints of her drink. Her touch, something I didn’t know I still craved this much, is the only thing that matters. My thoughts scatter as I wet my lips, my body mindlessly drifting closer. I’m teetering on the brink of burning our friendship to the ground, but still, I lean in. Then her eyes flick behind me, shattering the moment completely.
“That was too easy,” she whispers with a smile, dropping her hands and pulling away from me. My arms fall limply to my sides, aching as I resist the urge to latch back onto her. These last few weeks have been dangerous; giving in to my impulses is like playing with fire. Touching her is inane when I know damn fucking well that crossing the friendship line would be a death sentence. I can’t give her what she needs, and she deserves someone who can.
That’s the thing about being in love with your best friend. The glances, touching, it all gets logged by her as innocent interactions. Shit, she’s drowning in her feelings for some other guy right now . My stupid ass is holding onto moments that mean nothing to her, wrestling with the undeniable reality that I’m no better for her than he is.