Chapter 22
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Natalie: Can you pick me up on campus? I left the car with Mom and don’t want to wake her.
After grabbing my duffle from the bus storage compartment, I glance at my watch. Just after midnight and the city buses aren’t running anymore. But it’s fine. I’ll text my sister and see if she can come get me.
Pulling out my phone, I wander away from the bus and stand under a streetlight in the parking lot. The team bustles in the background behind me, and I grip my phone until my knuckles hurt, waiting to hear from Sarah.
“Natalie?” I jump at the sound of Hunter’s voice. He stands a few feet away, eyebrows raised, and fiddles with the strap of his bag. “Are you… headed home? I’ll walk you to your car.”
Is it weird I don’t want to admit to taking the bus? And now not having a ride? He knows I share a car. But I don’t like being needy. So while I don’t actually think his offer is offensive, I sneer at him.
“Like I need a big, strong man to protect me?”
His brows go even higher. “Obviously. I’ll carry your bag, too, and hold the door open because you probably don’t understand how handles work.”
A laugh bursts out of me at his sarcasm, and I let my guard down. Holding up my phone, I shake it at him.
“I’m actually waiting for my ride, but thanks.”
Winking just to be annoying, he scoops my bag off the ground and shoulders it. “Come on. I’ll take you home.”
“That’s not necessary. Give me my bag back!”
But he says nothing, just turns around and starts walking towards his BMW. What choice do I have?
“You live here!” I gesture at the Hockey Hall behind us in the parking lot. “Why would you leave?”
He beeps his car to unlock it and pops his trunk, depositing both our bags inside. Stomping over, I cross my arms. “Are you stealing my stuff?”
“More like borrowing it and returning it where you live. Get in the car and you’ll get it back.”
He has the audacity to smirk and open the passenger door for me. I want to slam it on his fingers, but I take a deep breath and try to be objective. Sarah hasn’t texted me, and I’m being offered a safe ride home.
Even if it is with Hunter. I have no idea how to act around him. Everything about him throws me off-kilter. Butterflies take flight in my stomach one minute, and my palms get sweaty the next. But he’s on the team. I have to be professional. Finding him attractive is inconvenient.
Especially because I don’t know how he feels about me. At first, he avoided me and made my job more difficult. Now we hang out at parties and watch our favorite YouTube videos together at three a.m. We’re friends, but when I look at him, I see how much more we could be.
I don’t make eye contact as I slide in and let him close my door. Once he enters and turns the car on, I fiddle with his radio presets just to annoy him. I land on an oldies station, something upbeat and peppy he will hate.
Sitting back, I cross my arms over my chest and try not to enjoy sinking into the buttery soft seat. I can’t think of anything but our almost-kiss at the Halloween party. It’s embarrassing how many times that plays on a loop in my mind. It was the most turned on I’ve ever been, and our lips didn’t even touch.
When my mom texted she needed me, my disappointment stung like a cut. I wanted to stay and see what happened. But what could I do? Of course I left.
I can’t help but wonder, though, what would have happened if I hadn’t run without saying goodbye?
The thought makes me gulp and hug myself tighter.
But then he avoided even looking at me during Friday’s game. If we hadn’t ended up in the hotel lobby last night, would he still be ignoring me? I’m glad we got to talk and clear up that miscommunication, but I still don’t know where we stand and how he feels. Maybe he remembered I work for the team. Something I need to remind myself of every moment I’m with him.
Either way, we’re just friends—work acquaintances, really—and nothing more.
And that’s fine. I won’t cross that line and risk my job for some butterflies and a guy I’m not sure about.
“Turn here,” I remind him as he pulls up to a stop sign.
Hunter nods, then glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “I’ve been to your house before.”
“Doesn’t mean you’d remember it.”
“I do, though.”
Something about the earnest light in his gaze makes me think maybe he’s not just talking about where I live. I sit up straighter in the seat, then unbuckle as he pulls into my driveway.
“Thanks for the ride,” I say as he parks and unbuckles, too. “Oh, you don’t need to—”
“And let you carry your own bag? I think not.”
His picture should show up in a Google image search for “smug.” Ugh.
Popping open his trunk, he pulls out my duffel and hefts it to the door for me, sitting it on the stoop. Grabbing my keys, I turn to unlock my front door, but he’s in my space.
“Natalie.” He cups my face like he did before, and I gulp. I want him to kiss me like I want coffee in the morning. Every charged beat of my heart begs for it. He stares at me, then wets his lips. “Um, I just want to say. That is—I wanted to tell you. To ask you, really.”
I’ve never seen him this flustered before, and it’s adorable. I smile at him, feeling devilish. “Yes, Hunter?”
His eyes dart to my mouth. “I think about kissing you constantly. I don’t want to ruin anything, or presume, or pressure, or—”
“Yes.” My answer comes out in a quick exhale. Relief that it’s not one-sided hits me, quick and sharp, and if I wasn’t so desperate, I’d laugh. I push up on my tiptoes and position my lips so they are inches away from his. His fingertips skim my jaw, and then his mouth brushes mine.
Fireworks explode in my chest and heat coils low in my belly. He angles my head so I’m right where he wants me, and I fist his jacket in my hands, hanging on as my knees go weak. Oh god, yes. I open my mouth wider, deepening the kiss, and—
I’m attacked by a tiny flying monster in footed pajamas. Jace squeezes me, pressing his head into my stomach. The door hangs open, and Sarah rounds the corner in the foyer.
I pull away from Hunter, putting space between us, and my cheeks heat. I swallow and try to find my composure.
“Sorry,” she pants, her eyes widening at the scene. “He got up to go to the bathroom and escaped.”
Jace doesn’t seem to notice what he interrupted. He nuzzles my belly and hugs me tight.
“No problem.” I stare down at him, so I don’t have to meet Sarah’s knowing gaze and pat his head. “I missed you, too, buddy.”
Sarah looks at Hunter and smirks. I’ve never brought a guy home before—obviously I’m not now, it’s not like that. My body flushes hot and then cold that she caught us, that she saw this moment. Scooping up my duffle, I try to step inside and end the mortification when Jace looks up and notices him, too.
“Hunter!”
If possible, his squeals reach levels only dogs can hear.
“Shhhh!” Sarah and I both shush him.
“You don’t want to wake the entire house,” she adds, but Jace ignores her, bouncing up and down.
“Oh, Hunter, you came to see me!”
Hunter ruffles his hair, an indulgent smile lighting his face that takes my breath away.
“Of course I did, little man. How’s it going?”
Talking his ear off, Jace pulls Hunter inside.
But he holds up his hands in surrender.“Whoa, dude. It’s great to see you but I can’t stay. It’s late, and we both need to go to bed.”
He meets my eye over Jace’s head, and I nod my approval at his response.
Jace’s face falls, though. “But you only just got here.”
“I know.” Hunter kneels on Jace’s level. “But if you wanna be an awesome hockey player, you have to rest. And so do I.”
Sticking his bottom lip out, he nods, but then he gasps and gives a mischievous smile.
“I know! Since you have to leave now, you can come to my birthday party next weekend!”
Sarah, Hunter, and I all lock eyes. Sarah’s look hopeful, Hunter is trying to figure out what to say, and I’m pretty sure I look panicked.
“Well, I don’t know.” Hunter clears his throat. “I have hockey games on Friday and Saturday.”
“Oh, that’s fine, because my party’s on Sunday!”Jace smiles, pleased that he’s jumped this hurdle, and gives Hunter one more hug. “I’ll see you then!”
“Uh, yeah.” He glances at me, asking for permission, and what can I do? Break Jace’s heart?
“One p.m. There will be cake and pizza,” I tell him.
“Wouldn’t miss it.”