CHAPTER 5 #2
Oops. I licked at my bottom lip and glanced up. “Is it gone?”
Hunter paused, the bottle halfway to his mouth, his eyes fixated on my mouth.
Oh, God.
Too close.
That look was way too close to the one from last night before he hungrily stamped his lips to mine.
And unfortunately, I meant it when I told my girls I wasn’t planning on acting on this attraction.
I wouldn’t let Hunter’s and my newfound friendship—if we could even call it that—develop into anything beyond platonic.
Although my tongue slipped back in his apartment and I almost asked him about last night, I realized it was best not to broach the subject.
As far as I was concerned, we were both on the same page.
It was a great kiss, but it was just that—a kiss shared between two consenting adults who found each other attractive.
Plus, our revenge plan worked. Tom unfollowed me on social media this morning.
Either because he realized he’d forgotten to do so before or because of my public display of affection with Hunter.
Regardless of the reason, to a certain extent, Tom’s ego was bruised.
In our one-month friends with benefits arrangement, I learned that he was a bit cocky and didn’t like to be outdone by anyone else.
And he may have claimed to have ‘found better’ with Morgan, but I was the one who hit the jackpot.
Ditching the mediocre football player for the team’s star quarterback?
Hah. I hoped Tom had the worst week ever.
“Hunter?” I prompted when he kept staring at me, feeling self-conscious.
Hunter inhaled a sharp breath, forcing a smile onto his lips. “Y-yeah, all gone.” He guzzled his water like he was parched, his Adam’s apple rising up and down in his neck before inquiring cheekily, “Did you save a donut for me?”
I snatched a sprinkle donut, giving him a mock stink eye. “I guess you can have the last one.”
He grabbed the remaining mini jelly donut and plopped it into his mouth with a wolfish smirk. “Which one was your favourite?”
“I’m a chocolate lover, so the chocolate-dipped one for sure.” I pressed my cheek into my palm. “Do you have a sweet tooth?”
“I do.” He dabbed the corners of his mouth with a napkin. So princely. “But I have to maintain a stricter diet during football season. Therefore, I rarely indulge.”
Interesting. Wanting to learn about his hobbies and interests, I couldn’t help but needle him for more information. “How did football become a thing?”
“My dad got me into it.” He reclined back in his chair. “I started playing it when I was a kid and continued throughout my schooling. He always dreamed of me going pro.”
“And is that what you want?”
“Nah. I want to be a lawyer like him and follow in his footsteps.”
My face softened. “That’s so sweet.”
A sad smile curved his lips. “My dad was my best friend. I looked up to him my whole life. He was the greatest person ever.” After a moment of hesitancy, he added, “Unfortunately, he passed away from cancer when I was nine.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.” Hunter spoke about his dad with such unabashed hero worship, it made my heart clench for him.
I couldn’t imagine the pain he must have gone through with losing a parent so young.
“I’m sure he’d be very proud of how far you’ve come.
With your academic career and football.”
The sad smile turned into one filled with fondness. “Yeah, he would be.” He leaned forward on his elbows. “What about you? What incited you to pursue finance and the Women in Business Student Association?”
Despite us not conversing prior to the last twenty-four hours, it was abundantly clear to me that we’d both kept tabs on each other. Me through social media and Hunter through his conversations with Josh, perhaps.
“I’ve always been good with numbers. I debated going into mathematics briefly but decided to do my undergrad in commerce with an finance major instead and I’m quite happy with my decision.
I enjoy the classes and my workload isn’t too overbearing.
” I sipped my mocha. “As for the Women in Business Student Association, I attended some of their events last year and their message really resonated with me. I wanted to be a part of a group of individuals who helped educate and empower the university’s student body by providing them the tools and resources needed to become successful future business leaders.
The association has been great at creating events that give opportunities for students to learn about different industries and network with professionals to open doors for internships and jobs post grad.
So far, it’s been a very rewarding experience working with this team.
I applied to be the finance coordinator this past spring and officially got the position just shy of summer. ”
Hunter appeared fully engrossed, like my passion for my work resonated with him. “That’s amazing, Gabby. What exactly does your position entail?”
“I’m responsible for our overall budgeting.
I get to decide how much of our capital gets allocated to certain events and activities.
I work closely with the event coordinators, the sponsors, and our team president, Hera.
We have a mixer event coming up in two weeks and we’ve rented out the entirety of the MacGregor Bar.
Tickets are currently being sold.” I bit my lip before biting the bullet and saying, “You should come.”
Hunter’s eyes widened a fraction, pleased.
“We host this every year early on in the fall semester. It gives the student body a chance to meet our team and familiarize themselves with what we do and our upcoming events. It would be a nice way to meet your fellow peers at the university.” Hunter appeared to be considering it and I rushed out to add, “I know you don’t like crowded spaces, but if you come, I’ll hang with you.
We don’t even have to talk to anyone else. I promise.”
“Okay,” he said with a charming smile. “Since you promised to be with me, I’ll look into buying a ticket.”
It felt like an accomplishment that I could convince this homebody into leaving his comfort zone and come to an event that my team was hosting. “Great. Can’t wait.” My phone buzzed with a text. It was my dad. He’d just arrived home. “I hate to cut this short but…”
“I know.” Was it my imagination or did Hunter sound a tad bit disappointed? He grabbed his keys. “Let’s get you home, sweetheart.”
Fuck, I was in trouble. I liked hearing him refer to me in all sorts of endearments in his voice. It was smooth, yet a hint rough. Like warm honey and whiskey.
After one kiss, I was already finding him irresistible and now I worried that not crossing another line with Hunter would be harder than I thought. I was also woman enough to admit that if it weren’t for my own set of rules, I’d want to go all the way with him.
When I followed him out of the café with Luna back in her carrier, evening welcomed us, the sky faded in wondrous shades of blue, pink, and purple.
He opened the passenger door for me and we both jolted when a dragonfly flew between us, letting loose surprised chuckles.
I once heard that dragonflies signified courage, change, and new beginnings.
I dwelled over the good omen for the rest of the ride back home.
It wasn’t a long drive, but it felt like an eternity when I was all too aware of Hunter.
The scent of his cologne. The soft inhales and exhales making his muscular chest bow rhythmically.
The wind whipping through his window, causing his inky black hair to float just above his shoulders.
The smooth way he handled his powerful car.
All these things had my heart fluttering.
And dammit, I’d just invited him to my association’s mixer, giving fate another opportunity to recreate last night’s moment.
Maybe I was just as hopeless as my mamma when it came to love and infatuation.
We arrived at my childhood home shortly and Hunter parked in the driveway.
Papà was already waiting for me by the porch steps in his three-piece suit, black windswept hair silvering at the temples, infamous deadpan, and his leather-gloved hands in his pockets in a resting stance meant to portray his casualness but was actually a farce to hide his offensive nature.
When he saw that I arrived with Hunter, his face instantly morphed from passive to thunderous.
Hunter, sensing the shift, cajoled, “Is your dad going to polish his shotgun and threaten me if I step out to open your car door?”
I undid my seatbelt. “He…might.”
“I’ll take my chances.” Hunter got out of the car and came to my side to open my door yet again. He grabbed Luna and I slid out, already anticipating Papà’s reaction to a boy bringing me home. Any other day, I’d have freaked out. Right now, I was too depleted from the day’s events to care.
“Will you text me your schedule when you have a moment?” he asked tentatively, low enough that Papà wouldn’t hear. “We can grab a coffee together if we have a mutual break.”
Coffee was friendly. Platonic. Very doable.
“Of course. I’d like that.” I smiled. “Here, give me your number.”
We swapped phones and added each other’s contact information.
“Although you told me not to say the T-word, I feel the need to repeat it once more,” I murmured. “Thank you for your kindness today. Talking with you helped take my mind off…the situation. I really appreciate it.”
He grinned and it was so soft and swoon-worthy, my chest clenched at the sight. “Anytime, Gabby.”
Then Hunter walked beside me as I headed towards Papà.
“Hi,” I said to him. “This is Hunter. He’s friends with Josh and lives in the apartment across from mine.”
Hunter stuck out his hand first. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
Papà sized him up with a scowl, wanting him to break a sweat. Hunter’s hand stayed outstretched, not balking under his intimidation tactic.
Eventually, Papà returned his handshake, but I saw how firmly he squeezed Hunter’s hand, sending a message across. “Thank you for bringing my daughter home.” He pinned his unrelenting stare on me. “Gabriela, entriamo.”
Papà addressed me in Italian in front of Hunter to alienate him. He was biding his time before he could pepper me with questions about my new neighbour. Papà wasn’t fond of outsiders and after the last asshole who broke my heart, he was even more vigilant when it came to the men surrounding me.
Hunter read between the lines. He handed me Luna’s carrier. “I’ll see you around, Gabby. Take care.”
I gave him an apologetic smile. “Take care, Hunter.”
We waited until Hunter’s car peeled out of the driveway before going inside the house.
I whispered a prayer under my breath, knowing that the next hour was going to be absolute chaos.