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“From what I hear, you aren’t exactly the type to let your conquests stick around. What’s the point of all this?” I asked, dulling his mood a bit. He even appeared offended. He loosened his grip and exhaled a breath while staring at the ground. He inhaled deeply then lifted his eyes to mine.
“They weren’t once my best friend.” He stated like a fact. Maybe the rich boy actually did miss me after all. I should just take it as it was; a good time. Hunt was just catching up but in a fun kind of sexy way.
I huffed out a breath and leaned back to look into his face, “Okay Hunt, but I get to be fully dressed before we begin.” I grabbed my clothes and ran toward the bathroom door. He chased after me.
“Well, what’s the fun in that.” He said with his gravely baritone voice.
HUNT
What the hell was I doing? The time on the clock read 3.10am. I had barely slept a moment all weekend and I didn’t care. I was more concerned with watching the way Ginny slept and how her auburn hair shimmered in the moonlight. The different tones of red fascinated me. I had counted four by now and I’m pretty sure that in the sunlight, I would probably find more. I dreaded the sunlight. The sun meant that this weekend with her would end and when we parted ways our senses would kick in. We would be done.
Neither of us wanted something long-term. Neither of us thought of this as anything more than a good time. Shit, she might not even be staying here and no I didn’t ask, like a dumbass. Asking her would let her know that I wanted to see her more. I didn’t do more. I was a one-and-done kind of guy. It was easier than getting disappointed. It was easier than becoming a disappointment. Plus, I had a reputation to uphold.
Her breaths were even and steady. She appeared to be a heavy sleeper. She barely moved except for the rise and fall of her chest. Rarely a sound, except for the faint sighs that left her lips occasionally between breaths. She’s a whole new Ginny. She was way different from the shy girl that I remembered, but at the same time, she was so similar. It was like having the sexiest woman alive in my bed in the form of my best friend. Who'd have thunk it? Ginny four-eyes ended up looking like a goddess.
She was never ugly, but terribly shy. It took me weeks to get her to come out and play when we were younger. At least she grew out of the awkward stage. However, I still enjoyed the fact that she had her sense of adventure, and she was just as fun. We never had a bad time when we were together, at least while growing up. Ginny was the ultimate guys-girl. We climbed trees. We hiked for days. We swam. We camped out at night. We shared banana splits. We did it all. I needed her more than she realized that summer. Ginny was the only person in the whole world that I could be myself with and she seemed to like me as I was.
Maybe that’s why I wasn’t too eager to give her up so easily. I didn’t have anyone who viewed me that way, other than Paps. I hadn’t had anyone since she left that summer. Truthfully, Ginny was the only real friend I’d ever had. Everyone else just used me for my money or my contacts. I wasn’t sure exactly who I could rely on, other than Paps. However, I didn’t consider Paps my friend. Paps was my father figure. He was my role model and guide through life. Truthfully if I didn’t know better, I would have said that Paps was my guardian angel sent from above.
However, I believed the precious angel in my bed was an upgrade. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I wanted to wake her and soak up as much time as I could until we parted ways tomorrow, but she looked entirely too peaceful. That didn’t stop my cock from stirring, but my conscience kept him at bay.
The more I thought of her leaving tomorrow, knots formed in my stomach, I made up scenarios in my head where it would still be temporary if it were a summer fling. I wasn’t even sure if she would go for it. She wanted the same thing I did, at least I thought so anyways.
Maybe if I proposed the “a friend with benefits meets a summer fling”kind of situationship, then she would be on board. A fun summer without attachments, well-defined parameters designed to keep our emotions in check, and of course we already knew that the sex was phenomenal. I expected it to be an easy sell, but this Ginny kept me on my toes a little more than the pushover she used to be, which I liked on a weird level.
I peered out the window at the moonlight illuminating the entire coastline and couldn’t imagine not wanting to live here my entire life. How could Ginny leave it? The salt water ran through my veins and the warmth wrapped around me like a hug every night. Up until Ginny came back, besides Pap, it was the only affection I sought. It was the only love that I craved on a daily basis. However, in a short amount of time, I craved her touch. Maybe this was how addiction worked. That first hit was like nothing I had ever experienced, and I desired that feeling more than anything else in the world, but I needed to remember my goal. I needed to get through this deal, so I could finally show my father that I made my first million, all on my own. That I wasn’t the fuck up in life. That I was just as smart as my brother. I had every penny wrapped up in this deal and once the sale was final. I would triple my business. The royalties alone would double my income and this partnership would take my brand nationwide. I wouldn’t have time for her.
She wouldn’t want to waste her time waiting on me to make my dreams come true. She had her own plans. I shook my head at these intrusive thoughts. Why was I talking myself out of a fake future? We hadn’t even spoken about tomorrow?
My eyes felt heavy and my heart matched the energy in the room. I spooned closer to her, reminding myself to soak up every second. Tomorrow wasn’t promised on so many levels and I needed to stay in the present.
GINNY
His warm arms wrapped around me felt delicious. Between the strength holding me and the sunlight warming my skin, I was purely blissful. It had been quite some time since I’d been held this close. The douchenozzle I dated before I came here wasn’t thehug ‘em and hold‘em type of guy. He preferred high fives and quickies, but he loved when I catered to him.
The funny thing was, that the entire time I had been here with Hunt, he made every moment about me. I wasn’t used to this, but I could also see how he got all of his women and how he maintained his reputation. If this was how he treated all the ladies, no wonder they were bitter. My time with him didn’t feel rehearsed or like some sort of routine. He made me feel like I was his whole world in a matter of moments and kept up the charade the entire time. The only thing that I couldn’t wrap my head around, was the fact that he still hadn’t asked me to leave and tried everything he could think of, to get me to stay. Maybe he did miss me after all, and I meant more to him than the others because of our history as friends. Maybe he wanted to make me feel special, so we could still be friends afterward, but I wasn’t sure how to navigate this. I couldn’t imagine not wanting him attached to me in some wicked way on a daily basis.
The urge to wake him with my mouth had me rubbing my legs together, already, but it was Monday, and the weekend was over. I had to be at Pap’s place in three hours to set up for the day. I still had no clothes and needed to shower. Plus, I needed to regain my composure before starting this new week. I needed to refocus and get out of dream land. Hunt was not a settle-down type of guy and honestly, I didn't need that while I’m trying to rebuild my dreams. I needed to focus on my bike shop. Rebuild the money, find investors, and find a location that will bring the most profits. I wished I could find a showroom and attached garage nearby. I’ve always loved Coree Harbor. The quaint little oceanside inlet. The boats tied against the docks, rocking against the old wood in a calming rhythm. It was calm. It was peaceful. It was home.
I had never thought that I would return here. I figured that it was only a memory. Pappy’s cooking, tire swings, and boats swaying on the dock were some of my fondest memories. To be back here was a blessing and a curse. Hunt wasn’t initially part of the blessing; however, he did inhabit some of my best memories. I was just hoping to leave him there in the past.
Sadly, most of my life, I blamed him for the poor choices that I made in men, but truthfully the only good example that I had of a man in my life was Pap. My father split. Hunt cast me away like a piece of trash and I was hopelessly in puppy love with him. We weren’t old enough to truly fall in love, but I thought he liked me enough not to deny kissing me.
I fell stupidly in obsession with him after that kiss and I would’ve wholeheartedly told the world that he was my future husband. However, when he denied even knowing me, that cut deep. Now, I knew it was a stupid preteen crush, but it didn’t mean that it didn’t hurt at the time or even sting a bit now. Especially since he claimed that I was his best friend. My thoughts were scattered, but I tried to focus on staying in the moment. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind spending more time with Hunt as long as he didn’t cast me away again like I had meant nothing to him. I didn’t want a white dress and a ring, but acknowledging my presence and treating me like a friend would suffice.
Pappy warned me of him years ago and again when I came home. He warned me that he had scars…deep ones that protected his heart. It almost made me feel sorry for him, but then I remembered that I had scars too. I didn’t treat people as disposable. I didn’t have weird rules about dating. I still tried to give my heart away but look where that got me. Maybe Hunt got it right. Maybe I should guard myself a little more closely. Maybe I should change my rose-colored glasses in for some X-ray goggles instead.
If I allowed Hunt to penetrate my guard, I would be done. I had been defenseless since I got here. The wounds were too fresh, and I doubted my heart would take it. I couldn’t jump from one douchebag to the next. Hunt would just have to understand that this was temporary.
I peered over at the sleeping Hunt and the light touched his textured jaw. His plump lips released his breath. His eyelids were twitching like he was dreaming.
I needed to sneak out of here before he woke up and talked me into something else that I wasn’t ready for. He had a knack for sale. Hunt could sell sand on the beach. I slid slowly from under the arm that rested on top of my chest, hoping he wouldn’t feel me leave. I stopped for a moment and gazed at his perfect face one more time before gathering my clothes and sneaking out the door.
The walk of shame wasn’t as shameful this early in the morning with freshly washed clothes and my ride sitting at the dock entrance like I had texted her to do. Kara may have been reckless and inconsistent, but she had her reliable moments. This time she sat in her vintage, bright yellow four-by-four with its rusty fenders and tires that elevated it two inches with the soft top down, it looked like a fun ride. I doubted those rugged little off-roaders ever lost their luster. They were made for fun. Kind of like Kara, she tended to always find the fun in the situation, even if she only found it for herself.
I loved my friend, but I always knew where I stood. Kara did Kara. If she had time to squeeze me in, then I might get a crumb of attention from her. She was the one I called for a good time, not the one who would help me bury the body. Please excuse the cliche.
The last die-hard friend I had was… Hunter. At least that one summer…at least I thought so anyways. It finally made sense to me though. The string of bad relationships and all of my worthless gal pals were simply my bad judgment of character. I guess it made more sense that I was a douchebag magnet. I have been learning to hold myself accountable instead of playing the victim. I would live and learn. I would no longer appear weak. I was strong. I was smart and I would be damned if I allowed another person to come into my life and drag me down into another rabbit hole of hell.
