“I’m sure you’re about to tell me…” I murmur as I reach for my phone charger.
“Hunter makes you feel the way you’ve always wanted. That carefully crafted front you show everyone else doesn’t exist around him. He knows you in all the ways you won’t allow anyone else to, and that scares you.”
Her words stop me in my tracks, threatening the thing inside of me that feels too daunting to acknowledge. She doesn’t quite get to the source of my fear, but it’s close enough that panic flashes across my face before I can control it. Based on the sympathetic expression on hers, she saw it too.
Shaking my head, I bury the little seeds of doubt she’s been sprinkling in front of me.I don’t even know why she planted all of this in my head, knowing how much I overthink. She’s already made it clear she doesn’t agree with my dating life right now. This is probably her way of looking out for me. “Whatever, Wills,” I say, pushing my suitcase toward the door. “Hunter should be outside soon.”
“Yeah…whatever.” She follows me to the living room, her disapproval chasing me as we go.
A knock on my door makes us turn toward each other, her face looking as confused as I feel. Hunter always meets me outside. I reach for my phone, double checking that I didn’t miss a message as I turn the knob. “What are you doing up here? Did I miss a text or something?”
Hunter smiles and shakes his head. “Naw, I just figured you probably packed that big ass suitcase, and I wanted to carry it to the car for you.”
“You—oh…” I stumble over my words, my heart fluttering wildly as I get stuck on his crooked smile. Willa’s lecture taunts me.You already have someone who knows you.
“Oh?” The amusement in Willa’s voice isn’t lost on me, and I flash a shut-the-hell-up look at her. “That’s so thoughtful of you, Hunter. Isn’t thatso thoughtful, Ashlie? And he justknewyou packed your suitcase.Wow…” She ribs me with her elbow.
He juggles a confused look between us. “So…your suitcase?”
“It has wheels. I can just?—”
“Give it to me, Ashlie.” Eyebrow arched, he assertively wraps his hand over mine, and my coochie flutters like his command was a personal invitation. I give it over dazedly, my brain lagging at the spontaneous shiver that runs through me. I may not like being told what to do, but something about that was sexy as hell.And when did I bite my lip? “…Ready?” His eyebrows dip as he watches me recalibrate. I nod quickly, glancing at Willa, who’s barely containing her laughter.
Grabbing my keys, I usher everyone out, fumbling a little when I lock the deadbolt. I’m not avoiding anything…except his eye contact right now. But that’s just because he caught me off guard with that “Yes, sir” boyfriend move he made with my bag.
Boyfriend?Shit.
As we walk to the car, Hunter’s arm grazes mine, and I surprise myself by flinching away. “You good?” he asks.
Chuckling nervously, I pull out my phone and increase the distance between us. “Yeah. Just…tired, I guess. I’m gonna make sure our flight is on time.”
You’re avoiding your feelings.
He glances at me a few times, his gaze burning into my skin. I act like I’m unaffected, but focusing on our flight details does nothing to silence my sister’s taunt echoing in my head.
When we get to the car, I slip into the backseat, and both of them look at me like I’ve lost my head. “Can we go? We’re gonna be late!” I sneer, hoping they’ll think I’m just in a bad mood. Willa covers a laugh, and I ignore her know-it-all ass as I scroll through my phone.
When Hunter gets behind the wheel, he looks at me through the mirror. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yep. Just ready to go.” I buckle up and try to ignore the festering dread in my stomach that Willa might be right. I’m avoiding him…and myself.What the hell is my problem?
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
HUNTER
Ashlie claimed the window seat on the plane last night, and the innocent bliss on her face as she watched the clouds turn purple in the night sky did something to me. Made me feel things. This was deeper than shielding her from exes at the club or defending her to her parents. It unearthed some protective brute inside of me that has clearly been biding its time.
I want to keep her softness safe from anything with the potential to eclipse her light. Be her refuge, her safety.Hers.That’s what this all boils down to. Being completely hers is the only thing I want, which makes watching her exchange intimate whispers with Trevor over brunch right now an absolute nightmare.
“You rethinking that bet after seeing her with her boyfriend over there?” Willa raises her brow as she looks at me over her water glass.
The fuck?How does she know about the bet?“I don’t know what you’re?—”
“Save it. I already know, and I won’t say anything to the lovebirds.” She nods toward Chase and Kayla. “Or her boyfr?—”
“Naw, stop calling him that. He’s not her…” The words catch in my throat. I don’t know that. I don’t know anything about their relationship, really—haven’t wanted to. The whole “out of sight, out of mind” aspect has been working for me. There hasn’t been a need to feel jealous when he’s a seven-hour drive away. Butthis—her smiling while he slides his hand over her arm—this might tip the scale.
“You two are ridiculous. Why did you agree to that?” She shoots her eyes across the table and back to me.
