20. Ashlie
CHAPTER TWENTY
ASHLIE
Y ou were the sun …
Hunter’s words echo in my head, distracting me as I creep through the kitchen. I turn toward the stairs and bump right into Trevor. “Oh!” I say, putting a hand on his arm to steady myself.
“Ope! You okay?”
That simple question shoots memories of last night through my mind, of Hunter kissing my wrist before asking the same thing. The cuddling. His confession. But the image of a brunette in lingerie chases it all away. One night . No more . I shake my head to clear the haze. “Hi! Yeah, sorry… Just distracted. What are you doing here?”
“Chayla’s cars weren’t ready, so I gave them a ride. They invited me for Thanksgiving a few weeks ago; we probably should have carpooled in the first place.
“Chayla?” Did he really just make a portmanteau of my best friends’ names ?
“Yeah.” He smiles. “It’s easier than saying ‘Chase and Kayla’ all the time.”
“Kayla’s going to hate that… I love it!”
He nods and shifts on his feet, but doesn’t move out of the way. “So, I was looking into things to do up here, and I guess there’s a ton of hiking trails…”
You lit up my worl ? —
Ugh, quit it ! “Yep.” I grin like my thoughts aren’t beating the hell out of me. “Everything from beginner to advanced.”
“It’s supposed to be warmer today. Would you like to go on a hike later? With me? Maybe after lunch?” The eager look in his eyes sends flutters through my belly. Subtle assertiveness. I like .
“Uh…” My phone buzzes, reminding me again of that picture of Ava as I dig it from my pocket. It’s the last bit of resolve I need to let it all go. “Sorry, hang on. This is my sister.” I don’t bother stepping away before answering.
“Wills?”
“ Get me out of this fucking house !” she whisper-screams into the phone.
“Wha—you came home?”
“Clearly, I’ve lost my mind. And I’ll be on the first flight back to LA if you don’t come get me right now !”
“Okay, let me shower, and I’ll be right there.”
“It better be the fastest damn shower of your life, Ash. I swear.”
I laugh, fully entertained by her intense tone. She says I’m the dramatic one. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
“Sorry,” I say again, turning back to Trevor.
“Everything okay?”
“My sister decided to come home for the holiday, and my parents are already driving her crazy. I have to go get her, but a hike after lunch sounds fun.” I smile, and he returns it.
“Yeah? Okay, cool. It’s a date…”
“Cool… Well, I have to…” I point up the stairs.
“Right. Yeah. Go get your sister.” He chuckles nervously as he steps to the side, and I slide past him.
Sitting under the shower stream magnifies everything I’ve just done. I groan, trying—and failing—to rationalize sleeping with Hunter last night and accepting a date with Trevor this morning. What the hell is wrong with me ? “ Ugh !” Scrubbing hard with my washcloth does nothing to dull the sting of my impulsiveness.
Hunter knows last night has to stay in the past, and he told me he wouldn’t mention it again. But I can’t get him touching, holding, kissing me out of my head. And the “honey bear” that started as a joke? The way he said it as he pleasured me to bliss felt intimate and intrinsic rolling off his tongue. Don’t get me started on “baby.”
In the heat of it, our connection felt momentous. But now, in the reality of daylight, I see last night was cataclysmic. I have to face the fact that he’s still Hunter. He’s never been any other way, always been up front about relationships. I have to see things how they are, not the way I want them to be.
Hunter’s just like the guys I’ve dated in the past. He’s the pattern. It’s time for me to break free from that. I need to move on before I get in too deep and end up hurt again. I’m so damn tired of being hurt . Starting today, I’m taking Kayla’s advice, and my first step is a date with Trevor after lunch.
When I walk down to the kitchen with my purse, Chase and Kayla are sitting at the island, browsing through table linens on her phone. “Hey, Chayla ,” I tease, reaching into the fruit bowl for an apple.
“Oh, great. It’s a thing now.” Kayla rolls her eyes and turns to Chase. “I told you it was going to be a thing.”
“It’s cute, and I like it.” He kisses her cheek before walking around the island to get a glass from the cabinet. “Hey, Hunt.” He nods behind me.
I don’t turn around, suddenly unprepared to face Hunter despite my pep talk in the shower. I’m about to bite into my apple when Hunter’s breath fans over my ear. “You left something in my room,” he whispers, tapping my hip with his hand. I look underneath the counter, gasping quietly as I snatch my thong out of his hand and stuff it in my bag.
“You said you were going to play nice,” I whisper through gritted teeth, placing my apple on the counter.
“Naw, I never said I’d play nice. I said I wouldn’t tell anyone,” he whispers back.
Pursing my lips, I roll my eyes, and they land right on Chase. He’s standing with a glass of milk halfway to his mouth, looking between Hunter and me with confusion all over his face. Damn it . I glance at Kayla, who’s fully immersed in her phone and hasn’t seen a thing.
Dropping my eyes to the countertop, I clear my throat and turn toward Hunter. “I need the car keys”—I hold out an upturned palm—“to get Willa from my parent’s house.”
“I can take you,” Hunter says.
Tracing the pattern of the granite with my eyes, I avoid his stare. My pulse pounds in my ears at the thought of being trapped in a car with him after everything. I just know he wants to get me alone to talk about last night, but there’s no way in hell I’m digging up the freshly buried memories. The deal was to forget. That’s what I intend to do.
“Oh, I need to check in on my mom. I’ll come with you,” Kayla says, still buried deep in her phone. She has no idea she just saved the damn day.
“How about you two head into town, and I can fill Hunter in on some of the wedding details?” Chase offers. He knows . He may not have specifics, but he knows something happened. How could he not ? He just watched the awkward panty exchange. Chase is throwing me a lifeline, and I’m holding on for dear life.
“Great!” I smile at Chase before turning to Hunter, finally looking at him as I wiggle my fingers. “Keys?”
His eyes never leave mine as he reaches into his pocket and dangles the keys in the air. I grab for them, but he pulls his arm back with a smirk, causing me to press my body into his. Rage simmers in my chest as I glower. He’s lucky we have an audience, or I’d be going off.
Hunter’s brow ticks up like we’re embroiled in a sudden death match. Tipping on my toes, I snatch the keys out of his grasp, trying to ignore the way our bodies meld together. When I steady myself with a hand on his rippled stomach, I scramble back a few steps, the heat in his stare undeniable.
“Let me get my bag,” Kayla mumbles, keeping the phone up to her face as she walks down the hallway.
“I’m going for a run.” Hunter turns and walks down the same hallway, and once he’s gone, I let out a frustration-filled breath. Chase, still in front of the fridge, shakes his head and takes another drink.
With keys and apple in hand, I walk around the island toward the front door. “Thanks…” I say, pausing next to Chase.
He nods quietly, taking another drink from his glass.
“Tell Kayla I’m in the car?”
“Yep, sure. Hey.” He stops me with a hand on my shoulder. “Whatever’s going on between you two, don’t tell her. She’s stressed enough.” He cocks his head slightly, waiting for my nod before he lets go. He’s got nothing to worry about. I’m not telling anyone a damn thing.