Can't Help Falling in Love - Samantha Chase Page 0,33
to safe topics. He told me about being a fireman, I told him about being a travel agent…I learned all about his family…then we watched some TV and would talk about what we were watching.” She shrugged.
“Well, I don’t have anything overly wise to suggest, you just really need to talk to him about this and make sure you’re both on the same page.”
“Yeah, but what page am I on? I don’t want to admit I have some really strong feelings for him if he’s only taking this casually.”
“Hunter doesn’t strike me as the casual type. He doesn’t date a whole lot, but…” She shrugged. “I don’t talk to him about his personal life. When are you seeing him again?”
“Not until Monday when he drops off and picks up Eli.”
“Maybe see about having dinner with them and after Eli’s in bed, the two of you can talk.”
“I don’t know. I kind of feel guilty.”
“About what?”
“You! I’m supposed to be here with you and I’m making plans with Hunter!”
Reaching out, Katie patted her leg. “Don’t worry about me. Magnolia Sound is small and even if you were out, all I’d have to do is call and you’d be here in a matter of minutes. We’re good. Plus…I like seeing you happy.”
“I’m not feeling so happy right now. Right now, I kind of feel like I’m freaking out a little.”
“That’s because you are,” Katie said simply. “But don’t worry. You’ll get over it.” Slowly, she got to her feet. “Now come on. Let’s bake some chocolate chip cookies.” She started to walk away before turning and adding, “And if you’re good, I’ll even let you eat some of the raw dough.”
Now that got her attention!
“Do you think it’s weird that I don’t travel?”
Kyle looked at his brother like he’d grown a second head. “Travel? Like to where? Europe?”
“No, just…anywhere. Is it strange?”
“I don’t think so. Not everyone likes to travel or has the time to.”
“I mean…you’ve traveled a bit. Is it something amazing I’m missing out on?”
His brother eyed him suspiciously. “Amazing?” He shrugged. “Hunt, you and I are very different and have very different ideas on the definition of amazing. And fun.”
Frowning, he demanded, “What the hell does that mean?”
“Remember when I went down to Florida for spring break in college? It was a week of being drunk and stupid and sleeping on the floor with fifteen other people.”
“That’s just stupid. You can’t consider that to be fun.”
“But I do,” Kyle replied, picking up the ham and swiss sandwich he had made for himself out of Hunter’s refrigerator. “And how about last year when I went skiing with a group of friends?”
“Yeah…”
“It took us almost eight hours to get to Sugar Mountain, we got three tickets along the way, we crammed six guys into a hotel room with two full-sized beds, skied for two days straight, drank way too much, and primarily ate out of vending machines. Fun to you?”
“I can’t imagine that’s fun for anyone! What is wrong with you?”
Kyle took a huge bite of his sandwich before answering, “Not a damn thing. I’m not uptight like you.”
“I am not uptight.”
“Dude, we all call Dean the careful one, you’re the uptight one, and Scarlett’s the girl.”
It was a ridiculous conversation, but he had to ask, “And what do you think we all call you?”
“Me? I’m the laid back and lovable one.” And with a stupid grin, he took another disgustingly large bite of his sandwich.
Unable to help himself, the bark of laughter came out.
And kept on going.
After a minute, the sandwich was gone, and Kyle stood glaring at him.
“Bro, you are definitely laid back, but…that’s not what we all call you.”
Taking what Hunter supposed was a menacing step toward him, Kyle said, “Oh, yeah? Then what do you call me?”
“Weren’t we talking about travel? I had a legit question about that.”
“First tell me what you call me and then we’ll get back to your weird travel issue.”
“It’s not an issue, per se…”
“Tell me what you all call me! It’s not that hard! For the love of it, just answer me!”
Smirking, Hunter leaned in close and told him what he so desperately wanted to hear. “We call you the attention whore. There.” He paused to let his words sink in before pulling back and sitting down at the dining room table. “Now, do you think I’m in the minority because I don’t have any interest in traveling?”
Kyle pulled up the chair opposite him–while pouting–and let out a long breath. “Honestly, yeah.