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The secret hideout wasn’t far. About halfway between our homes sat a little suburban park with a man-made pond, complete with a cute fishing dock. Part of the park was covered with dense trees where no one seemed to venture. During our many exploratory trips around town, we’d discovered a little hollow back there that was hidden from sight. A place where we could carve our names into the rocks and joke and talk about our lives. It was our secret. And that was where I found Hunter sitting and waiting for me, using a stick to trace in the dirt between his feet.
“Hey.” I crossed my arms and walked grumpily in front of him to sit on a large rock.
Just the sight of him had me steaming mad again. Although, the bags under his eyes and his messy hair did help alleviate some of the worst of it. At least he hadn’t slept well, either. That made two of us.
“Char.” He dropped the stick and rubbed the dirt off his hands. “I’m glad you came.”
“I kind of had to,” I said, glaring at him for a second before tearing my eyes away.
Okay, so maybe I wasn’t completely mad at him anymore. More like confused and hurt. It might have been in the friendship pact that we had to make up, but I didn’t have to make it easy on him.
“Well, thanks, anyway.” He rubbed the back of his head and grimaced. “I wanted to talk about last night.”
I inhaled and waited. Here it came. The apology. He should’ve been on his hands and knees groveling after what he did. I fully expected the works.
“I don’t think you should go out with Graham anymore,” he began, scowling at the ground. “I’ve never liked him. He’s got one of those faces, you know? I don’t think you’re safe with him. You need to dump him.”
My mouth fell open as I gaped at Hunter. So much for an apology. Instead, he was ordering me around? Heck, no. Not on my watch.
“Hunter McNally, you did not just say that to me.” I rose to my feet, my cheeks burning hot. My fists curled at my sides as I glared at him, my whole body quivering with anger.
His eyes grew wide and he held up his hands. “What?”
“After what you did...after the way you acted last night.” I inhaled through my nostrils, trying my best to keep my voice below hysterical mode. “I can’t believe you’d have the nerve to talk to me this way. I want an apology from you.”
He scrambled to his feet, his eyes flashing with matching anger. “For what, exactly?”
“For showing up to ruin my date.”
He huffed and tossed his head. “Why should I apologize to you? I was just trying to protect you. You don’t understand guys like Graham.”
“You don’t get to decide what I need protecting from.” I glued my hands on my hips and continued to glare at him. Anger pulsated in my chest. “Especially not when you show up with her.”
Understanding entered his eyes. He shook his head and laughed hollowly. “That’s what you’re angry about? You’re upset I went with Sarah?”
“Duh! She practically ruined my life last year. Or do you not remember when I nearly drowned?”
His face softened and he took a step toward me. “Of course, I remember.”
“Then, why her?” My eyes blurred with tears.
It felt like I was back in that hospital room, the monitors beeping around me. The overpowering scent of antiseptic wash with each measured inhale. The quiet doctors and the smiling nurses. The shivering cold of my skin that was hard to chase away, even with all the blankets in the world. It had been a hopeless few minutes of my life, back when I’d realized how far I’d sunk into my own misery. This was just as miserable—confronting my best friend.
“Char, she doesn’t mean anything to me.” Hunter was in front of me now, holding both of my upper arms as he stared deep into my eyes. “She was just an excuse to go to the movie to keep an eye on you. I swear it. I’d never do that to you.”
The fight went out of my body as he pulled me close to him. I sniffled against the hard muscles of his chest, wishing that I hadn’t cried in front of him. But it didn’t seem to bother Hunter. He wrapped his arms tightly around me and rested his cheek against my head. I let the scent of his cologne soothe me, just like it had so many times before. And when the anger and the tears were finally gone, something else began to stir inside of me.
His fingertips on my lower back massaged me gently through my shirt. I shifted my hands up to his shoulders and squeezed the muscles there, admiring in their strength. He really was gorgeous. There was no mistaking that, anymore. Even I couldn’t ignore it. The way he made my body tingle was undeniable. My gaze slid up to Hunter’s face. He was watching me, his eyes dark and tempting.
Just like in that storage room.
The world around me tilted.
And so it was, for the second time in a matter of days and without waiting to think about it, I pressed my lips against his. The satisfied groan he made as his hands slid up my back made my stomach clench. I closed my eyes and wove my fingers through the hair at the back of his head. It was softer than I’d imagined. Just like the feel of his mouth sliding over mine. He nibbled softly on my lower lip, sending a jolt of electricity straight to my toes. His breath was minty and sweet—as if he’d just popped a piece of double-mint gum.
The hint of stubble on his chin brushed against my cheek like sandpaper. I removed one of my hands from his head to feel it beneath my fingertips. I loved the sensation. Just like I enjoyed tracing the lines of his strong jaw. His hands moved to cup my face as he sighed and then deepened the kiss, causing my knees to go all kinds of wobbly.
Despite the emotional turmoil of the last few hours, a stirring had begun once again in my stomach. It was powerful and needy, almost like that time I’d tried fasting for a weekend.
