She peered back at him, nodded, then strolled back to Megan.
“Do I dare ask?” He took the bottle from me, taking a sip.
“Nope.” I frowned, swiping it back. “Get your own.”
“But I want yours.” He leaned down, kissing me. “Has it been an hour yet?”
“No, more like fifteen minutes.”
He grabbed my hand, stalking for the house. “Close enough.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
“What time is your break?” Hunter leaned over the counter, his cocky smile inching closer to mine. My eyes turned to Tim, who was topping off Hunter’s coffee cup, his back to us, before I grinned at my boyfriend. I still couldn’t get over we were together, that I could use that word to describe him.
And neither could the town. The gossip mill was churning out rumors before it seemed possible for anyone to know about us. In the week since Krista’s party, we had spent every moment together, mostly at his place, but I should never have been surprised at how quickly people in this town sniffed out gossip. The rumors ran from a sprinkling of reality to the absurd. No one cared or wanted to know the truth, but once again they tagged me the home-wrecking whore, dividing a man from his pregnant girlfriend and child.
Even though Krista’s reputation wasn’t exactly stellar around here, she came off as the sweet innocent one. Hunter’s actions were easily forgiven, while the women were the hardest on me.
Most painful was how the rumors hurt my mom. She had no clue how much I went through the last year in high school with social media, why I closed most of my accounts. Her new website was now filling with comments like: “I would never hire someone who couldn’t even control her slut of a daughter.” Or “Jaymerson used to be such a nice sweet girl. Wouldn’t have been a problem if you disciplined your child and she learned respect. Maybe you will be more a parent with Reece.” They spoke from their high horses, like they had a right to say something. They didn’t know my parents or how I was raised, they just judged and criticized from their own glass houses.
This was another reason I knew I had to get out of this town.
“I think my break is about one,” I muttered, returning to the present, my gaze locking on Hunter’s mouth as he rubbed his lips together. Not to be able to touch him was agony. We couldn’t stop touching or kissing. I spent almost every night at his house. My parents were less than thrilled but had very little choice in the matter. This Sunday I planned on asking Hunter to come for dinner so they could get to know him better, let all their old grievances go. Mom seemed to be on my side.
“Noah, whatever we used to feel about Hunter, about their situation, things have changed. She lived a year in Italy, dated someone else, but still they found each other again. She wasn’t replacing her feelings for Colton… She simply loves Hunter. We need to give him a chance.” Mom paused. “We need to accept it. We almost already lost her once. I will not risk losing her over this.”
My father grunted, which was as close to a yes as I was going to get to an approval.
“I think you need to come over and say hi.” Hunter tilted in but still didn’t touch me, trying to be somewhat respectful at my workplace.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged, pressing back my smile. “It’s really far.”
The side of his lips hitched. “Did I tell you about a back stockroom no one goes in much?”
“Are you seducing me?”
“Depends.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Is it working?”
A coy smile curved my lips as I grabbed for the coffee mug in Tim’s hands. The door jingled as more morning guests desperate for caffeine came shuffling in.
“Is that a yes?” Hunter traded the coffee in my hands for money.
“Maybe.” I lifted one shoulder in a passive response, but we both knew I would be there right on the dot. He had woken a storm in me, which only grew stronger each time we were together.
His dimple appeared as he gave me a roguish grin before strolling out the door. My gaze stayed on the curve of his ass until a guy in line cleared his throat, pulling my attention back to my job.
“It’s true then?” Tim asked when the line calmed down, his eyes on the garage across the street, his eyebrows clustering together. “You two are together?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought Savannah was messing with me.” Tim shuffled his feet, not looking at me. “Being her usual bitchy self.”
I grabbed a cloth to wipe down the tables, avoiding the disappointment in his voice.
“It’s not weird?” His head snapped to me. “To be with a guy who looked exactly like your ex?”
“No.” I moved around the counter, scrubbing a table. “They are so different. All I see is Hunter.”
“Isn’t he with someone? Savannah told me he has two kids with that girl. Why would you be with someone like that?”
“First, you don’t know me, Hunter, or the situation, and second, I wouldn’t believe anything Savannah tells you.”
Tim rolled his shoulders, his expression darkening. “Whatever. I thought you were different. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“What does that mean?”
His brown eyes met mine, a fringe of anger tainting them darker.
“That you weren’t another girl to fall for whatever crap he told you because he’s good looking and ripped.” Tim shook his head. “I thought you were smarter than that… that you might actually like someone with brains.” He turned around, heading for the back. “I’m going on my break.”
What the hell?
“Oh, did you two have a lovers’ quarrel?” Savannah stood there, cruelty twisting her mouth up. “And here I thought you two losers would last.”
“What are you talking about?” My hand squeezed the fabric, already sensing she had something to do with Tim’s outburst.
“Like you couldn’t see that little dork had the hots for you.” She tugged her purse strap higher on her shoulder, her eyes going wide. “Oh, and didn’t you feel the same about him? I could have sworn I saw sparks between you and little Trekkie children in your future.” She placed her hand on her heart, feigning sadness. “Poor kid, he was so sure you liked him back. You are going to break his heart… cry himself to sleep next to the box of Kleenex he usually uses to jerk off to the image of you.”
“You are such a bitch.” I gritted my teeth. Don’t hit her. Don’t hit her. “You told him I liked him, didn’t you?”
Savannah grinned. “It was dull here. I needed to entertain myself somehow after you let the hot Italian man go.” She shook her head. “For what? A guy who’s already knocked up the same girl twice? Get it through your skull, Jaymerson… He’s just not that into you. You think he will stay faithful to you? Please.” She clicked her tongue. “Luca was so much better. He was wasted on you.” She flickered her lashes with a huff. “Well, no matter. I’m finally getting out of this hellhole. Daddy is taking us to Miami for the rest of the summer, where rich, hot men will be everywhere.” Her shoulder knocked into mine, pushing me back. “Enjoy being just another baby mama to that loser who will spend the rest of his life drunk and high, not leaving this town, reminiscing about the day he was famous for a second.”
As Savannah walked past me, fury billowed under my skin, boiling like a volcano. I have never been violent, usually choosing a passive approach, not to ruffle feathers until I decided to fight back. I leaped forward and rammed into the girl who had tormented me for too long, rage tearing through my throat as she crashed into a table, knocking silverware and cups onto the floor. Savannah hit the ground with a cry.
“What the hell? Are you crazy?” she screamed, her voice high-pitched and full of fear. Good.
“Possibly.” I stepped over her, grabbing her face. “But what do you expect? You can only push someone so far before they break.” My fingers dug into her skin, her eyes widening with true terror. Footsteps down the hall echoed in my ears, but my only focus was on Savannah. “Call me pathetic? How sad is your life that the o
nly thing which gets you off is tormenting others? Talk about living in your prime… Someone can’t seem to get out of her high school mean-girl role.” I growled, leaning in closer to her face. “Sadly, I know you’re about as deep as a Barbie pool, so any big words will be lost on you. But if you come near me again, or even whisper a word about me or Hunter again, I will not be as nice. And Savannah… let me warn you… I’m not the same girl you used to know. I. Dare. You. To Push Me.”
Savannah breathed in, her eyes tracking me like I was a wild animal, claws out.
“Jaymerson!” Kayla yelled, coming into the café from the back, her hand on her growing baby bump. Tim stood beside her. “What’s going on?”
I straightened, stepping back, my gaze on Savannah as she stood up.
“She attacked me!” My ex-friend cried, her eyes going wide, appearing innocent and shaken.
“What did you say, Savannah?” Kayla curved toward her, making my mouth wobble with a smile. I was grateful Kayla saw through her bullshit. “Did you provoke her?”
“She attacked me. I’m the innocent one here. I should press charges.”
“For what?” Kayla tilted her head. “I didn’t see anything.”
Savannah’s chest filled up, ire reddening her cheeks. “You’re on her side? The town slut?”
Kayla shifted her feet, folding her arms, her silence speaking volumes.
Savannah shook her head, her saccharine virtue falling away with a sneer. “Like I care. I’m quitting. This place, and everyone in it, is pathetic.” She stepped forward, heading for the door, but stopped near me, hissing, “Colton’s lucky he died instead of being trapped the rest of his life by you.”
I had no conscious thought as my arm pulled back and then crunched against her cheek, my knuckles stinging with pain. Savannah cried out, falling onto the floor, blood gushing from her nose.
“You bitch!” she wailed, wiping the blood dripping down her face in shock. “I will sue you!”
“Bring it on,” I snarled, my hand aching. Still, I couldn’t deny the exhilaration spreading through every muscle, realizing how long I’d wanted to do that.
“Get out, Savannah.” Kayla pointed at the door. “You no longer work here.”
“I will sue her and this place!” she yelled, jumping to her feet. “Daddy has lawyers who will take you for every dime. You will lose everything!”
“I think your daddy’s lawyers are too busy trying to figure out how to get him out of the embezzlement charges, but I’ll wait by the phone,” Kayla replied evenly.
Savannah gaped at all of us, then stomped out the door, blood still gushing down her face. She slammed the door, leaving the three of us standing there in disbelief.
“Dammnnn, Jaymerson.” Tim’s mouth parted in awe. “You took her down. You know how many people have wanted to do that? That was so freakin’ badass!”
I opened and closed my hand, feeling the pain stab up my knuckles.
“That was wrong, Jaymerson.” Kayla looked at me. “I probably should fire you for that.”
Dropping my head, I folded my arms.
“But honestly…” She put a hand over mouth, a curt chuckle escaping. “I’ve wanted to do that myself all summer.”
“Me too,” Tim exclaimed. All three of us laughed. The shock of what I’d done wore off, but I felt no guilt. One hit did not equal all the horrible things she had done to me and others.
“Why did you hire her then?” I asked, shaking out my hand.
“Her father was the reason we got the loan on this place. He made it clear he wanted his daughter to work here, no questions asked.” Kayla shook her head. “But he’s no longer working at the bank. He was charged with embezzling millions of dollars… That’s why the family is going to Florida. It’s not for a vacation. One of the corporations he was stealing from is there.”
“Why? It’s not like they didn’t have enough money,” Tim scoffed.
“No, I guess he lost everything a year ago. That’s why she was working here and why he was stealing.”
“Wow.” I curved around, watching Savannah’s car squeal out of the parking lot. The pampered life she was used to was going to be rudely taken from her, and she would not be equipped to deal with it.
“Just in case, I’m still gonna go call Jon.” Kayla pointed her feet back to the office. “Clean up the mess before the lunch rush comes in… and Jayme? If you hit someone again on these premises, you will be fired.”
“Understood.” I nodded, knowing the chances were slim.
Tim waited until Kayla disappeared, then helped me pick up overturned chairs.
“That was really awesome.” He grinned. “Seriously, she so deserved that. And it was really hot.”
I finished mopping the drops of blood, looking over at my co-worker.
“Tim?” I sighed softly.
“Don’t.” He shook his head. “I should have known she was playing with me.” He stared at the ground, his cheeks burning. “I wanted so bad for it to be true I ignored everything telling me otherwise.”
“I’m sorry.”
He batted his hand at me. “Don’t worry about it.”
Silently we finished cleaning just in time for the lunch crowd to swarm in, buffering the awkwardness between us.
“You did what?” Hunter grabbed my hand, rubbing his thumb over my bruised knuckles. “You really hit Savannah?”
Rolling my lips together, I nodded.
“It looks okay. Just bruised.” He brushed his mouth over the tender wounds. “You sure no one got it on video?” He pulled me into him, a Cheshire grin on his face. “Because I would love to have seen that. So fucking hot.”
I snorted. “You’re the second guy who thought me punching Savannah out was hot.”
He brushed his fingers over my face, tilting my head back, his huge body pressing into mine.
“Yeah, but I’m the one who gets to show you how turned on it makes me.” He threaded my fingers with his, tugging me into the garage. He had stepped out the moment he saw me crossing the street for my break. “Doug, I’m taking my lunch!” Hunter yelled at his friend.
“Lunch. Sure.” Doug looked between us, a knowing smile growing on his mouth.
During the last week he had been sleeping with headphones on, as his room was next to Hunter’s. This embarrassed me, but not enough to stop me from returning every night.
The other guys in the garage snickered as Hunter dragged me to the back, closing us in a small dark room smelling of oil and cleaning products.
“First Adam. Now Savannah. This is the second time you’ve punched someone for me.” He shoved me against the wall between shelves. “Are you trying to be my knight in shining armor?”
“Someone needs to protect you.” I inhaled as he tore my shirt over my head. “But I didn’t do it for you… I did it for me.” I tipped back my head, his mouth grazing the skin at my neck. “And damn, it felt amazing.”
He leaned back, his irises blazing with desire.
“Good. It’s about time.” He ran his hands down, unbuttoning my shorts. “I always want you to stand up for yourself and not pacify people because it’s easier. I like it that you’ll fight for what’s right, even if sometimes it’s with me.”
My shorts fell to my feet, his hands moving over my bare thighs.
“Don’t worry.” My fingers worked his jeans, tugging them down roughly. “I enjoy fighting you.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
“You’re killin’ me, Whiskey.” Stevie face planted on my bed with a groan. “I know you’re in the happy sex bubble, and as proud as I am over that, my misery is more important.”
I laughed, putting my laundry away. The sound of my sister singing on her toy karaoke machine leaked through the walls from next door.
“I can’t spend another night with my mother.” Stevie shook her head. “Please… save me… or you will have to come visit me in jail.”
“You know you can come with me. There are always people at Doug�
�s.”
“No.” Stevie sat up, folding her legs underneath, a frown turning down her mouth. “He might be there.”
“Actually, he hasn’t been there at all lately.” I shut my drawer. “Hunter actually called him wondering where he was, but he said he was going to hang at home.”
Stevie snorted. “That’s probably code for banging another one of those promo girls.”
“I don’t know…” I curled on the bed next to her. “Something’s going on with him. Even the guys are worried about him, and you know how clueless men usually are about stuff like that.”
Stevie’s lips thinned, but she shrugged. “Whatever. He’s not my concern.”
I covered my face, groaning. “You are so stubborn. You drive me nuts.”
“I drive most people crazy.” She smiled. “But mostly in bed.”
“Speaking of that, no new Disney princess to talk about?”
“In this town? I think I checked all of them off. Plus, I think I’m done with Disney. Boring. Need to try Marvel now.” She leaned back against my headboard. “So… when are we going to head to New York? Please say soon because I’m about to beg Reece to hang out with me tonight.”
My sister’s off-tune rendition of a pop song continued to vibrate through the walls, making me want to crawl out the window, my ears bleeding with pain.
“A few weeks?” I put my hands together, pleading. “Please. Hunter and I are still…”
“Fucking like rabbits.” She sighed. “I get it. Believe me. I’m just so ready to get out of here.”
“I know.” I was too; the only thing keeping me from running to New York was Hunter. I still didn’t know what we were going to do, how we were going to work it out.
My phone buzzed on my desk. I leaped over, expecting to see Hunter’s name popping up. He told me he’d be visiting Cody after work, before I came to the house.
My eyebrows pinched together at the sight of an unfamiliar number flashing on my screen. The area code was not from around here.
“Hello?” I put the cell to my ear.
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