by A. L. Martin
“Mom, nothing is going on between me and Hunter.”
“For now. I see how you two look at each other when you think no one is watching. By the way, what are you going to do about Lucas?”
“Funny you should bring it up. I told him in the middle of the hallway today that we were over. He didn’t like it that much, but he got over it relatively quickly to say the least.”
“I take it something happened at school?”
“Yeah, the bitch pretty much pounced on him the minute told him it was over.” Gavin snapped from the doorway.
“What?” Mom asked puzzled.
I couldn’t say anything except to stand there and shake my head yes. I could see the confusion in Mom’s eyes looking back and forth between me and Gavin. Gavin looked over at me, and proceeded to tell her how we walked in the lunchroom and saw Jayde practically hanging on Lucas. He then told her about what happened after school, even though he wasn’t there when it happened. I couldn’t look at Mom for a few minutes after he finished telling her about my shitty day.
“Londyn, are you okay?” Mom asked, walking up behind me.
I put the plates on the counter, turning around to face her. “Yes. I’m fine.” I smiled.
“Do you need some help?” Hunter said, walking over to me, taking the plates out of my hands. His hand lightly brushed against mine, sending a wave of electricity through my body. Lucas never had that kind of affect over me when he would touch or kiss me.
****
Hunter helped me do the dishes instead of joining the others in the living room to watch a movie. I told him a few times that he didn’t have to stay with me, but he insisted on helping.
“I overheard Gavin telling your mom earlier about what happened at school today. I’m sorry your friend did that to you, Londyn. I can’t say I’m sorry about you and Lucas. I know that sounds mean, but it’s true.”
“Wow…”
Hunter moved in closer to me. “I won’t apologize for what I just said. I’m happy you aren’t with him anymore.”
“That isn’t a nice thing to say! Maybe you should leave.”
He took another step closer, his mouth inches away from mine, his breath warm on my lips. “Do you really want me to leave?”
“Yes!”
He pulled me into him so fast, I didn’t have time to react. His lips were soft but strong awakening every nerve in my body. “Again, do you still want me to leave?”
I let out a breathless sigh. “No.”
I looked up into his gorgeous grey eyes, and the horrible thought of what lied ahead for us popped into my mind. I didn’t want the expression on my face to signal that I was upset or worried about something, so I quickly went back to washing the dishes.
“Londyn, are you mad at me for kissing you?”
“Oh god, no. It’s just been an emotional day today. I hope you can understand.” I gave him half a smile.
He gave me an understanding smile, standing close to me, to the point our arms were brushing against one another. Being so close to him was making it hard to concentrate on anything, and I didn’t need to jump into another relationship. I hoped Hunter would accept us being friends for a little while until I was ready to date again. I would have to keep reminding myself that I didn’t need a boyfriend right now. Then again, I was scared he would get tired of waiting and go find someone else.
“I’m sorry if I upset you,” Hunter said, brushing his thumb along my cheek.
“I’m not upset.” I smiled, raising up on my toes, staring into his eyes. He grabbed me by the waist, pulling me closer into him. He softly kissed each cheek.
“I want to kiss you again, but I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable,” he said, his eyes not leaving mine.
“Please, kiss me.” The words escaped my mouth before I had a chance to stop them.
He pulled me up in his arms, our lips brushing against one another, his breath hot on my mouth. I couldn’t take being that close to him anymore. I eased my hands up to his head, running my fingers through his soft hair, pressing my lips softly on his, teasing his tongue with mine.
“Well, I can see that didn’t take long,” Gavin said.
Hunter and I were so startled by Gavin that he almost let me fall to the floor. I turned to my right to find Gavin leaning up against the door frame, with his eyebrow raised, smiling. “Holy shit, Gavin! You scared us!”
He straightened up, walking over to the far right cabinet that held the glasses. “I came in here to get your Mom and me a drink. Not expecting to walk in on a steamy kiss.” He smirked.
****
Tuesday morning, I woke up with Hunter and our kiss on my mind. I managed to force myself out of bed and into the bathroom for a quick shower before Jules started beating on the door. I wanted today to fly by so I could see Hunter tonight. In a way, I was kind of glad he didn’t go to our school because I knew Lucas and his friends would harass him non-stop for helping break us up.
Jules and I got to school about fifteen minutes early, which meant I would have to deal with seeing Jayde fall all over Lucas. I wasn’t really upset about breaking up with Lucas, but was hurt by the fact Jayde jumped on him the minute he was available. A true friend would do that to another friend.
I could see Gavin waiting for me in his usual spot, wearing khakis and a blue grid, lattice plaid, short-sleeved shirt. Gavin had a way of making things look good that most people wouldn’t be able to pull off. He looked up from his phone when he heard the tapping of my ankle boots.
“Hey, Gorgeous. I see you are looking particularly good this morning. Could it have something to do with what happened last night?” He raised an eyebrow, smiling.
“Hi, Gavin.” I stood in front of my locker, messing with my lock.
“Did anything else happen last night after I left? I want all the details.”
“Details to what?” Sam said, walking up behind Gavin.
“Mr. Good-looking. Londyn isn’t being nice and letting me know what happened last night after I left,” Gavin said, sticking out his bottom lip in a pouty face.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Sam said, glancing back and forth between me and Gavin.
“I caught Londyn and Hunter kissing in the kitchen last night after you went home.”
“What?” Sam bellowed.
“Shhh, Sam. I don’t want Jayde or Lucas to find out just yet. Not that I care what they think, but I don’t want to deal with them,” I yelled in a whispered voice.
“Sorry. Oh. My. God. He kissed you? Do you like him?”
“Yes. And I don’t know. He’s definitely hot, but rushing into another relationship isn’t the best idea right now. He told me he understood.”
“Londyn, he obviously could have any girl he wanted. I wouldn’t make him wait too long,” Gavin said, closing my locker for me so we could start walking to our classes.
I turned to my left to find Gavin peeking out the corner of his eye at me. “What are you saying exactly?”
“I’m saying, if you wait too long, he’s going to go find someone else that isn’t stringing him along. He likes you, but he’s not going to wait forever for you to make up your mind about him.”
I crinkled up my nose, turning to look in front of me as we walked through the crowded hall. I couldn’t believe he said that to me. But, I knew he was right. I just didn’t want to admit it to him because he would never let me live it down.
“You can crinkle your nose in disapproval all you want. You know I’m right.” He opened my class door for me. “I will see you at lunch later. Think about what I said, Londyn.”
I spent the next couple of hours doing exactly what Gavin told me to do, and that was think about Hunter. I did like him, but I knew what would happen if I tried to see him all the time. I knew Dad would not allow me to date him, even though I was going away to college in less than a year. He would never pass “Dad’s Standards,” even though he’s not the one dating him.
****
&nbs
p; “Why do you look so sad, love?” Gavin asked, wrapping his arm around me as we walked the rest of the way to my locker.
“I’ve been thinking about Dad and his disapproval of Hunter based on his social status. You know he’s going to treat him like shit because of where he lives, and especially where he goes to school,” I sighed, flinging my locker door open.
“Well, you are probably right there. Is he worth the fight you are about to endure? That is the most important question. If you say no, then walk away, Londyn. If you aren’t willing to fight for him, then do yourself and him a favor by walking away now.”
In those few sentences were the best advice I think Gavin had ever given me about anything. What he was saying made perfect sense, and would probably be the best thing for everyone. I also knew I wouldn’t be able to just walk away either. Then again, I wasn’t sure I would be able to handle Dad’s incessant lectures about how Hunter was going to drag our name through the mud and distract me from my future plans.
“Londyn, you okay?” Gavin’s voice was low and serious.
“Huh? Yeah. Just a lot on my mind. Besides, I don’t know what is going to happen with me and Hunter. I might be worrying for no reason.”
“You seriously didn’t just say that to me, did you? He is crazy about you already. Anyone that saw you two together would agree with me. Let’s go face the lunchroom drama together.” He smiled, closing my locker for me, then wrapping his arm around mine. “You’re one lucky girl. You’re pretty, a great looking guy wants to be with you, and most importantly…you have me for a best friend.”
“Yeah.” I smiled back at Gavin. He always had a way of making me smile when no one else could. I just wished he could find someone. He had so much to give, and anyone would be crazy not to want to be with him. “One of these days, the right guy is going to come along, and he’s going to be wondering why he wasted so much time finding you.”
He smiled, then nudged me with his arm while we kept walking down the hall toward the lunchroom. I dreaded going into the lunchroom with everything that had happened the last few days. I had to show Lucas that our breakup wasn’t bothering me, and that he could be with whoever he wanted, even if that person was Jayde. We walked through the cafeteria doors five minutes later to find Jayde practically crawling into Lucas’s lap by how she was sitting next to him. They were surrounded by his friends. I browsed over the lunchroom, trying to find Sam since she wasn’t sitting at our usual table by Lucas and his friends. After a few minutes of glancing through the scattered tables full of kids eating, talking, and laughing, I finally found her toward the back of the lunchroom, off to the side. I could’ve walked out and around to avoid Lucas and Jayde, but I chose the other option. I paraded right past them, tilted my head low enough, and told Jayde she would get what she deserved being with him. I could hear Gavin snickering behind me, as I kept walking toward Sam. She was sitting at square table, looking down at her phone, taking tiny sips of her bottle of water. She had her hair up in a bun, with strands of her curly hair hanging down around her face.
Gavin was still laughing when he sat down to the left of me at the table. Sam looked up from her phone, her eyes narrow, staring at Gavin.
“Don’t mind him. He’s laughing at what I said to Jayde on our way over here.”
“It was great! The look on her face was priceless.”
Sam sat there waiting, glancing back and forth between the both of us before she finally demanded that Gavin tell her what I had said.
“Oh. My. God. It was the best. Not so much what she said, but the reaction on Jayde’s face. Londyn leaned down a little bit, and told her she will get what she deserves be being with him. She couldn’t even come back with anything. She sat there speechless, glaring at Londyn.”
Sam started giggling herself, and that got Gavin laughing again. I told them I was going to get a snack and a bottle of water, while they continued to sit there making comments and laughing even harder. I didn’t walk past Jayde again. I figured once was good enough, and I made my point clear to her the first time I passed by. I knew he would get tired of her the same way he eventually got tired of me. I grabbed some veggies from the salad bar and a bottle of water, then went back to join the giggle buddies at the table. We sat there talking about what to do after school Friday night, since I would be going back to Dad’s house Sunday afternoon.
Chapter 10
The rest of the day went just the same as it did that morning before lunch. I went to my last two classes of the day, not really paying attention. I knew I was going to regret it in a couple of days when it came time to take the test. The last bell rang, I grabbed my stuff, and headed out to the car to wait for Jules. I headed out the side door of the school, checking my phone, not paying attention to anything around me. No one had reached their cars yet, so I didn’t have to look for kids racing out of the parking lot.
“It’s about time you come out.”
I slowly raised my head up from my phone and found myself inches away from Hunter who was, leaning back on the hood of my car, his arms and feet crossed. “Hi. How long have you been waiting here?” I smiled, looking around the parking lot to make sure Lucas or Jayde wasn’t around.
He looked so good there against my car in his jeans and tight T-shirt, his grey eyes so bright and filled with such compassion already. It scared me a little bit, especially with the struggle that lied ahead of us if we decided to be a couple.
“I’ve been here close to fifteen minutes. You guys get out of school a little later. Do you have any plans this afternoon after you take your sister home?”
“I have some homework to do later, but other than that, nothing. Why?”
“I was hoping to take you over to my house. My dad has been wanting to meet you.”
“I would love to meet your dad.” I smiled, moving closer to Hunter.
“Hey Hunter!” Jules yelled, walking up to the car. “Are you coming over today?”
“No. I’m going to take Londyn over to my house,” he said, smiling, glancing between her and the boy standing next to her.
“Jules, where are you manners?” I said, smiling.
“Oh. Sorry. This is Asher Banks, the guy I was telling you about. Asher, this is my sister Londyn, and her new boyfriend Hunter.
My eyes widened and my mouth fell open as I quickly glanced over to see Hunter’s reaction to what she said. He didn’t say anything, but instead looked down at me and smiled, reaching for my hand. I didn’t want to correct her and risk upsetting Hunter, but I didn’t know if we were a couple or not.
“Londyn, I texted Mom and told her I was going to the coffee café with Asher and that he would take me home later.” Jules turned walking off with Asher, talking and laughing.
“Well, I guess I don’t have to take her home. Do you want to follow me to my house, and then I can go with you in your vehicle?”
“Sure.” He leaned down, scanning side to side, then gave me a quick kiss. “I will follow right behind you.” He walked five rows over to his truck.
I walked around to the passenger door and put my book bag in the car. I turned to see Hunter over in his SUV, watching me as I walked around the car to get in the driver’s seat. Every few miles, I would check in my rearview mirror to make sure Hunter was still following me. I didn’t know why I was worried; he knew how to get to my house.
“Mom, are you home?” I yelled, opening the front door and placing my book bag in the chair next to the entry way table.
“I’m in the kitchen. “She peeked her head out of the kitchen. “Hi, Hunter. Are you staying for dinner?” She smiled.
“Actually, I was going to take Londyn over to my house, if that is okay? My dad has been wanting to meet her.”
“Sure, have fun.”
“I will be home later, Mom. I have homework to do for school tomorrow and Thursday,” I said, giving her a hug.
“Go! Have fun.”
Hunter held my hand down the steps of the front porch and while he open
ed the passenger door for me. I could remember only a few times in the years that Lucas and I dated that he ever held the door open for me. It was kind of nice to have someone be chivalrous for a change.
Once he pulled out of our driveway, he placed his hand on top of mine which was resting on my leg. I peeked down and smiled at the sight of him holding my hand.
“My house isn’t what you are used to. I don’t want you to be shocked when you see it.” He kept his eyes on the road.
“Hunter, I’m not like my friends. Don’t you realize that?”
“I know you aren’t like them, but I don’t want you to be shocked when you see it. It’s kinda small. It’s just my dad and I, so we don’t need a great big house.
I didn’t know if I should’ve felt insulted because I already told him I wasn’t like most of the kids that went to my school.
About fifteen minutes later, we arrived at Hunter’s house. I was shocked at how nice it truly was on the outside. He made it sound worse than it actually was. Not that it mattered what kind of house he lived in. It was a dark brick, ranch style house with black shutters and a red door.
“I told you it was small.”
“I like it.” I smiled, squeezing his hand softly.
He told me to stay put, while he got out of the SUV and came around to open my door for me, offering me his hand for help. He held onto my hand, walking up to the front door. Right as he reached for the door knob, it opened up wide and there stood who I assumed was his Dad. He was an older looking Hunter with salt and pepper hair, and his grey eyes had a hint of blue.
“This must be Londyn. Hi, I’m Trevor, Hunter’s dad. Please come in,” he said, holding the door open for me.
“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you,” I said, holding out to shake his dad’s hand.
“It’s nice to finally meet you too. I’ve been trying to get him to invite you over. Guess my nagging finally paid off.” He laughed.
“Glad it did work.” I laughed along with his dad.
Hunter took me by the hand and led me through an arch way into the living room. The dark wood floors were peeking out from under a big maroon and brown area rug. In the corner was a brown suede sectional, and a recliner next to it. The TV was mounted on the wall to the left of us. The walls were a light beige color, and the windows were trimmed in white.