Protecting Her - Alexis Noelle Page 0,29
go running for the hills. His cocky attitude is still there, but so is an amazing guy that I can’t get enough of. My mother has been in rare form since she found out about us, and by rare form I mean on a fucking war path. Hunter is always telling me that I just need to cut her out of my life but I can’t. She’s the only family that I have and as useless as it may be, I’m clinging to her hoping she will find a way to love me.
We have gotten a few more of the black roses and with each one, the fear builds inside of me. I can tell it’s putting a strain on Hunter too. He is absolutely petrified that something will happen to me. The other day at the airport, he made me go into the family restroom with him so that I wasn’t alone in the bathroom. While his intentions are honorable, his hovering is driving me crazy. I downplay my fear a lot for him because he is panicking enough for the both of us. I feel like wherever I go, someone is watching, waiting. It’s completely unnerving and stressful.
The tour is almost over and I couldn’t be more thankful. I love being able to be on stage and perform but I am absolutely exhausted. Plus, once the tour is over and I go home, the interaction with my mother will decrease and all of us will be better off. Hunter thinks I’m coming home with him at the end of all this but he is greatly mistaken. We don’t have a show tonight and are only a couple of hours from his friend Brian’s house; apparently there is a barbecue today and Hunter wants me to come with him.
Even though I met his friends before, it’s still unnerving to try to get ready and go over there. The first time Hunter and I weren’t really an item; I guess I just feel like I need their approval. I want them to like me because of how much I love him. Brian told Hunter that it was warm enough and they planned to go in the pool. When I grabbed my bathing suit, I thought he was going to have a heart attack. I mean, you would have thought that the man had never seen a bikini before. I won the battle because I didn’t own any suits that weren’t two pieces and I refused to go buy a one piece. I grab a sundress from my suitcase, slipping it on over the bathing suit.
When I walk out of the room, Hunter is sitting on the couch. He is wearing a navy t-shirt that hugs his arms, showing off the sculpted muscles he has. He also has on a black swim trunks with a white stripe down the side. “I’m ready,” I say with a smile in his direction.
“I’m not.” He grabs my hand, as he sulks out of the room like a child heading to timeout.
The ride isn’t bad, mainly because I end up taking a nap. The traveling, performing, and other media obligations have really taken a toll on me. Hunter wakes me by gently rubbing my arm. I look up to see the house and stretch, trying to bring feeling back to my limbs. We walk straight into the backyard and find everyone hanging out on the porch.
“Sam!” Jules shouts, as she runs over to me. She is holding a margarita glass in her hand and I can’t help but laugh. “Hunter, I am taking Sam on a trip to Margaritaville, see you in a little.”
“Damn Jules, you know it’s only like one o’clock in the afternoon, right?” He laughs as I’m dragged away from him.
“What’s your point? After dealing with you, I’m sure she needs like five of these.” She winks at him before we head into the house in a fit of giggles. I take a seat at her kitchen counter while she makes her way over to the blender. “So girl spill, how’s it been with the slug?”
I laugh at the nickname and how much Hunter says he hates it. “You know I called him that a few days ago and I thought his head might pop off.”
She shakes her head as her friend Lacey walks in from the front of the house. “How did I know not to even bother with the backyard, but my first instinct was to check the kitchen?”
“Because you’re