went up to my room. In a small way, I hoped Hunter would have asked me to talk, but I knew it was for the best that he didn’t.
I decided to relax in a nice hot bath. I had to deal with this one way or another. I would have to talk to mom. She had handled Jackson and Chloe’s pregnancy pretty well. I could only hope she would handle this that well too.
After I turned all wrinkly and the water had run cold, I got out to get dressed, but I left my clothes on my dresser. I peeked into the hall to see if the coast was clear and dashed into my room.
I had dropped my towel, and was pulling on my tank top when the door to my room flew open. I yelped.
“What the hell, Hunter, get out!”
He froze in place, staring at my bare ass.
“Hunter!” I yelled again.
“Why didn’t you lock the door?”
I grabbed my shorts and pulled them on. “I shouldn’t have to. Normal people knock first, asshole.”
He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear and took a deep breath. I stood completely still, waiting for his next move. “God, CC, you’re killing me. You need to talk to me. I know I screwed up and took shit out on you, but we can work it out. Just stop running from me.” He started swaying where he stood.
“Hunter, you’re drunk. I’m not talking to you about anything. Now get out.” I pushed his shoulders back a little, letting him know I was serious but I didn’t let go of him for fear he would fall over.
“I’m not drunk.” He was slurring his words. He may not be drunk, but he was feeling pretty good. “I want you so fucking bad it hurts, CC.”
His words squeezed my heart so tight I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I wanted him too, but not like this, not until he knew my secret.
“I can’t. It hurts me too, but I just can’t do it.”
I needed him to reassure me everything would be ok, that we would figure things out together. I gripped his shirt and pulled him close. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath; he smelled manly and clean, with a hint of his cologne that I loved so much. His smell settled me. He lifted my chin with his fingers. He was shaking, or maybe that was me.
“Even if it’s for tonight. I just need to hold you.”
I took a deep breath. I could do this. We didn’t need to do anything and I doubt he would even remember come morning.
“Fine, but nothing is happening, Hunter.”
I pulled down the covers from my bed and crawled in. Hunter wrestled with something behind me. I prayed it was his shoes. I couldn’t have him cuddled next to me, skin-to-skin. Luck wasn’t on my side tonight. He got into bed wearing only his boxers.
“Hunter, put your clothes back on. I don’t need my parents walking in here, and seeing you practically naked, lying in my bed.”
“It’s fine, CC, just lay here with me.” Hunter said, his eyes half closed.
Huffing, I reached under my head, took one of my pillows and shoved it between us; Hunter looked down at the pillow, reached for it and threw it on the floor, then pulled my body so my back was against his chest.
“Stop fighting me,” he whispered.
His arm snaked around my waist and his hand spread out over my stomach. I tensed.
“Stop pushing.” I moved his hand down my body so it rested on my hip.
After a few minutes of complete stillness, I heard Hunter whisper, “I love you,” and then a second later he was lightly snoring. I was finally able to relax and fall asleep. I snuggled up to him a little closer, wanting to take advantage of this time.
The next morning, I woke up before Hunter even stirred. As soon as I opened my eyes, I ran to the bathroom to throw up. I dressed and prepared for the worst day of my life.
Mom leaned against the kitchen island reading the paper and drinking her coffee. No one else was around.
“Morning, Mom.”
She took off her glasses and set them down on the island. “Morning, baby girl, you want something for breakfast?”
I took a deep breath, trying hard not to think of food. “No thanks, I was going to go for a walk. You want to come with me?”
“Sure.” She finished her coffee and followed me to