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“We should head out,” Hunter says. “I’m starving.”
I laugh, knowing he’s probably already ate a large bowl of cereal this morning. “Okay, let’s go.”
Being alone with Hunter in this small cabin is getting to me. We need to leave before I do something crazy, like confess my feelings for him. Nowthatwould be a tragedy. Because he would most definitely turn me down and then my heart would have to accept the fact that he doesn’t feel the same. At least now I can fantasize and have a little hope in my wildest dreams.
“Are you going to text Griffin back?” Hunter asks, as he starts the car.
I shrug. “I didn’t plan on texting him at all, so probably not.”
Hunter doesn’t respond, he just looks forward, both hands on the wheel. He usually only drives with one hand.
I wish I knew what he was thinking, but I doubt I’ll ever know what’s going on in his head. He’s a complicated guy. And I’m just the teenage girl he’s being paid to protect. I know he says he likes me, but if the organization he worked for decided to give him a new assignment, I’m sure he’d jump at the chance to do something else. Being with me has to be boring.
I worry my bottom lip between my teeth as I look out the side window.
I wish it were next week. I want homecoming to be over with. Next week will be better—it has to be.
When Hunter pulls the SUV into a spot, I’m surprised to see Liam heading toward the breakfast hall. Usually, my stepbrother sleeps until the last possible moment, even if it means skipping breakfast. I jump out of the car when I see him, not waiting for Hunter.
“Liam!” I yell, running toward him.
He stops walking and turns toward me. Instantly, his face lights up and he grins widely.
“Coco, hey!”
I throw my arms around him. “I’ve missed you, Number Four.”
He chuckles, embracing me back. “You too, Coco. You’re always busy. I hardly ever get to see you.”
“Want to eat breakfast with me?” I ask.
He glances over as Hunter joins us, but looks back at me. “Uh, sure.”
I walk beside Liam as we head into the dining hall. Hunter stays right on our heels, never letting me forget that he’s there. It’s equally a comfort and an annoyance.
Once we have our breakfast, we go sit down at the table. Harper isn’t in the cafeteria yet, so Liam catches me up on what he’s been up to. Basically, he’s had a few girls ask him to homecoming and he has to choose just one today.
“You’re hardly giving those other girls time to find another date,” I say, scolding him.
He shrugs, a huge grin on his face. “What can I say? The ladies love me.”
I roll my eyes at his cockiness. “How would you feel if some guy did that to me?”
He pauses with a bite halfway to his mouth, as if he’s just now considering it. “I wouldn’t let a guy treat you like that, Coco.”
I start to argue why he would do that to the other girls, but I realize it’s pointless.
When I spot pink hair walking into the cafeteria, I glance over and see Harper walk in with Reed. The two of them are holding hands. She sees me looking at her and I raise an eyebrow.
Is she seriously going to keep denying that Reed is her boyfriend? Because everybody already assumes they’re together—me included.
Liam turns to see who I’m looking at. He turns back to me. “I hate to ditch early, but I’ve got to go gently let down one of those girls I told you about.”
I shake my head at him. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.” He jumps up from the table.
I turn to Hunter, who is looking at Liam walk away.
