Page 56 of Hunter

“Are you fucking serious right now?” he’d snapped, eyes glassy with alcohol and anger. “You’re really gonna accuse me of cheating because some random guy messaged me? Jesus, Hunter, you’re so fucking insecure. Maybe if you didn’t drink so much and act like a jealous asshole I wouldn’t need attention from other people.”

He gaslit me so smoothly I actually apologized. I didn’t even point out that having a hook-up app on your phone when you were with someone was fucked up.

By the end of the night, we were fucking in the bathroom like the fight had never happened, like his anger had just been foreplay. I told myself it was fine. That I was overreacting. That the app notification didn’t mean anything.

It meant everything.

I blink hard, back in my dark apartment, chest heaving like I just ran ten blocks. The memory tastes like ash and cheap beer.

That’s who I was with Robby.

That’s who I let myself become.

And now I’m doing the same thing with Charlie—showing up where I shouldn’t, watching him when he doesn’t know, kissing him like I have any right to want him.

I can’t do this to him.

I won’t.

Chapter 23

Charlie

The studio is alive with the usual chaos when I walk in—bass-heavy music thumping from the speakers, the metallic creak of poles under weight, laughter and groans mixing together. It’s a mixed-level class this morning, so the room is full. Maya is already halfway up her pole in the corner, legs out in a perfect split, showing off for anyone who’ll watch. Heather’s on the floor stretching, cursing under her breath because her shoulder is still fucked from last week. A couple of new guys are in the back—one of them already sweating just from warming up—and a few familiar faces are chatting while they chalk their hands.

After changing, I drop my bag near my usual pole and start stretching, legs sliding into a wide straddle as the warm-up track kicks in.

Lucy appears beside me like a glittery hurricane, dropping into a split next to me with way more grace than should be legal.

“Girl, you dodged my texts and calls all day yesterday. I thought you’d been murdered.”

I snort. “Alive and well, as you can see, Mom.”

“Bestie, not mom. And as your bestie, I deserve communication or at least an answering text back if you’re too busy for me. Which should be never, by the way.” She leans forward over her leg, stretching deeper, then shoots me a pointed look. “So? Since you are very much not dead, spill. You’re sorta glowing. Please tell me that doesn’t mean what I think it means…”

“It doesn’t,” I reply with a laugh and switch sides, feeling the pleasant burn in my hamstrings. The music shifts into something slower and sultrier, perfect for warm-up climbs. “But I had a good day.”

“Stop being coy. You are never coy.” She glowers at me, but can’t hold back the smile.

I hook my leg around the pole and pull myself up into a slow climb, thighs gripping the cool metal. Across the room, Maya is already attempting a handspring dismount, cursing when she doesn’t quite stick the landing. One of the new guys in the back is red-faced and clearly regretting every life choice that led him here. Heather’s doing slow pole sits on the other side, muttering about her shoulder the whole time.

I drop into a straddle on the pole and lean back, letting my head hang as I spin once.

Lucy is on her feet now, eye level, her hands on her hips as she watches me.

“Okay, fine,” I say. “Yesterday, some crazy religious people wanted to pray over me on the street, and I had a full-blown panic attack.”

She gasps, the smile slipping off her face. “Oh my God, are you okay?”

“Yeah. Hunter, uh, just happened to be there, and he talked me through it. He was sorta my hero.”

She blinks, her mouth falling open. “Just happened to be there?”

I bite the inside of my cheek as I invert into a basic upside-down straddle. There is no reason she needs to know he’s basically my stalker. “Yeah, he has a friend in the area.”

“Mmmhhmm,” she hums, clearly not believing me but letting it slide as she moves to her pole and pulls herself up. “And then what happened?”

“You’re a nosy bitch, has anyone ever told you that before?” I joke, dropping back down and rolling my shoulders.