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This was the conversation we could have had in the event barn the day before if there hadn’t been so many misunderstandings, so much hurt and defensiveness, between us. It was more than just a prelude to sex, more than just foreplay. It was belonging on a whole other level, and it was no hardship whatsoever…
At least until the part where Hunter mentioned his sex-filled Pride weekend.
My reaction was as unattractive as it was irrational—I’d never been jealous about anyone I’d dated, and Hunter and I weren’t even dating, for heaven’s sake—but I couldn’t deny the little twinge somewhere right below my ribcage, like a discordant note in an otherwise peaceful tune.
“So do you… have you… I mean, you’ve ended up finding people. Here. To, ah…” I cleared my throat.
Hunter’s eyes got bigger with every stumble over my words. “What are you asking me, Charlton Heston?”
I groaned and rubbed my face with my hand before pinning him with a look. “Never. Mind.”
His laugh was warm and rumbling, and he squeezed my fingers tight. “I haven’t been a chaste maiden, if that’s what you’re asking, and no, I haven’t hooked up with anyone in your family tree, so don’t even ask me about your cousin Elmer. I’ve had hookups here and there and a few weekend trips to places that had a bigger selection, but I’ve only really dated one guy seriously.”
“Oh?” Curiosity curdled in my stomach. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know. “Who?”
“College boyfriend. I went to UT for Horticulture Science and Organic Production. Don’t know if I told you that,” he explained. “Anyway, Lane—or I guess he’s Dr. Desmond now—was another ag student. Pre-vet studies. Really nice guy. Smart too. Went on to veterinary school at University of Georgia and ended up staying on to teach, but I think he might be ready to move into private practice. I keep telling him he should move to the Thicket, but—”
“I don’t care about his resume, Hunter. Jesus,” I snapped. Instantly, I felt my face go hot. “Erm. Sorry,” I added quickly. “I just, uh… I just meant… How long were you together?”
Hunter’s lips twitched like he knew exactly why I was snappish. “Two and a half years?” He shifted toward me. “Honestly, I look back on it and wonder if I just wanted to play house with someone. On paper, we worked fine. We went grocery shopping together and grilled out. We stayed in on Friday nights and watched movies together in bed like an old married couple. We had a ton in common. And you know, I don’t think we ever really fought,” he added thoughtfully. “Not once.”
“Delightful.” I gritted my teeth. “Really. That’s… great. So why’d you break up? I mean, clearly, you’re still in touch since you’re trying to get him to move here.” I tried not to dwell on the fact that Hunter and I had done almost nothing but fight since I’d gotten back to the Thicket or that he hadn’t tried to persuade me to move here even once.
I failed on both fronts.
Hunter’s lips curved into a delectable grin. “We broke up because I tried to get him to wear a turkey costume once, and he looked awful in it.”
For a split second, I thought he was being serious. When I realized he was teasing me yet again, I socked him in the shoulder. “Be serious. Why didn’t it work out?”
Hunter shrugged. “I don’t know, Charlie. We were babies? We were too alike? We wanted different things? He had the most annoying habit of correcting people who ended a sentence with a preposition. I always wondered how he could have survived going to school in Georgia and Tennessee with this particular affliction, but apparently, he made it.”
“Hmph. He sounds like a pretentious ass.”
Hunter grinned. “I know. But he really isn’t. He just gets insecure, and it comes out in a pedantic way. None of us are perfect. What about you?”
“Definitely not perfect. But I try not to correct people’s grammar,” I said, trying to win at least one point from the successful and most likely hot veterinarian.
Hunter laughed and wrapped one large, warm arm around my shoulder, pulling me down into his side. “I meant dating, babe. Have you ever dated anyone seriously?”
“Oh.” I thought about it for a long moment, snuggling deeper into his embrace. “I’ve dated a few people long enough to consider it a relationship. I dated one guy for about a year. We actually moved in together in the city to save on rent, then we started dating. Zero out of ten stars, do not recommend.”
“Don’t date your sexy roommate? Are you sure?” Hunter demanded, pulling away to give me an affronted look. “Porn has steered me so wrong.”
I snickered. “He was a nice enough guy. I enjoyed going out with him because we liked a lot of the same things. We ran together along the waterfront when the weather was nice, and we worked out at the gym together when it wasn’t. He liked seeing shows and concerts during a time I was trying to experience as much of the city as possible. It was good for that time and place in my life, but neither of us had strong enough feelings to… renew the lease.” I shot him a wink. “We still keep in touch and catch a show together from time to time. He’s in a serious relationship now with an actor, so he gets good last-minute seats.”
