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The girl had every right to break down. But after she did, it was almost like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. And eventually, sometime soon, I’m going to tell her how I really feel.
Leading her past the parking lot where my truck is, I point down the road. “We can walk to our next stop,” I tell her, heading toward the boardwalk that goes around a small pond. “If you feel up to it, that is.”
“I do.” She nods. “And despite crying like a baby, I really did enjoy myself. I’d never done anything like that. I hadn’t realized how…moving it would feel.”
“I know not to piss you off,” I say, raising my eyebrows. “I’m a little scared, to be honest.”
She shoves me, giggling. “Told you I’d win. I definitely did more damage than you did.”
“Yeah…I’m not even going to try to argue with that.” I shake my head at her.
She looks exhausted after all of that crying.
Stopping in front of her, I kneel down. “Because I caused you so much emotional distress today, I’ll offer you a piggyback ride.” I crane my neck at her. “Deal?”
Her eyes light up, and she climbs on my back. “Hell yes. Deal. This is better than walking.”
Standing up, I continue to walk along the boardwalk. She rests her chin on my back and holds on to me tightly.
“I was so mad when Jolene paired us up.” She sighs. “Turns out…you aren’t all that bad after all. In fact, you’re nothing like the guy you spent so much time making yourself out to be.”
“I’m not that great of a person, Little Bird,” I admit. “I fuck up a lot. I’m selfish. And my temper sometimes gets me in trouble.”
“You’re better than you give yourself credit for, Hunter Thompson.” She’s quiet for a moment. “You don’t have to be a doctor or cure a rare illness to be a good person.”
“Thanks,” I whisper. “Here we are.” I nod toward the hot dog stand. “I know it’s probably nothing like the infamous hot dog stands I hear about in New York City. But a hot dog is a hot dog, right?”
As I set her down lightly, she looks from me to the stand, her eyebrows pulling together. “You brought me to a hot dog stand?”
“Uh…yeah? Is that okay?”
Throwing herself at me, she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me a bunch of times. “You are the furthest thing from an asshole, Hunter Thompson. Thank you!”
“Uh…thanks?” I frown. “It’s good to not be an asshole, I guess?”
“It’sverygood.” She nods quickly, kissing me one last time. “Let’s go!”
I don’t think I’ll ever tire of doing things that make her smile. It’s becoming an addiction.
19
Hunter
Ilook up in the stands, bummed that I don’t see Sutton sitting there, just like last night’s game. I knew from her text earlier that there was a good chance she wasn’t coming because she said she wasn’t sure if she could get her shift covered. I’ve asked her for the name of the restaurant she works at numerous times, and she always changes the subject. It’s fucking weird.
Since things changed on that yacht, we’ve grown closer. Acting like a couple, even when no one is around. But we haven’t had sex yet, though there’s been plenty of other shit that is equally awesome. But I can’t wait to sink inside of her, to be honest.
Jake sent me everything he had on Helena this morning, and I want to pass it off to Sutton. Something about having it all day and not telling her has already left me feeling dirty. My plan is to call her after the game and go to her right away.
I didn’t want to know anything about what the files consisted of. It isn’t my business. But right after sending them to me, he called me. And before I could stop him, he rattled off that when Sutton’s father met her mother, she was a prostitute. One whose name was actually Helen, not Helena. And somehow, Sutton’s father turned her into a housewife.
“You good, Thompson?” Link skates next to me, stopping enough to throw some ice with his skates. “You seem a little off today.”
Turning my attention from the empty chairs to him, I nod, plastering on a grin. “I’m good. Ready to pick up another W—that’s all. Think we can do that?”
He eyes me over before hitting my shoulder. “Fucking right, we can.”
I’m not the only one who seems off. Cade has been spiraling, and I’m worried he might be doing shit he isn’t supposed to again. It’s not unlike him to drink or smoke pot if he thinks he can get away with it. But the way he’s been acting lately isn’t normal, and I’m beginning to wonder if Watson and I need to step in and help him.
