by Paula O'Hara
"You're so fucking gorgeous," he spoke, his voice sounding muffled while I enjoyed my high.
I felt him moving inside me a few more times, until with the hottest freaking moan, he released.
"That's it," he gritted out, leaning in and trailing gentle and small kisses down my torso.
I let out a tired laugh, running my hands through his soft hair with my eyes still closed.
"That was so good, Hunter."
"It was," he murmured, leaning back against the driver's seat. He looked way too good to be real, right now.
I still felt so tired and out of it, as I gave him a small smile.
"What if someone wrote a book about our love story and this ended up in it?" I wondered with a tiny laugh, watching as his smile fell slowly.
Just then I realised what I'd actually said and my smile faded as well.
"Love story?"
33
I hadn't talked to Hunter all week and it really sucked. I missed him. A lot. He had driven us back to school after my extremely awkward slip up with the word 'love' and we'd continued our week as if nothing had happened. But something had happened.
I had fallen in love with him and desperately needed to tell him.
"Oh- I'm sorry," I quickly cleared my throat, "I didn't mean 'love' story. I just meant, you know, like romance, stuff."
Why hadn't I just told him straight up that I did love him?
He hadn't seemed too pleased with me quickly correcting myself, giving me a bit of hope as to how he might really feel about me as well.
__
It was now Friday. I had talked to Hunter briefly at their graduation ceremony, congratulating him and telling him I wanted to talk tonight at Alex's party.
During the start of this week, Alex and I had talked a bit.
He wasn't okay with Hunter yet, but he had started to a accept the fact that he couldn't control and monitor my life.
I knew that the reason why he was so pissed was because no over-protective brother wanted to see his sister dating his best friend.
He did feel let down by Hunter, which is why they haven't talked at all this past week.
I was hoping they could fix things tonight before we'd leave to Thailand tomorrow. Otherwise, the holiday might have an extremely awkward start.
"Alex!" I called, running down the stairs and into the kitchen.
He raised his eyes from his phone, sitting casually at the island table.
There was at least a dozen litre-bottles of strong alcohol in front of him, just waiting to be opened and drank by the teens who would soon arrive.
"When is everyone getting here?" I asked, "do I have time for a shower?"
He shrugged, quickly checking the time on his phone, "about 30 minutes. You have time, sure. I'll get the party started." He added a grin at the end, making me smile.
The house was already a little dimmed down with music playing from the living room. Alex would turn it up once people would get here, like always.
"Okay," I nodded, but before I was able to run back up upstairs, my brother spoke again.
"Will?"
"Yeah?"
He looked uncomfortable, scratching the back of his neck and looking away, "about you and Hunter..."
Alex looked back up at me from the island table and I raised my brows at him.
"Alex, I really love him. Whatever you're gonna say won't–"
"You love him?! Oh, for Christ's-" he immediately sounded frustrated until I narrowed my eyes at him.
He shut up, took a deep breath to calm himself down, and then continued, "you love him, alright, sure. That's cool."
I gave him a simple nod, lowkey amused by him right now.
"What did you have to say about him and me, then?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair, "just that I know you're too damn stubborn for me to prevent you from doing anything. Even if that is getting hurt by my best friend and–"
"Hunter won't hurt me, Alex. Build a bridge and get over it, alright?"
"Alright, alright," he just gave me a shake of his head, "what I'm trying to say, though, is uh- I'll be here to, you know, beat his ass if he ever hurts you."
"Really?" I asked him, folding my arms over my chest. He seemed really genuine, for once.
"Yeah," Alex gave me a small smile, "I'm gonna have to live with the fact that you two really are together, right?"
"Right," I found myself smiling.
He let out a chuckle, "as long as you don't take him away from me completely. I still need him for our guy talks, and shit." Aw, bromances were cute.
I nodded, extremely happy. The bruises on Alex's face had healed well for the graduation photos as had Hunter's, by the way.
"Yeah, of course. You'll talk to him tonight, right?" I questioned and he nodded with a shrug, before I quickly added, "but please be diplomatic, Alex. Talk it out like the adults you're supposed to be."
He gave me a small grin, "yeah, yeah. Go take that shower now, pipsqueak." I let out a small laugh.
I went back upstairs and locked my door once I'd entered my room. I began getting ready; taking a shower, putting my makeup on and finding a nice outfit.
The house sounded pretty full by the time I was ready, the music had gotten louder and the buzz of conversation had increased a lot.
I wondered if Hunter had already arrived, but was unable to finish the thought because of a knock on my door.
"Alex?" I called, hoping to God he wasn't drunk yet. It wasn't even midnight, and he was supposed to be the host of this party.
"Hunter," a correction came from the other side of the door while I was grabbing my phone from the bed.
My body immediately tensed up, feeling nervous, excited and happy at the sound of his voice.
I took a deep breath and made my way to the door to unlock it.
Hunter swiftly slipped inside, enabling me to see exactly how full the house was. There were people upstairs as well, drinking and having fun.
I stepped back a bit to let him close and lock the door behind him. He looked so good. Black skinny jeans and a black well-fitted hoodie, his hair perfectly styled back.
Jesus, I was one thirsty bitch.
"Hey," his eyes met mine after he'd turned around, hands tucking into the front pockets of his jeans. A tight-lipped smile formed onto his lips.
"Hi," I replied, giving him a small smile.
"You look gorgeous," he complimented, eyes moving over my figure a few quick times. I was wearing high waisted black shorts, along with a white knitted crop top. There was plenty pf cleavage, so of course he liked it.
"Thanks."
This felt so awkward.
We both knew we needed to address the huge freaking elephant in the room: feelings.
I rarely spoke about my feelings, but with Hunter it was inevitable.
How naïve had I been to think I wouldn't fall for him?
I feel like I've been falling for him ever since I stumbled into his backyard from a party,
where he'd found me petting his dog and then let me stay the night.
His eyes studied me, catching onto my running thoughts.
"About when you said-" he began, but I just needed to get this out of my system so we could move on and go back to how we'd been before I made things awkward.
"I love you," I spoke.
I watched nervously when his eyes widened a bit, shocked that I would just come out with it like that.
My heart was beating so fast and loud, I hadn't even processed a smile breaking onto his lips before he walked up to me and kissed me so intoxicatingly and passionately I felt like I was complete.
34
"Hunter?" I murmured against his lips, trying to make him pull back from the kiss so we could talk but he didn't. He was smiling and kissing me, holding me right against his body with his hands on my hips.
My hands were up on his chest, feeling how rapidly his heart was beating as well.
Why hadn't he said anything?
At least he seemed extremely happy, which was good.
Hunter kissed me deeply, turning me into complete mush against his hard body.
My whole body was aching for him in every possible way right now, yet my mind was being rational and knew we had to talk.
"You're so fucking perfect, Willow. In every fucking way," he mumbled into our kiss, almost making my heart burst from the feelings I had for him.
If I had been told a few months ago that I would be settling down and falling in love - especially with my brother's best friend - I would have been rolling on the floor laughing.
Yet here I was, feeling things I never thought were possible, along with a pure and beautiful sense of happiness.
"Hunter, please," I murmured, trying to push him slightly back even though I was kissing him.
He hummed lowly in reply, not really caring since he continued to kiss me.
"I love you too," he spoke against my lips, "isn't it obvious?"
My heart was racing while a smile formed onto my lips. Only now was I able to pull back a bit for our eyes to open and connect.
He continued with a chuckle, eyes shining happily down at mine, "I was so fucking stressed you didn't love me, you know, after you misspoke when we were in the car.."
"I'm so sorry, I should have told you then," I shook my head, smile widening. I probably looked like a creep, smiling like this.
"I was just scared. You know what I'm like. Settling down and falling in love aren't the typical Willow stuff."
He grinned, pecking my lips quickly, "I'm glad you broke your little rules for me, baby. I'm seriously so fucking happy and relieved right now."
I nodded, letting my hand drift up towards his jaw to cup it.
"Do you think anyone would notice if we just stayed here and-" I had begun, lowering my voice a little to sound more suggestive and seductive before a knock on my door made me jump a bit.
"Will, open up."
That was definitely Alex.
I sighed in defeat, running a hand through my hair while Hunter just looked amused.
He knew I wanted nothing more right now than to have sex with him but I guess it would have to wait.
"What is it, Alex?" I called out, hoping he'd hear me over the music.
Hunter took a step back, nodding for me to go open the door.
I sighed again and took his hand in mine before walking over to the door with him behind me.
I unlocked it and opened it, revealing Alex.
His eyes immediately moved from mine to Hunter, and then down to our hands.
His smile fell and instead of looking mad he looked a little awkward.
"Sorry to disturb," he then gave us both a tightlipped smile.
"It's fine," I told him, "what's up?"
Alex scratched the back of his neck, letting out an awkward chuckle, "Candy wants to talk to you. She's downstairs."
My brows furrowed a bit, what did she want to talk to me about?
"Sure, I guess," I shrugged, as Alex looked at Hunter.
"Hunt, you wanna come do shots with us?" He asked, making me smile. As long as they could be friends again, I was fine with everything.
"Of course," Hunter cleared his throat behind me, hand giving mine a small squeeze.
To let the two guys talk shit out, I decided to tell them I'd go down to find Candy now.
I told Hunter I'd see him later and patted Alex on his shoulder as if to tell him I was proud of him, before making my way down the stairs and past the drunk and happy teens.
I chatted with a few friends of mine from Hunter's and Alex's grade while getting a drink from the kitchen.
"Willow?" I heard a familiar voice and turned around to see Candy.
Surprise, surprise, she was barely wearing anything. Just a small and skimpy black dress with plenty of legs and cleavage.
"Candy," I gave her a small nod and a tightlipped smile.
"Can we talk?" A nervous smile was on her lips, ignoring the guys that were ogling at her.
I nodded, glancing around. I didn't want to talk here in the kitchen since the music was loud and there was a lot of people from their grade.
"Let's go outside?" I suggested, to which she nodded. I began making my way to the front door with her following behind me.
I ignored a few drunk guys trying to talk to me, before opening the front door and stepping outside into the summer night.
I leaned against the wall beside the door while Candy closed the door and then came to stand in front of me.
"Do you mind if I smoke?" I asked her, taking out a cigarette and my lighter. She nodded for me to just go ahead and smoke, so I lit mine up and slid my lighter back into my pocket.
"So.." she then began, letting out an awkward laugh while I waited for her to start, blowing out smoke casually.
"I love your outfit," Candy gave me a smile.
"Thanks," I returned it, "what did you want to talk about?"
I just wanted to get this over with, honestly, and them maybe find Hunter if he wasn't too busy with his friends.
"We didn't get off on the right foot, Willow," she told me, "and I wanted to make sure we're okay."
I raised my brows at her, challengingly, "oh?"
"And since I'm coming with you guys to Thailand, I just though-"
My brows furrowed, "wait, what? You're coming to Thailand with us?"
How and why? Start of the summer vacations had always been for only our family and the Reeds'.
An outsider had never come along, and to make it worse it had to be Alex's fake and skimpy girlfriend.
"Alex didn't tell you?" She asked hesitantly, looking even more nervous. I guess she really wanted me to like her.
I just shook my head, folding an arm over my chest while smoking with the other.
"Oh... I'm sorry. He invited me and I said yes, I hope it's okay?"
"Sure," I mumbled, looking away.
I guess if Alex had now sort of come to accept me and Hunter, I should be a bit more understanding and kind towards Candy...
"Alex really wants us to be friends," she let out a small laugh.
I looked back at her and couldn't help but smile, "he does, I agreed. He's really serious about you, Candy."
She smiled, looking down at her feet quickly. I guess she really liked him as well.
"I'm serious about him too, Willow," she looked up at me, "I'm not using him, nor am I going to hurt him."
Candy was actually really serious and genuine about that. I slowly nodded, letting her bit-by-bit get on my good side.
"I guess I was just being protective over my brother," I admitted with a shrug and laugh. She gave me a smile while I finished my cigarette.
"That's alright, I'm sorry if I gave you a bad first impression."
My phone buzzed in my pocket a few times while I nodded mindlessly to Candy, dismissing the whole subject.
I pulled my phone out and noticed I had received two messages from Hunter.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then? At the airport?" She spoke, making me look up at her before I was able to read the messages.
I gave her a smile, "yeah, definitely. Enjoy the party."
"Thanks, you too," Candy returned my smile
before opening the door and slipping back inside.
I decided to read the messages here in peace before going back in.
From: Hunter: I want to fuck you so bad right now.
From: Hunter: damn autocorrect.... i meant hey xx
Oh, wow. Okay. Was he drunk already?
To: Hunter: How drunk are you?x
From: Hunter: i dropped a bit of xtc
He had taken ecstasy? Was it wrong of me to feel a little weird that he hadn't told me before he'd taken it?
I mean, of course a lot of people were doing drugs inside, but I just hadn't expected Hunter to since now our plans for tonight might change.
To: Hunter: You're high on ecstasy?
From: Hunter: come here, i miss you xx theres like
five girls trying to fuck and i feel uncomfortable :(