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Hunter
I stop at the beach and recognize Jay’s truck immediately. What the hell is she doing here? She slams her fists against the steering wheel and yells so loudly I can hear her even with the doors to the car shut. What the actual fuck?
I want to run up to her, then she hits the horn with her forehead and laughs. My lips curve up in a full-blown smile as I watch her moving out of the truck. She stretches her fingers as she walks with her shoes in her hand, her short black dress hugging her curves.
Placing my helmet on the bike, I walk across the beach, running both hands through my hair, not knowing what I’m doing. My boots disappear into the white sand with each step I take. Girls with little pigtails are busy building a sandcastle, and stop the minute they notice me walking toward them. They gape at my arms, then at my neck, probably debating what to do—scream or keep staring at my tattoos and piercings. I flash them a smile, and wave.
“Hey, kids. What’s going on?”
The youngest points to the sandcastle. “The princess has to cross the bridge, but it’s falling apart,” she says, pouting.
I crouch next to them and fix their bridge, and their mothers smile reassuringly.
“Here. Now the prince can rescue the princess,” I tell them, wiping my hands on my jeans.
They both start to giggle. “No, the princess has to save the prince,” the younger one tells me, their little faces serious.
One of the mother’s laughs.
“You raised them well,” I tell her.
She nods. “Thank you for helping them.”
“Anytime, girls,” I say, tipping my imaginary hat, I grin while they continue playing.
Sky stares at her hands, before they disappear in the sand and I take my sunglasses off to get a better look. A couple of guys around my age walk by and check her out. Not noticing them, she keeps staring out toward the ocean. Damn, she’s beautiful sitting there, wearing all black. But she’s also lonely and sad. I have no idea what to do—turn around or go and sit beside her?
My feet have a mind of their own. I stop right next to her.
“Please go away, Hunter,” she says, her voice hard as she brushes away her tears. Tugging a piece of paper in her dress pocket, her hands tremble. She’s clearly doing everything in her power to give me a back-off vibe, but in the process, she’s only drawing me in.
“I’m not going to do that, Shorty,” I state, sitting next to her. She can’t hide the smile on her face when I call her Shorty. Sky slides a little away from me, I can’t blame her. I probably smell awful, like sweat and motor oil. I lift my arm. Yep, definitely bad.
“I wasn’t following you, by the way. This is my beach,” I tell her.
She raises her eyebrows. Fuck, she’s cute. “Your beach?”
I give her a smile she returns although it’s a little small. “Yeah. I come here to think, and stuff my face with Mexican food.”
“A BMX guy who can think, Jay must be so proud,” she taunts, stretching out her feet, her toes disappearing into the sand.
Chuckling, I actually like this back and forth. “Yes he is,” I say, smiling, but I want to add I think about you a lot.
She turns away and stares out toward the ocean, watching the waves roll in.
The little girls leave the beach with their mothers. “Bye!” they yell.
I wave at them. “Bye, girls.”
I grin at Sky and she frowns.
“Hey! I can’t help it if the kids like me,” shrugging unapologetically.
“You pretend to be such a bad ass, but you’re one big softie, aren’t you?” she asks, nudging me in the ribs.
Laughing I run my thumb over my bottom lip, rubbing my tongue piercing against my teeth. She focuses her stare on the silver in my mouth, our eyes meet and she quickly glances away.
“Are you okay?” I ask, taking off my leather jacket.
