it. Hails and Mason reclined on his bed. Cooper and his friend, Amy, sat around the floor with Hunter…and some blonde girl I didn’t know.
“Hey, Hails,” I said. “I thought I heard you. What are you up to?”
I didn’t look at Hunter. Or the blonde. What the hell was he doing?
“Just hanging out. Mason said you were still out with your mom and Chloe, so I figured I’d wait.”
I glanced over at Hunter. The blonde smacked him.
“Ok, well, I don’t want to interrupt you guys. I’ll be in my room.”
I almost made it to my room before Hunter called to me. I didn’t feel like listening.
“Hunter, whatever you are about to say, don’t. Just go back in there, and I’ll see you later.”
I locked the door behind me and pumped the volume on my iPhone as I listened to music. If he tried to knock, I didn’t hear him. Around midnight, I fell into an exhausted sleep.
The next morning I woke up early and went downstairs to help my mom start cooking for Thanksgiving. I needed to stay busy so I would not think about Hunter. I needed to remind myself to only focus on me, my social life outside my family and my schoolwork. I would not survive my heart being broken again.
“Good morning, baby girl, how did you sleep?” Mom asked, elbow deep in the turkey.
“Fine. What do you need help with?”
“Start with the stuffing.”
The rest of the morning and early afternoon, I stayed busy helping my mom in the kitchen getting everything ready. A few hours before dinner, I went upstairs to get ready. On my way back to the kitchen, I ran into Hunter.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey, got a second to talk?”
“No. I need to help Mom get everything out for dinner…maybe later.”
“CC, please don’t do this. I don’t want you pissed off at me. I’m not interested in that girl. I was just talking to her. She came with Amy. I couldn’t just ignore her.”
I knew she didn’t mean anything to him. How could she? We have not even been here for months, but still, it bothered me.
“Hunter, we aren’t together. It doesn’t matter who you talk to or don’t. Now please excuse me; I need to go help Mom.”
“We’re talking about this later, CC,” he said.
I didn’t answer. I hurried to the kitchen before he said anything else.
Thanksgiving dinner was usually great—food, family, and football. But I could tell Chloe wasn’t feeling well, and Jackson looked like he hadn’t slept all night. Hunter kept staring at me all through dinner. Cooper tried to get him to knock it off, but Mason was well aware of the tension.
“Kenzie, what’s wrong with you?” he asked. “You are really quiet today.”
“Nothing, I’m fine.”
“Is Dominic still harassing you at school?” he asked.
“He is leaving me alone for the most part. How are things going with you and Hailey?”
I already knew the answer; I just didn’t want to talk about Dominic.
“Good.” Mason looked over at Hunter and asked him directly, “Are you seeing anyone?”
“No, I’m hoping this girl from school will give me a chance, but lately she has been really distant, so we will see what happens.”
Mason just glared at him when he said that. I was curious enough to ask him point blank, “Have I met this girl? I don’t remember seeing anyone hanging around.”
“Guess you’re not paying attention then.” Hunter’s cell phone chirped. He read the message, cursed, and stood.
“I have to go. Thanks for dinner, Elle and Andrew. Mom, Jay, I’ll see you guys a little later. I’ll be back before dessert, and then I’ll take you home.”
“Dude, what’s going on?” Cooper followed Hunter into the kitchen. I couldn’t hear what he said but, when Cooper came back in, he nodded at Mason.
“What the hell is going on?” My voice squeaked. The last time something like this happened, I found out my boyfriend was having a baby with another girl. I couldn’t handle anything else.
“Nothing, everything is good. Hunter just had to go take care of something.” Cooper said.
“Quit the bullshit, Cooper, what’s wrong?” I said glaring at him.
“Relax, it’s nothing; he’ll be back. If he wants you to know, he can tell you when he comes back.”
I kicked my chair back and left the table to watch the football game. Mom and Dad asked what was happening, but Cooper smoothed it over. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. I woke to Hunter rubbing my arm.