Chapter sixteen Tai
Chapter sixteen
Tai
“I’ll end you and your dumbass squad,” Rylan grunts.
I grin, fingers smashing the controller buttons. “You weren’t saying that five minutes ago when you shot a load in my ass.”
“What the fuck have I walked into exactly?”
Ry and I turn at the same time, finding H standing in the doorway.
“Good,” Ry murmurs, pausing the game. “You’re finally here. You can help me kick Tai’s ass.”
“Big dreams you have there.” I chuckle, putting the controller on the ground and leaning back into the beanbag.
“I was starting to think you weren’t coming,” I say to Hunter.
“You don’t need all that extra beauty sleep.
You’re adorable just as you are.” The three of us had organized a COD sesh at Rylan’s while his dad was out at some fancy-schmancy brunch thing.
You know what they say—two’s company, three’s a party.
He doesn’t bite back at me with the usual witty remark. “We need to talk.”
I share a quick look with Ry at the serious turn of conversation. This doesn’t sound good.
“Are we breaking up?” I joke as H sits down on the third beanbag. “Because I can change, baby.”
Wow. Not even a smile or fuck you. My comedic talent is wasted on these lovable lunatics.
“We have a problem,” H says, low. “Several, actually.”
Ry frowns at him, putting his controller down. “What’s up?”
Hunter looks over. “It’s about Bexley.”
“Great,” Ry complains, running a hand over his face in anticipated exasperation. “If this is about what Olivia’s spouting, I don’t want to get into it.”
I wiggle my eyebrows at Rylan knowingly. “Still can’t believe we had to hear the dirty details from the grapevine. You’ve been holding out on us, asshole. Bexley—Wait,” I snap my head to glance at Hunter as a lightbulb goes off in my head. “You called her Bexley.”
“Well, it’s her name, isn’t it?” He snaps back while Rylan gapes in disbelief. I mean, sure—it’s probably slipped out before, but the tone he used speaks supersonic volumes in Hunter world.
“We can circle back to that,” I say with amusement. “Tell us the issue.”
Hunter’s brows furrow, clearly unsure where to begin. “I was at her house last night.”
Okay. That’s a start, at least.
Rylan straightens up. “Why were you at her house? I swear to God, H, you better not have been harassing her. I have no idea what’s been up with you lately but I’m sick of being stuck in the middle.”
“Me?” Hunter spits out. “I haven’t done shit.”
“Well,” I start in a sing-song tone. “You have been in a bit of a mood lately. No offence.”
Folding his arms, Ry lets out a snort. “That’s putting it simply. One minute you’re fine, the next you’re raging. Now, answer the question. Why were you there without us?”
Hunter’s gaze shifts, as if he’s about to drop a bomb on us. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve been there before without you. Last I checked I didn’t need your permission.”
“Wait,” I wince. “Slow down a second because I’m getting Bexley-whiplash and not in the good sex injury way.”
If looks could kill, I’d be the sole survivor in this room as the pair of them shoot mutual daggers at each other. Ah, man. This is turning ugly. But hey… more Bexley for me, if murder goes down this weekend, I guess.
Contemplating his words in that Hunter-esque way that he does, he mumbles, “I’ve been over there before to fight with her. I’m surprised she never told you.”
“Seriously?” Rylan hisses. “Why are you hellbent on going after her still? Are you trying to punish Tai and I or something?”
“Yes.”
Well, consider me slapped in the face with the proverbial party tit. I was not expecting that confession. And judging by Ry’s livid face, neither was he.
But before he can leap off the beanbag to strangle his bestie, Hunter sighs dejectedly, sinking into his. “Not anymore though. I kissed her and stayed the night. That’s why I’m late.”
The room falls eerily quiet with an awkward hostility that would make spirits up and leave to find the light. I shoot a quick glance at Ry to gauge his reaction, his face giving nothing away except for widened eyes.
No one knows what to say. And for very good reason.
Hunter was the last person I’d ever expect to fall under Bexley’s spell. I’d assumed his hatred for her would supersede any of her witty charm. I guess not even the great Hunter Lannister is immune to it.
Who can blame us though? We’re just mere mortal men.
“What?” Rylan finally questions in a dark whisper.
There’s no victory smirks or sneers. If anything, Hunter appears equally perplexed by this strange turn of events—like even he still can’t believe what happened.
“That’s not the worst part,” Hunter mumbles, eyes focusing anywhere except on the two of us. “Max paid her a visit.”
“What?!” Rylan repeats, louder.
I reach into my shorts, fetching my phone. “She still hasn’t responded to my texts. Is that why? Do we need to check on her?”
Hunter laughs dryly. “I’m fairly certain she’s ignoring you both because you broke her rationality and version of reality.
At least, that’s the impression I got before Max decided to weigh in on your little love confession.
As for the welfare check? I stood guard last night. She’s with Roberts now.”
A pained expression crosses Rylan’s face. “Fuck—this is all my fault. Olivia’s big mouth has alerted him.”
Hunter nods, all serious. “He’s trying to blackmail her to leave town. Made threats against you if she doesn’t.”
“I need to go see her,” Ry exclaims, standing. “Then I need to pay a visit to my father to try to straighten this all out.”
Snorting, Hunter pushes to his feet. “Be real here, Rylan. You know what Max is like. Once his mind is set on something, there’s nothing that can be done to change it.
If you go charging in there like a bull, you’re affirming everything that’s already concreted in his mind.
He’s waving a big, Rylan-sized flag right now. ”
“He’s right,” I agree begrudgingly. “We need a plan first before you confront him.”
“I know how to handle my father,” Rylan argues. “Which is why I know we need to act now. He’s not patient.”
Hunter folds his arms. “You’re correct. Bexley decided to keep this little bit of information to herself. The window he gave her has now expired. Which is all the more reason that we think this through.”
“Is that why you stayed?” I press.
“Yes.”
“Is that the only reason?” I wiggle my eyebrows at him.
Hunter glares at me. “Shut up, T. You have no idea what it was like being with her that night. Or how much it fucked me up that she was willing to die for me.”
That silence returns again, but this time, there’s no awkward tension, just the horrible lingering memories all of us remember too well.
“But she didn’t,” Ry finally answers quietly. “She didn’t die because you saved her.”
The Fire
Smoke billows out the window into our faces, sweaty palms desperately clinging onto a body as Ry and I blindly pull with all our strength.
The two of us are suddenly thrown backwards when Hunter lands on the grass outside.
Barely a second passes, when Hunter rips himself away, scrambling to his feet as he rushes back toward the smashed glass.
Before I can calculate or process what’s happening, Hunter is shoving himself headfirst back through the window, sending me spiraling into a full-blown panic attack.
What the fuck is he doing?!
“Hunter!”
“Grab my legs,” is all he says before we feel gravity challenge us to a death match. We quickly launch forward to take a hold of his legs, managing to catch his weight before he can crash-land back into the inferno below.
The flames are licking at the wall beneath us as our arms inside burn from the heat, and Hunter slips slightly, sending Ry and I racing to use our own legs as leverage against the wall.
“Now!” Hunter shouts from somewhere below.
We heave at the same time, but I no longer feel the weight, just sheer determination and panic. Hunter’s legs emerge first, then his torso, and when I finally spot his head and arms, I’m reeling at the limp, third arm he’s got a hold of.
There’s suddenly no more tension for us to pull, letting go of Hunter as Ry and I scramble forward to help him finish lifting Bexley through the hole as flames start to extend out the window toward us.
The wind is knocked out of me and I realize it’s because Hunter is yanking Bexley so hard and fast that he’s basically barreled us out of the way. I shuffle backwards on the ground to make room as he drags Bexley along the ground before he collapses onto the grass next to her.
“H! Are you okay?!” Ry calls out as he hastily crawls over to check on Bex.
Hunter hisses in reply, cradling his blistering arms while his chest rasps with the most ungodly sounds.
My knees slip on the grass as I race over to Bexley as well, torn between the two of them. My chest tightens painfully as I glance rapidly between H and the unconscious Bex, nothing at all to do with the smoke I’ve just inhaled.
Even in the darkness, Bex’s lips are clearly a horrible shade of blue, cheeks gray as they contrast against the angry red blisters forming on her legs and arms. I place a hand on her chest, panicking when I realize she’s not breathing.
“No. I can’t lose you, Bex. Don’t you dare leave me,” Ry hisses, his lips crashing into hers as he starts CPR.
I watch helplessly, silently agreeing with his words as I fight back tears. Turning around, I start shouting to the first responders for help in the distance, barely feeling relief when they start rushing toward us.
Paramedics swarm around Bex and Hunter and all Ry and I can do is watch helplessly before they are whisked away in a frenzy of sirens as fire destroys Cedar Heights behind us.
I knock on the door, daring a side glance at Ry. His eyes are glued on the wooden fixture, burning holes in it until there’s a soft thud of footsteps and Bexley appears on the other side.
“Hey,” she greets warily, looking between us. I see the moment recognition dawns on her, shoulders slouching. “I shouldn’t be surprised,” she murmurs, stepping back to let us inside.
“We need to talk,” Ry says, looming over her. “About everything.”
Bexley frowns, switching her attention to me. “I figured.”
I close the door behind me, bringing up the rear as Bex leads us to her bedroom where soft music is playing.
There’s things we need to discuss with her, the obvious being Max’s impromptu visit.
But I decide to take the lead and jump in before Ry can bring up his father.
Frankly, Max is an asshole who can wait. He doesn’t deserve her time.
But someone else does.
She needs to know. Especially now.
“We know about Hunter,” I start, eyes following Bex as she sits down at the head of the bed, resting against the pillows.
Nodding, she doesn’t deny it. “I’m surprised he told you,” she says quietly.
Ry looks at me, giving a sharp nod of approval to proceed.
Well, here goes nothing.
“He did,” I confirm. “Which is why we need to tell you the truth.”
Bexley’s brows furrow as she glances between us. “What do you mean?”
I perch myself on the edge of the bed, holding her gaze. “Hunter saved you the night of the fire, Bex. He was the one who pulled you out of the building.”