by Claire Adams
I sat on one of the benches, watching as she exhibited her gun shooting skills. For a novice, she was great. She knew how to handle the gun well. Her grip was pretty good, learning quickly from the past training I did with her.
She pointed the gun down to one of the wooden, human-formed targets. After a few seconds of concentration as she locked her target, she fired her gun. I watched the target that bore a hole in the upper arm. She missed her aim for the heart.
Adjusting her stance, she breathed out audibly as she locked her gaze on the target again. In a matter of seconds, she fired another shot. I checked the target, which now had a second hole straight on the left part of its chest.
Every cell in my body was pulsing. Shooting and guns were my life. I hated the reason why she was involved with them now too, but fuck me if I didn’t love seeing her handle a weapon. I reached down and pressed my hand against my cock, which was growing thick and hard down the inside of my thigh. I was far too big of a man for her not to notice.
I forced myself to focus. Perhaps it was a lucky shot.
“That okay?” Kylie mouthed as she looked at me and asked for an approving sign.
I shrugged, expressing my doubt about her aim.
She looked at the target once more and positioned for a third shot, proving her skills and that her second shot was not a lucky blow.
She fired once more and hit the target. I looked at the decoy and found that it had a hole in the middle of its head. My jaw dropped as I stood and turned to her, still in awe to see how much she had improved.
She removed her safety glasses and earmuffs, putting her gun back in its case. My mouth still opened in astonishment, she turned to face me with a smirk on her face. Her hands were on her waist, acting like she was the boss, and in some ways, she most certainly was.
“So, what do you think about my shots?” Her eyes moved down my body, and her lips turned up in a smile.
I closed my mouth and turned my gaze toward her. “I think you’re incredible.”
She stepped closer and pressed herself against my chest. “Did that make you hard, Hunter?”
“No. You did.” I pulled her in for a quick set of kisses. “Where’d you learn to shoot so fucking well?”
She laughed as she pulled from me. “I learned from the best.”
She walked past me, taking the paper bag with snacks, and entered the gun shop as if nothing had happened. I took my earmuffs and safety goggles and placed them back on the equipment chest as I followed her inside.
Entering the gun shop, I heard her and Vince having a light and gleeful conversation. She took a drink from one of the juice bottles and offered him another one.
I watched them from afar as Vince showed her the pictures from the book he read. He was thrilled to have a picture book this time, and Kylie made him feel like the king of the world with her attention.
“By the way, before I forget. You know what, Vince? I bought Cat’s present before I came here.” She smiled as he jumped up and bounced on his feet.
“I wanna see! I wanna see!” He gripped her hands and continued to bounce around.
“Not until tomorrow.” He frowned and then begged again, but Kylie laughed at his reaction. Vince was trying his best not to laugh himself, but after a few moments, he burst into laughter. The two shared a blissful laugh, even causing Garren to come out.
“What’s going out here, giggling sillies?” He smiled.
I walked over and crossed my arms over my chest as I stood beside Garren. “It does sound like they’re having way too much fun over here, right? We should put them to work!”
“Work? No way.” Kylie winked at me and reached over to rub Vince’s back.
“Dad, Kylie already bought Cat a gift, but she doesn’t want to tell what she got her.” My son was complaining to me, hoping that I could compel Kylie to tell him what the gift.
“We can’t push people to tell what they don’t want to tell. Remember that, buddy?” I smiled and reminded him of our previous talks.
“Don’t worry; I’ll help you buy Cat a gift. Something that’s better than mine,” Kylie said, lighting Vince up.
He hugged me and Kylie, wrapping his tiny arms around us. I stared at Kylie with questioning eyes, seeking an answer from her. She returned the same, unsure of why my son hugged the two of us.
I looked at Vince; his eyes were closed, smiling as if he was dreaming a sweet dream. He tightened his grip around us, binding us in a small circle.
“I have the best family in the world.” His words startled me, but his voice was so sweetly happy.
A smile spread across my face as his words echoed in my eyes. I wrapped my arms around Kylie and Vince, hugging them too.
The best family in the world.
Sounded pretty good to me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kylie
The next day, we packed up after Hunter’s errands and headed over to Bailey’s for Cat’s party. We arrived at Bailey’s a little late, but late was better than never. Vince was carrying the present as we got out of the car. Hunter and I walked behind him, watching the little boy run to the other kids playing together.
“You’re late!” Bailey came to meet us, a tray of colorful cupcakes in her hands. I kissed her cheek, greeting her warmly. I went to give her the present I bought for Cat, but she refused it.
“No, you’ve got to give that to Cat. She’ll love getting something from you.” She directed us to the tables and showed us our seats. We watched as the kids got along together even though some of them were just meeting for the first time. Kids were great like that. So open and accepting.
Bailey offered her tray to us, giving us some cupcakes.
“You’ve got to try these. Pick two or three,” she persisted, and Hunter and I couldn’t deny her. Both of us took two each, taking a bite as Bailey sat down at the table with us.
“Thanks, Bailey, these cupcakes taste awesome. You’ve got talent, girl.” Hunter finished his first cupcake and was going for his second one.
Bailey smiled at him, her eyes silently scrutinizing Hunter. It was their first time meeting, and Hunter was making a good impression on my best friend from what I could tell.
“I’m happy you liked the cupcakes. You should have come earlier so Vince could have played longer with the kids in the neighborhood.” She looked pleased about Hunter. He smiled modestly at her, staring back at me as if he were apologizing.
“It’s my fault. I asked for them to wait for me so we could all come together. I had to attend to some personal matters and got delayed on the way here. Sorry for that.”
Bailey nodded. “Oh, I see. Come on, let’s eat. The buffet table’s waiting for you!”
She stood up and went to the table. I looked at Hunter and smiled before we followed Bailey’s lead. The table was filled with delicious food courses for both adults and kids. There were plenty of pasta dishes and chicken on the menu, as well as hotdogs and sweets. I took a little bit of everything, even the kiddie treats. Every dish laid out on the table looked sumptuous.
As I returned to my seat, Hunter was already eating, looking like he was at home. I sat back down beside him, joining in the fun of trying everything with small, tentative bites. Hunter watched Vince out of the corner of his eye, watching his son and making sure he was doing okay.
“He said he’s not hungry.” Hunter looked at me, seeking my opinion on what to do. I smiled at him to somehow ease his worries, telling him that I’ve got his back.
“After I finish my plate, I’ll call Vince and have him eat just a little.” He seemed relieved and returned to his meal. I continued eating as well, grateful for Bailey’s party. We needed some fun together as a family.
Bailey returned to our table with Cat. She was holding her little daughter’s hand as she approached us. The cute and cuddly girl wore a Snow White costume, resembling her favorite Disney princess. She kissed my cheek and laughed with a joyful glee.
“Happy birthday, little Sn
ow White.” I gave her the present I bought yesterday. She kissed my cheek as a sign of her gratitude.
“Thank you.” Her sweet little voice was too adorable to neglect. I squeaked in response, staring at Bailey to express my amusement at her little daughter. She raised her brow before smiling.
“I told you, Kylie. This kid’s going to be a superstar someday.” Cat stared at her mother and pulled the hem of her skirt. Bailey leaned down, and Cat cupped her little hands around her ear, whispering something. My best friend’s face lit up, and she laughed.
Vince came running toward us, trickles of sweat on his forehead about the time I started to ask what Cat said.
“I’m going back outside. Just wanted to check in,” Vince said, breathlessly.
“Hey, you’ve got to eat first.” I took out a towel from his bag and wiped his forehead and back. His big grin was clear evidence that he was having a blast at the party. He nodded and followed me as I took a plate for him and asked which of the dishes on the buffet table he wanted to eat.
When we returned to our table, Bailey was on the low platform speaking into the microphone. She was thanking everyone that came today, especially the kids who played along with little Cat.
“Now, I present to you Cat’s special guest, Mr. Dave, the Magician!” She left the platform, and it was taken over by a jovial man in a glittery magenta tuxedo and a golden cane. He entertained the kids as he showed them some magic tricks.
Bailey returned to our table, sitting beside me to join our little group. Vince had just finished his meal, and Hunter took him inside the kitchen for his shots, which were in the fridge, staying cool. A few seconds later, Hunter dropped down beside me with a soft grunt, and Vince skipped back toward the magic show.
“You could pass as a nurse,” Bailey kidded at Hunter.
“You’ve gotta try to give your kid the best, right?” he answered, putting his attention on his son. He watched Vince from afar, then turned his attention back to Bailey. “By the way, can I take some cupcakes home with me? I would not mind putting on a few pounds with those sweets. They’re worth it all the way.”
Bailey laughed it off, finding Hunter’s compliment over the top. “No problem. Kylie doesn’t like them anyway. She always tells me that hers are better than mine.” She elbowed me, teasing me. I gave her a skeptical look and rolled my eyes.
Hunter laughed. “You can’t object too much, Bailey. Sorry to say, but Kylie’s a tough contender when it comes to cooking.” He looked at me with admiring eyes, expressing his great love for my cooking.
Bailey gave a shrug, admitting her defeat. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
I snorted. “Brother.”
“This girl’s the next Master Chef.” Hunter smiled and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, kissing the side of my face.
I looked at the two of them as their conversation carried on. Hunter was at ease chatting with Bailey about anything. He showed interest in the things she opened up about. Watching them was entertaining. It was like they had known each other for a long time, which was comforting. She was my closest friend. If she didn’t like the man I saw in my future, I wasn’t sure what I would do.
As the magician pulled out his last trick, I walked over to Vince to give him a glass of water. He was enjoying the magic show with Cat, who was seated beside him. The two seemed to get along together really well.
“Wait up; I’ll get a to-go place for you guys to take some food home with you. Stay where you are,” Bailey said.
Bailey returned from the kitchen carrying a large paper bag in her hands. “In case Hunter needed some cupcakes.” She smirked, teasing me. “I’m kidding with you. I’d never steal Hunter from you. I’m teasing. Seriously.”
I started to respond, but the kids ran up, grabbing my attention. I wasn’t worried about Bailey stealing anything from me. Hunter would fall in love with me, or he wouldn’t. I couldn’t do much more than I was already doing.
“Alright, Little Miss.” I bent down and kissed Cat’s cheek. “Happy Birthday again, and I love you very much.”
“Me too!” She bounced around before pulling a stunned Vince into a tight hug. “Love you too, Vince.”
He blushed, and we all laughed as I pulled him close to me and took his hand. “You’re so sweet, little guy. All the girls are going to love you.”
“We better get going. It’s getting late. Thanks again for this, Bailey. It was nice to meet you.” Hunter waved as the three of us left.
The sun was setting as we drove home. The three of us rode in Hunter’s car, eager to go home and relax for the rest of the day. As soon as we had driven down the road a bit, Vince started talking about his day and the friends that he made. “Cat loved the gift we bought for her. Those cat ear headbands were totally cute, just like her.”
“How about mine? Did she like my gift?”
I turned my head to look at him from the back seat. “Yeah! That necklace was the best gift ever. Her mother even kept it in her pocket, just to make sure it would not get lost.”
I leaned back with a smile on my face. The best feeling was when someone appreciated the little things you did for them. I looked at Hunter, wondering if he felt the same.
Did he appreciate me? Because I appreciated him.
Vince carried on with his story about his day. He did not stop talking about the kids he had just met and the friends he had just made. The sparkle in his eyes was evidence of him having a great time. I loved it.
After quite some time, Vince ceased telling his tales and fell asleep. He laid peacefully on the back seat, drowsy from both exhaustion and happiness. He was smiling while his eyes were closed.
“Look, little man is sound asleep,” I told Hunter as he drove along the highway.
He glanced over at the rearview mirror and chuckled, although his eyes were still on the road. “I’m so happy I came along with you and Vince. I had a great time.” He was smiling beautifully.
Despite the fact that only half of his face was available for me to look at, he was unbelievably handsome. Even though people would ask me several times about how I felt about Hunter, my answer would never change.
“Yeah, I can see that. You seemed to get along with Bailey well.” I tried to keep my tone steady but failed miserably. Maybe I wasn’t okay with her and him getting along so well.
“Are you jealous?” He asked the most dreadful question.
I glared at Hunter, my voice faltering as I felt the need to defend myself. “Of course not!” I claimed. I looked away at the window, watching the world rush by us.
I heard him laughing, but I did not bother to look at him. Thank goodness it was getting dark. My cheeks were burning red, ashamed of my own silly concerns. I shouldn’t have asked him.
“Don’t worry about it, Kylie. I’m into you, baby. You know that.”
Just when I was about to turn to him to make sure he was serious and not teasing me, he took my hand gently, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles slowly. It left me feeling secured, protected, loved. It was heartfelt and sincere.
There was no need for any other words. For the first time, I felt Hunter express his true feelings. I looked at him, almost expecting him to say something. Anything. All I got in response was a sweet smile on his face as he squeezed my hand tighter.
It was a new found feeling. I couldn’t fully comprehend it, but maybe I didn’t need to. It felt too damn good to overanalyze and possibly destroy.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Hunter
We all passed out pretty quickly after getting back from Bailey’s place, and where I wanted to make love to Kylie that night, I was too tired. Good thing she was too. Surely she wasn’t upset about Bailey. How in the world could any man choose someone besides her? Long blond hair, big boobs, a sweetheart, and gentle spirit? No way. I was all in with her.
The next morning, I got up and got busy getting things together. I took an extra set of clothes and towels from Vince’s dresser and placed them in his backpack. He
woke up and watched me pack up his stuff before we left to visit Kylie at the convenience store. Mrs. Tomms was dying to see Vince again. Kylie vowed to her mother that we would come by over the weekend to help around and visit their store.
After double checking Vince’s backpack and his medicine kit, I came out of his room to meet him in the living room. He was sitting on the couch, watching his favorite cartoon.
I gave him a pat on the shoulder. “All right, buddy. Let’s get going.”
“Yes! I can’t wait to see Nana again.” He grabbed his stuff and ran out to the car.
I chuckled and followed him, getting in and making sure he was buckled. “I’m sure she’s excited to see you too.”
“I hope Nana lets me help in the pastry section today. I love putting up the donuts and stuff. So many colors and treats to see.”
I laughed. “You’re definitely Mrs. Tomms’ best employee. She will hire you again in a heartbeat when you’re old enough.” I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t call the older woman Nana like Vince did, but it didn’t matter. It was his special name to use with Kylie’s mom. Not mine.
As soon as we arrived at the store, Vince got out of the car and ran inside. Taking the day off was worth it. Spending my weekend with my son and the people who felt like family was the most important thing in my life right now.
I followed Vince inside.
Mrs. Tomms glanced up. “Hunter. How are you today?”
“Great, Mrs. Tomms. Thanks for letting Vince help you. I swear he thinks he’s going to work for you when he gets old enough.” I glanced around to find Vince standing beside Kylie, checking a customer out at the register. Seeing her in the light blue blouse she had on left my stomach tightening. She was stunning. Way too beautiful for an asshole like me.
I turned my attention back to Mrs. Tomms and checked the pastries for the day. “Everything looks delicious. I guess this is the second set of pastries for the day.”