62. HUNTER
62
“ I ’m in front of your door.” The next morning, I sit in my truck in her driveway, looking up to the window of Charlotte’s room. I have no idea if she still sleeps there, but I keep my eyes focused on the glass, waiting for her to appear any second now.
“What?!” she screeches in a sleepy voice. “You said you’d call first!”
“I’m calling now.”
“I hate you,” she says, and I can feel her glaring through the phone, a chuckle escaping my lips. “What time is it?”
“Five-thirty.”
“What?! The fuck, Hunter! Why?!”
“You agreed to full days. You only gave me a few hours yesterday. I want a full day today.”
“It’s the middle of the night.” She’s drifting off again, so I push the horn of my truck to make sure she stays awake.
“Dear Lord!” she yelps, and I snicker. “What is wrong with you, Hansen?”
“If you’re not out in ten minutes, I’m coming to get you.”
“What? No!”
“Then get out of bed, get dressed, and get out of here. We’re running late.”
“I hate it when you’re cryptic,” she growls.
“Nine minutes, Charls. ”
“Fine! I’ll get up,” she huffs.
“Wave in front of the window.”
“What?”
“Wave in front of the window,” I repeat, rolling my eyes.
“What? Why?”
“Because I know you. You’re going back to sleep if you don’t get out of bed right now. I need proof. Get out of bed, or I’ll come get you.”
“No, you won’t!” A slight panic is audible in her voice, and a smile splits my face.
“You know I will.”
She stays quiet, as if she’s contemplating her chances, then lets out a deep grunt.
I can hear her get up, stomping across her room, until her scowling face appears in the window.
“Hey, babe,” I sing, giving her a playful wave.
She flips me the bird, then disappears out of my sight.
“I’ll be right down, asshole .” Before I can reply, she hangs up, cranky as ever.
She never was a morning person, always bitching at me if I picked her up at dawn to take her somewhere for the day. But even though she’d hate me in the morning, she always loved the adventures we’d go on together, and I hope this will be no exception. Besides, I’m sure her “boyfriend” will want to snatch her time sooner or later, so I might as well get ahead to really show her I’m back for good. I’ve wasted enough time already.
Ten minutes later, she opens the door on the passenger side of my truck, still glaring as she drops herself in the seat, buckling up. Long legs taunt me from under her denim shorts, and for a split second, I’m happy her torso is protected from the early morning crisp weather behind a hoodie, because my dick would be getting highly uncomfortable if I see more skin.
“You ready?” I beam, starting the engine .
She slowly turns her head, cocking her eyebrow, her eyes still shooting daggers.
“You got food?”
I reach behind her seat to grab the bag of donuts, tossing them into her lap, then I open the center console to grab out a small thermos.
“Better now?” I hand her the thermos, her eyes going from the thermos to me.
“Depends. Tea?”
“Orange and ginger.”
She purses her lips, and I can see the features in her face soften a little when she grabs the thermos out of my hand, then reaches into the bag to choose a donut. As we drive off, I glance at her, watching as she sinks her teeth into the glazed dough when I get on the road and hit the throttle.
“Better,” she says, her mouth full of donut, as she closes her eyes to savor the taste, and I shake my head with a smile.
We drive in silence while she eats her breakfast, and I enjoy the peace. Nostalgia shivers up my spine.
Fuck, I’m a lucky bastard.
Eleven months ago, I didn’t know if I’d ever have these moments again, and therefore I appreciate them even more.
“Where are we going?” she finally asks after finishing her donut.
“You’ll see.” I wink. Her eyes roll in reply, but the annoyance from earlier has totally simmered away.
When I drive into the mountains, she turns her head toward mine, and I glance at her again, before putting my focus back on the road.
“Are we going to the quarry?” Her voice is soft and uncertain, enough to make my heart crack just a little.
“Is that a bad thing?”
She shakes her head .
“No. I just haven’t been back there since—” she whispers, fiddling with her fingers as she stares out of the window. “Well, since that day.”
Her eyes lock with mine, the pain laced there before she gives me a sweet smile. It guts me that I hurt her. That I brought her so much pain. The tension in the cab rises, and I suck in a deep breath, then make a bold move by laying my hand on her neck, hoping she won’t shut me down.
“Neither have I,” I confess, as I rub the back of her neck with my thumb, a comforting feeling settling inside me, grateful she’s letting me touch her.
“You haven’t?” She frowns.
“No. Didn’t feel right to go without you after that day. The creek is our spot. But the quarry… the quarry is special.”
Because you are special.
I let go of her neck, not wanting to push my luck, putting my hand back on the wheel.
“But that’s your family spot.”
“I know.” I shrug. “But my mom ain’t gonna come with me, and I don’t want to share that spot with anyone but family.”
“I’m family?” She frowns, a spark of hope in her voice that bursts my heart into flames.
“You’ve always been more than that, Charls.” Fixing my attention back on the road, we continue the ride in silence as she keeps staring out of the window.
I realized a lot of things in the last few months. One of those things is how important Charlotte has always been to me. Ever since the accident, I’ve felt alone, nothing more than an orphan trying to get through life. My mom didn’t give a shit about anything other than the bottle in her hand, and she made me feel like a burden on a daily basis. I knew I wasn’t worthless, but I felt damn alone trying to survive in a violent household.
Until Charlotte .
She changed my world in so many ways. She gave me the feeling I wasn’t alone. She gave me the feeling I was enough. She made me feel loved. She changed me, taught me to always keep going, and to never give up hope. She taught me life isn’t black and white for anyone, and even though my mom treated her like shit, she always tried to make me look at the good memories that my mom was a part of.
She’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever met, and from that first day at the creek, I knew I didn’t want a life without her. I’m the luckiest bastard in the world that she gave me even an ounce of her attention, and I know that now. It took me seven years to actually man the fuck up and admit it, but I refuse to live without her.
She’s my family.
Whether she likes it or not.
Fifteen minutes later, I park in front of the path and we both exit the truck. Grabbing my bag, I walk to the tailgate, then follow Charlotte as she slowly starts the walk to the quarry. The dawn is completely set, but the humidity of the trees around us chills my bare arms. The peace in the woods calms my senses, a satisfying smile forming on my lips at the sight in front of me. I stare at the back of her wavy dark blonde hair in silence, admiring her luscious curves. She’s matured over the years, becoming less girl and all woman. I noticed every time I’d see her again, but always tried to push it away because of our ‘just friends’ agreement, thinking we could never work, both living on different sides of the country. This time I’m only holding back because she still has a boyfriend, but I have every intention of feeling that peachy ass under the palms of my hands before these eight dates are over.
“Stop staring at my ass.” She stops, her hands on her sides, turning her body toward me, then takes a step back to let me pass her .
“I wasn’t staring at your ass,” I lie with a smirk, strolling closer.
“Whatever.” She rolls her eyes, and I take another step, crowding her personal space. Her gaze grows big, and I notice her swallow hard before her lips part when our faces are only three inches apart.
“I wasn’t staring.” My breath is fanning her face. “I was thinking about how much I’m gonna enjoy feeling that sweet ass in my palms again.”
“Hunter! What is wrong with you?”
She slaps my chest with a shocked scowl on her face, mixed with an excitement that makes me laugh. She’s failing if she thinks she's selling her indignance.
“Just voicing the inevitable, babe.” I lick my lips, then softly brush past her, leaving her frozen in the same spot.
“Stop flirting with me,” she growls, following in my tracks with big stomps.
“Not gonna happen, Charls.”
“You’re impossible!”
“Yup,” I retort, popping my ‘P’, making it softly echo through the woods, a smile plastered on my face.
She can deny all she wants. She can tell me she has a boyfriend a hundred times, but it’s the look in her eyes. What we used to have is still there. I just need to convince her to give me another chance, to make her trust I will never hurt her the way I did ever again.
To show her I’m in it for the long haul this time. Till death do us fucking part.
When we reach the quarry, the sun is appearing behind the trees, softly warming my skin as I set up the blanket I brought with me, then take off my shoes and lie down. She’s standing beside me, her hands tucked into her sides again.
“You know if I lie down, I’ll probably fall back to sleep again, right? ”
I fold my hands in front of my chest as I look up at her. “I know there’s a possibility.”
She narrows her eyes at me in suspicion, as if she’s waiting for me to throw out another flirty comment, then lies down next to me when I keep my mouth shut. I can’t resist, though.
“But I can think of a few ways to keep you awake.”
She groans.
“Stop. Flirting. With. Me.”
I roll onto my side, my head resting on my elbow, while I get a little closer to her. She snaps her head toward mine with the same wide eyes as a few minutes ago, her lips trapped between her teeth.
“I would. But I know you. You don’t really want me to stop.” My eyes move back and forth over her pretty face, and I resist the urge to stroke her small freckles with my thumb.
“I have a boyfriend, Hunter,” she whispers.
Clenching my jaw, I grab her hip in frustration, roughly digging my fingers into her jeans, desperate to feel her skin against mine.
“Trust me, that’s the only reason I haven’t kissed you. Yet. But we both know it’s going to happen, anyway. I’m patient. I can wait. I will wait. But not because I want to. I’m not gonna stop saying the shit I wanna say to you. Never have, never will, Charls.” I let go of her, then lie back down again, looking up at the sky. She studies my face, before she mimics my stance.
Her not responding tells me enough, but I don’t want to push her for more before she’s ready, so instead, we both keep staring into the sky, while the sun vanishes the thick tension between us, until a few minutes later, we’re back to our comfortable selves.
“Are you gonna sell your mama’s house?” I ask, reaching out my hand to link it with hers, showing her I’m here. I know it’s a bold move, but I’ve got to where I am today by being bold. Taking risks. Every form of affection I display toward this girl, my girl , is a risk. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take, because I need her to know I’m here. I’m here through the good, and the bad, the easy parts and the hard, assuming this question is one of the hard parts.
She glances at where our hands connect, then looks back up, not saying a word about it.
“I’ve thought about it. But I can’t say goodbye.”
“Do you want a family in that house?” Her free hand moves to her stomach, cradling it a little, until her eyes find mine.
“I think I do,” she admits with a coy smile. “That house is filled with memories, and I think by raising my own children in the same house, they still get to know Mama a bit, you know?”
I softly squeeze her arm, shooting her an understanding look.
“I think she would’ve loved that.”
She lets out a sigh, the muscles in her face relaxed, putting a smile on my face.
“I forgot how peaceful it is up here.”
“I know. I’ve missed this.” My thumb gently swipes up and down her skin.
“Me too,” she admits.
“Yeah?” I know she isn’t just talking about the quarry. I know she can feel our connection growing again.
She nods her head, then quickly averts her gaze.
Last night it took me a while before she relaxed, but it seems like I’m making progress even quicker today. I get up, taking off my shirt while she eyes me with confusion.
“What are you doing?”
“Let’s go for a swim.”
“I didn’t bring my bathing suit.”
“So?” I bellow, taking off my shorts with a smirk on my face.
“Oh God, Hunter. Please don’t tell me you’re gonna do what I think you’re doing?” The words have barely rolled off her tongue when I reach for the rim of my boxers, and push them down to my ankles, then step out of them with full confidence.
“For fuck’s sake, Hunter. Don’t. Please . Put your boxers back on.” Her screech flies over the water while she holds her hand in front of her eyes, and I let out a laugh.
“Come on, Charls. We’re only young once, right?”
She gives me an are-you-shitting-me look, locking our eyes before she can’t resist any longer, and they glance back down. She grinds her teeth, then places her hand back on her eyes with a cry.
“Hunter!” She drags out my name with a pleading tone, and it widens my eyes when my dick twitches in response, wishing she was calling out my name while I’m buried inside of her. Time to cool off. Literally .
“Suit yourself,” I blurt with a cocky grin, walking toward the edge of the water. “I’m going in. Just join me when you’ve found your big girl pants.”
“Shut up, asshole!” she calls out, watching my bare ass walk into the water.
When I’m fully in the water, I turn around, gazing up at her with a smug look on my face.
“Come on, babe. Get in.”
“No.”
“It’s nice.”
“It’s almost October.”
“And it’s still eighty degrees. It’s not cold, I swear.” Okay, my hard-as-a-rock nipples beg to differ, but let’s pretend that’s not happening. “Live a little, Charls.”
She’s looking at me with a skeptical expression until she lets out a deep sign, and I know I’ve got her.
“Turn around,” she orders, drawing circles with her finger in the air. “And no peeking! ”
I do as she says with a huge grin on my face, hearing her undress behind me.
Waiting patiently, I take a deep breath until I register the moving water.
“Can I turn around?” I make a slight move to glance behind me, simply because I can’t resist.
“Don’t you dare, asshole!” she barks, and I chuckle, loving how she’s getting all worked up.
“Okay, you can turn around now.”
I turn around, looking into her blue-green eyes, sparkling even more because of the reflection of the water on her face. Her shoulders are above the water, and I can see the curves of her breasts as she waves her hands through the water, the bottom of her hair swaying through the surface.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” She smiles.
“Cold?”
“A little.”
“You’re gorgeous.”
“Stop flirting with me.” She rolls her lips, our eyes locking, peering at each other as if an invisible cord connects us.
“I’m not.” I keep a straight face, showing her I’m serious, and her lips part, breaths becoming shallower. The tension builds, rapidly and steadily. It’s undeniable and impossible to brush aside. But even though I want to close the distance between us and wrap her in my arms where she belongs, I don’t.
Not yet.
“I’m not gonna try anything, Charls.” I shake my head.
I’m not going to push her to do something she’s not comfortable with. I waited seven years. I can wait a few more days, or weeks, or months, or however long she needs.
But really, I’ll wait forever if I have to .
Her eyes keep piercing through me, drumming up my heart beat a little faster.
Finally, the corner of her mouth quirks, and her muscles relax, the tension transforming into the comfort that represents our friendship.
“How’s your mother?”
I chuckle as I lift my snapback from my head, throwing it back onto the pebbles on the shore, then run a hand through my short hair.
“How is it she’s been treating you like trash since you met her, but you still ask how she’s doing?”
“I don’t know. Because I’m nice?” She shrugs, her eyebrows raised in question.
“You are nice, Charls. You’re too nice.” I hold her gaze, until lips purse with somewhat of an agreeing hum before I continue. “She’s good. Still the Wicked Witch of the East, but she’s good.”
She cocks her head, narrowing her eyes at me.
“What?”
“This is the first time in all those years that you’re not talking about your mother in a bitter tone.”
My brows raise, a smug grin forming on my face. It’s been ten years, but yeah, I’m proud when I think of my mother. Not our relationship, as that’s not something to be proud of, but I am proud of how I did my best to accept the situation. How I found a little bit of peace amongst the chaos. Pushing my bitterness aside so it wouldn’t consume me.
“I know.”
“What happened?”
I take a step closer, less than a yard away from her, and I hold still, the water showing small ripples as I wait for her response to my movement. When she just blinks her lashes at me in anticipation, I open my mouth.
“I went into therapy. ”
“You did?” I nod.
“Mmhmm, I thought it was finally time to get rid of my demons. Go through some old pain. Figure some shit out.”
“Why?” Her gaze is open and interested as I take a deep breath to answer her question.
“Because eleven months and fourteen days ago, something happened. Something that fucked up my life, and I knew I needed to fix it. But first, I had to fix myself.”
Her eyes slightly widen, and she bites her lip, her hands suddenly frozen on top of the water.
“So, I did,” I continue, ignoring her reaction. “I didn’t drink for six months, upped my workout schedule, and I went to therapy. She helped me deal with the death of my dad and Logan, and helped me find a way to live with my mother, without anger.”
“I don’t know what to say. That’s amazing, Hunter.”
“Thanks, Charls.” We stare at each other, smiling, the memories of our last time here rushing through my head. The warmth of her body against mine, her cheek resting on my shoulder. My arms wrapped around her back. Our first kiss.
She splatters water toward me with a soft giggle, as if she can read my mind. “Don’t even think about it, Hansen.”
“Think about what, Charls?” I mimic her move, splashing water in her face, and she lets out a playful squeal before our movements erupt, splashing as much water at each other as possible, letting out cries of laughter in between.
Finally, I leap forward, automatically making her turn her back toward me with a shriek, trying to get away as my arms circle her waist. My bare chest connects with her back, and my cheek rests against her hair as I hold her in a tight grip, our laughs slowly growing quiet. Feeling her skin against mine, I realize the mistake I made when my dick presses against the cheeks of her ass, eager for more. My lips part as I let out a deep breath against her ear while my heart rate speeds up. Not willing to let go, though scared to stay in the same position.
The resilience dies down as I hold her, a flutter going through my stomach when I put my lips flush with her ear. Eleven months ago, I’d take my chance and make full use of the open window. But I’m adamant to not screw this up, and take my time to show her I’m in it for the long haul.
I can be patient.
“I’m dying to kiss you, but I won’t. Not until you’re ready.”
She gasps for air at my words, then pushes out a deep breath.
“I’m going to count to three, and let go of you. Then you’re going to get out, and get dressed again, okay?” I whisper.
She nods in agreement, and I dip my chin, pressing a lingering kiss on the crook of her neck. When my lips land on her skin, she sucks in another sharp breath, then holds it until I start counting.
“One. Two. Three.” I let go of her warm body, then move around her to give her the privacy she needs to get out of the water. Frustrated, I close my eyes, blowing out a breath, but chuckle when she gets out of the water, muttering, “Always a tease. Asshole. ”
“Don’t tempt me, Charls.” I laugh, shaking my head in surprise at her comment. Her walls crumble down more by the second, making me even more confident about me and her.
“No! Don’t tempt me , you jackass!” The edge in her tone twists my attention to her, my jaw dropping at the sight in front of me. Her upper body is fully above the water, her tits staring back at me, perky and taunting as hell. Wet blonde hair covers up her nipples, but I can see the hard nubs peeking through her strands. She looks sinfully gorgeous, and all I want to do is take her face in my hands and pull her lips to mine. But the death glare in her green eyes holds me from moving a single muscle, and I realize my confidence was short-lived.
Shit.