Mason and Hailey were still wrapped around each other. I cleared my throat. “Um, hello?”
Mason lowered Hailey to the ground. “Hey, sis.”
I grabbed him and hugged him tight. “Love you, Mase.” I lowered my voice so only he could hear me. “Don’t hurt her, ok?”
“So you’re ok with this?” He dropped his arms from around my waist, and took a step back. “It’s not going to be weird or anything?”
“I don’t understand why everyone thinks I’m going to have a problem with this. If you ask me, I think it’s awesome. I may actually get my best friend as my sister-in-law.” I winked over his shoulder to Hailey, and she smiled back at me.
“Whoa.” Mason’s voice caught. “Who said anything about getting married? Let’s not get carried away.”
We laughed and rushed to get shotgun in Mason’s car. I won, but Hunter grabbed my elbow and lifted his chin towards his bike. My helmet sat on the seat.
“Go get it, girl,” Hailey said with a smile.
How could I say no? I loved riding with him, loved the adrenaline rush from feeling free. I wish I had worn shorts, but I wasn’t about to back down.
Hunter sat on the bike and balanced it so I could climb on behind him. I did it as gracefully as I could. Once I sat down and had Hunter between my thighs, I tucked my dress under my legs so it would not fly up. I squeezed my legs around his hips, and wrapped my arms around his stomach. Hunter’s stomach muscles tensed. I loosened up my hold, but he put my hands right back.
What was I thinking? This was not a good idea.
He took a breath, then let it out, and started up the bike. We took off, leading the way to Raven’s with Mason following behind us.
Dinner went great. Everyone was having a good time laughing and joking with each other, just like old times. Hunter and I even got along great, as if nothing had happened.
“Why didn’t Jaylinn come?” I asked the boys.
“She had a soccer game this weekend.” Cooper answered me, but glanced at Hunter making him appear guilty for going to her games.
Huh…
“Are you spending a lot of time with her?” I asked.
“Yeah, he is. He goes to every one of her home games, and tries to go to the away ones too,” Mason piped up. I glanced over at Hunter who was glaring at Cooper while Cooper glared at Mason. I found this entertaining.
“So, how are the parties down here, Kenzie?” Cooper asked, trying to break the weirdness going on.
“Oh, you know normal college parties.” I laughed, remembering the aftermath of the last party at Hunter’s house. “The last party at Hunter’s was a little crazy though. The house was trashed. There were people duct taped to couches and doors and people colored with a Sharpie marker.”
“No shit!”
“Yeah, you’ll see the craziness tonight. Speaking of craziness, we should get over there.” Hunter said while getting up from the booth.
Cooper paid the bill and I followed Hunter to his bike.
“Glad you got on with me,” he said. “I didn’t think you would.”
What the hell did I just see?
“Stick your tongue out.” I told him.
He wiggled his eyebrows at me and smirked.
I put my hands on my hips. “Stick your tongue out or I’m not getting back on.”
“Why?” Then he ever so slowly stuck his tongue out, and licked his bottom lip.
I whimpered. Dear God, he got his tongue pierced.
Mason beeped the car horn at us. Everyone was in and ready to go. Hunter smiled.
“Now, get on so we can go for a ride.”
Fuck me! I wanted to ride more than just his bike. Shit, I couldn’t be thinking of him like that.
We pulled into his driveway, and I climbed off before he maneuvered his way through the cars and into the garage. Last thing I wanted was to be cornered by him. Alone. With a tongue piercing.
Everyone but Hunter walked down to the beach where the fire pit was burning.
“So, everything ok with you guys? It seems like everything is finally getting back to normal.” Hailey said. Mason and Cooper were talking about baseball to some guy sitting near us.
“It seems that way, but we’ll have to wait and see. Oh, by the way, when the hell did he get his tongue pierced?”
She snapped her head in my direction. “Did you kiss him?”