Surviving Regret

by Smith, Megan

  “What the fuck is going on between you two?” Mason seethed through his teeth.

  Cooper put his hand on Mason’s shoulder. “Mase, man, let it go.”

  “No, I’m not just going to let it go. You’re only sticking up for them because you’re fucking his sister.” Mason fired back at Cooper.

  My mouth dropped opened.

  “What the fuck, Mase!” Cooper groaned.

  “You’re what, Coop? That’s my fucking sister.” Hunter yelled back.

  I thought it was going to be a free for all, but, thankfully, Jackson and my dad walked in before anyone could get too crazy.

  “What the hell is going on? Why is everyone yelling?” My dad asked.

  I shrugged. I was not getting into this. I focused on the dishes.

  “Your daughter wants Hunter,” Mason said.

  “I thought you were with Dominic?” Dad said.

  “Nope, haven’t been for a few weeks. But while we’re talking about it, Mason’s dating Hailey.” I fired right back towards Mason.

  My dad reached up to rub his forehead, surely from the headache that we were all causing.

  “And what about you?” he asked Cooper.

  Hunter spoke up and answered before Cooper could. “He wants Jay.”

  My dad threw his hands up and walked out. That made me laugh, and earned me a glare from everyone but Jackson, who also thought this was insane.

  “This is a clusterfuck.” Jackson stated and then he turned around and walked back into the living room.

  Mason and Cooper stormed out leaving me alone with Hunter in the kitchen. He caged me in around the sink.

  “Well, that went great.” He pushed my hair back off my neck then kissed it. “Did you know about Jay and Coop?”

  I pushed back on him, snuggling a little closer and shook my head no. Hunter groaned and whispered. “Stop that.”

  “Stop what?”

  “You know what.” Hunter moaned softly in my ear.

  A throat cleared behind us.

  “Hunter,” Mrs. McCormick said.

  Hunter pushed off from my back and said, “Yeah, Mom?”

  “Could you run me and Jaylinn home now? We have to get up early to go shopping with the girls, so we need to get some sleep.”

  “Yeah, sure. Get Jay and I’ll meet you in the truck.”

  When she left, Hunter crushed his lips to mine. I moaned a little when his tongue brushed against my lips. He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around him. He pushed me against the door. All my muscles started to tense, both from the kiss and from the fact that anyone who walked in would catch us.

  “God, I don’t think I could ever get sick of kissing you.” Hunter said.

  “Good, cause I don’t either.”

  Hunter set me down on my feet and kissed me again before he said. “I better get out of here. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Maybe, I’m going shopping with the girls then we have to get the favors and stuff ready for Chloe’s shower on Saturday.”

  Hunter locked his eyes with mine, those panty-dropping eyes that I could get lost in forever. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He was telling me, not asking.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Four in the morning came way too early, but it was a family tradition so I dragged my ass from bed. My birthday was in a few days. My mom always let me pick out my presents while we were shopping. Mom, Hailey, and I pulled up to Hunter’s to pick up his mom and sister. Before I could knock, Hunter appeared and pulled me inside. As soon as the door closed behind me, he cupped my face and kissed me.

  “Wow.” It was the only response I could come up with at an ungodly hour like this.

  “Good morning.” Hunter said. He drifted his hands from my cheeks to my hips. “Damn, you even make yoga pants looks sexy.”

  “I make anything look sexy.” I said, winking at him.

  He groaned and brought his lips to mine again. When our tongues collided, I lost all sense as to where we were until I heard a throat clearing. Hunter either didn’t hear it or ignored it. The throat cleared again.

  Hunter shifted his shoulder back slightly and frowned at Jaylinn.

  “Can you stop molesting her so we can go shopping?” she said. “Or do you plan on keeping her tied up all day? I’m sure Mason would love to…”

  Hunter cut off her off, “Shut up.”

  Jaylinn laughed and walked away.

  I blushed. “So, I, um, guess I better get going now.”

  He gave me another peck on my lips and said, “Yeah. I’ll see you later.”

  I followed Jaylinn and Mrs. McCormick out of the house and down the steps. At the bottom, I turned back around to Hunter. “What are you doing up this damn early anyway?”

  He gave me that smile that made me tingle and said, “Because, there was something I had to do.”

  The morning of shopping went great. I cleared most of my shopping list but still needed to get a few things before Christmas. Mom bought me a new Coach purse for my birthday, which made up for having to wake up so early. Hailey picked up a few things along with Jaylinn and Mrs. McCormick.

  We stopped for lunch before we went home knowing we would have to start getting things ready for the baby shower tomorrow. All morning, Mrs. McCormick kept watching me. I was not sure what she was up to but something was up.

  We got back to the house around lunchtime, but no one was eating. Jackson paced in front of the fireplace. Mason and Cooper rubbed Chloe’s back. Hunter held a bucket up to her face.

  “What’s going on?” My mom asked.

  “She’s been throwing up since she woke up,” Cooper said

  My mom knelt before Chloe. “Sweetie, what’s going on? Are you in any kind of pain?”

  Her whole body trembled and she had goosebumps on her arms.

  Jackson spoke up. “She’s been throwing up since her feet hit the ground this morning. The doctor said to keep her hydrated, and if she’s no better in a few hours to take her to the hospital.”

  “Ok, sweetie, let’s get you back up to bed.” Cooper and Mason both grabbed an arm and helped Chloe back upstairs while Jackson went to go get her a couple bottles of water.

  Hunter frowned. “I never want to go through that bullshit. It’s no wonder Jackson hasn’t left her side since she got knocked up.”

  “Yeah, she hasn’t had it easy.”

  Mrs. McCormick took the seat where Cooper had just been sitting. “Hey, Mom, you buy me anything good?” Hunter asked.

  “Now you know I didn’t. I don’t like you that much.” She said laughing.

  “But she bought me something, because she loves me.” Jaylinn piped up from behind us.

  “Whatever,” Hunter draped his arm around my shoulder, “You want to go catch a movie?”

  “Not now, maybe later. We need to get started on the gift bags for the shower.” Hunter rolled his eyes. I gave him a playful shove.

  Eventually, my mom made it back downstairs, and we all got started on the baby shower stuff. My dad and the boys all went outside to put the Christmas decorations up. By the time everything was done, we ordered pizza, and I ran upstairs to take a quick shower. Hunter waited for me on my bed.

  “What are you doing up here?” I was feeling a little uncomfortable with him being in my room. After all, we were in my parents’ house.

  “Don’t worry. Hailey and Mason went out to a movie, Cooper took my Mom and Jay home, and your parents are too worried about Chloe to realize I’m in here.”

  He locked the door then lifted my chin so I looked up.

  “Am I making you nervous?” He must have felt me shivering, but it was not because I was cold.

  “No.” I whispered.

  Hunter gently laid me back on the bed. Once my head hit the pillow so did all of my emotions. I wanted him. I had wanted him forever and now here he was.

  Hunter hovered above me, not touching me. I wanted him to touch me. I slid my hands down his back and grazed my fingers under
his shirt. He tensed for a second before pulling his shirt over his head.

  Hunter was handsome with all that tanned, toned skin and those damn tattoos of his. I reached up and ran my hands from his chest down to his abs. He came back down with a hand on each side of me, caging my body in with his.

  “You’re killing me with this towel. I shouldn’t be in here but…” he placed a kiss on my lips. “But I can’t stay away either.”

  As if to prove his point, he lowered his body right between my legs. I could feel him hard and thick through his jeans. I tried to move my hips to get him right where I wanted him, but he pushed his hips harder into mine, stopping me.

  “Don’t,” he took a breath and let it out slowly, “I only have so much self-control and you’re not ready yet.”

  He kissed the corner of my lips, then my neck. He leaned onto his right elbow and reached down to pull my towel loose. Before he pulled, he looked up at me for permission. The back of his hand brushed the swell of my breast and my nipples instantly went hard.

  “Damn, CC.” He said, just before he took one of my nipples into his mouth. He sucked and swirled his tongue around it and did the same to the other side.

  Before I could even think of what I was doing, I lifted my legs around his hips and started rocking. That earned me a moan from deep within Hunter’s chest. I reached down and ran my fingers through his hair.

  He dragged his lips back up my neck and then finally returned to my lips. Our tongues collided and it was pure bliss.

  Hunter rested his forehead on mine for a few minutes and then said, “I’ve got to go.”

  “What? Why? Don’t go yet.”

  “Trust me, I don’t want to go, but I have to go.” He placed a quick kiss on my lips and then started to get up. I reached up and linked my fingers behind his neck.

  Sighing, he looked down at where my towel had fallen down a little more and he said, “CC, I really have to go. This can’t happen.”

  Now, I let go of him and let him crawl off me. Suddenly feeling shy around him, I quickly grabbed the blankets at the foot of the bed and pulled them up to cover myself.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  I just shook my head at him. I couldn’t answer him. He just told me this couldn’t happen. I was stupid for believing that he could want me this way. He couldn’t even tell me he loved me. He’s driving me crazy!

  “CC, don’t ok. Whatever you’re thinking in that gorgeous head of yours don’t.” He bent down to pick up his shirt off the floor.

  I just nodded my head. He came over, gave me a kiss and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Ok.”

  He walked over to the door but turned around to look at me before he walked out and said “Don’t think, just feel it. I know you do; I can see it on your face.” He winked and walked out of the door.

  I threw myself back on my pillow and a huge smile broke out on my face.

  ***

  The next morning I woke up to a text from Hunter.

  Hunter 7:46 am: Missed you. Hope you slept well

  Me 9:05 am: Miss your face, I slept great

  I got ready, but as I headed downstairs, Chloe yelled Jackon’s name. Jackson sprinted past me into his room.

  “Shit! Umm, ok, what do we do now?” Jackson’s voice momentarily cracked.

  I hurried after him. Chloe offered me a thin smile.

  “Hey guys, what’s going on?” I asked.

  “Can you get mom? Yeah, you get mom.” Jackson said.

  “My water broke.” Chloe told me.

  “Oh. Yeah. I’ll get mom.” I said and then bolted downstairs.

  A few hours later, we waited at the hospital for Alex’s arrival. Shower officially cancelled.

  Mason, Cooper, and Hunter were at Jackson’s house attempting to put up the crib, and Hailey was at home with her family. I decided to wander the gift shop downstairs.

  I picked over the variety of little blue stuffed animals when Dominic’s mom called my name.

  “MacKenzie.” She sputtered my name, like it left a bad taste in her mouth. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

  “My brother and his wife are having their baby.” I didn’t get a smile in return. What the hell was her problem? I didn’t do anything to her son. I’m not the one pregnant.

  “Tell them congratulations.” She picked up a Reese’s, one of Dominic’s favorites. “You should visit Dominic while you’re here. I’m sure he would be glad to see you.”

  “Dominic’s here?”

  “Yeah, after that boyfriend of yours damn near killed him.”

  Boyfriend? Was she serious?

  “I don’t have a boyfriend. My last one couldn’t seem to keep his dick in is pants.” I turned from her and went to pay for my toy for Alex.

  Fortunately, the guys returned to the hospital by the time I made it back upstairs. I caught Hunter’s attention.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  I led him outside the waiting room before jabbing a finger into his chest.

  “You put Dominic in the hospital?”

  He didn’t meet my stare. Only nodded.

  “And you didn’t think it was important enough to tell me?”

  “No, he shouldn’t have been talking shit. None of this would have happened in the first place.”

  “Well, I ran into his mom downstairs. She wasn’t too happy about seeing me. She told me I should stop by and see him. He’s been asking about me.”

  “Yeah, like that’s going to happen.”

  He was right. I was not going to see him at least not while Hunter was around. I needed to give Dominic some kind of closure so he could move on.

  Jackson burst out about twenty minutes later with a huge smile. He shoved his camera at us and showed the pictures he had taken.

  Alex was precious with chubby little cheeks and a head of dark hair just like his daddy. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on my little nephew.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  I peaked in on my nephew before I went home for the night. I was exhausted from everything going on. I knew Chloe and Jackson were too, and they needed some one on one time with Alex.

  Everyone went back to our house where we decided to order some pizza and just hang out. Mason and Hailey disappeared after the pizza arrived, and Cooper and Jay were sitting in the living room watching Duck Dynasty. Mom and Dad headed upstairs to get some sleep.

  Alone, and after a retelling of their bumbling crib-construction, Hunter pulled me into his lap.

  “Come away with me for New Year’s?”

  I stared at him trying to gauge where this was going. We always celebrated at my house with everyone, so why would he want to go away?

  “Where?”

  “I want to surprise you with something.” He placed a kiss on my lips to keep me from arguing.

  “I hate surprises, Hunter; you know this.”

  Smirking at me through his dark, thick eyelashes, he said, “I know but you’re not going to hate this.”

  I smiled and kissed him. “And what are we going to tell everyone? We don’t need another argument like Thursday.”

  “Let me take care of that. I know someone who can help us out.” He winked at me.

  “All right, as long as everyone is ok with it.”

  “Don’t worry. They’ll be fine with it.”

  Hunter left a little after that with Jaylinn. He told me he we would come over tomorrow to pick me up because we had to head out around lunchtime to go back to school. I really was not looking forward to going back to school.

  The next morning, my mom woke me up early. I wanted to sneak over to the hospital before anyone else since I was leaving the earliest.

  “So, you and Hunter, huh?” She asked as we pulled up to the hospital. I was surprised she hadn’t asked before then.

  I smiled and got out of the car. I couldn’t exactly answer her since Hunter and I actually have not made anything official. I didn’t want to jinx anything
by talking about it too much before it actually became true.

  “Well, are you at least going to tell me what happened with Dominic?” She asked.

  I scuffed my shoes against the hospital floor. It still hurt to talk about it.

  “He…cheated on me…and got the girl pregnant.”

  “Oh.” Her eyes widened.

  “It’s ok, I’m fine. I was lucky enough to have everyone there with me when it all went down. It hurts, but that was just the hand I was dealt.”

  Mom gave me one of her big smiles, wrapped her arms around me to give me a hug and said, “I’m sorry, baby girl. Just remember everything happens for a reason. We just have to pick ourselves up, and look on the bright side of life.”

  I shrugged. While it still hurt, I was grateful Hunter helped to ease the pain away. If he hadn’t been there, it would have been a lot worse.

  Mom and I visited with Jackson, Chloe, and Alex for a little while before the rest of the family started showing up. Chloe really hoped her parents would show, but Jackson didn’t seem to think they would. Once she had told them she was pregnant, they had completely cut her off.

  Before we left, I asked mom if she would do something with me. She agreed, of course, not even knowing what I was going to ask. I asked a nurse where Dominic’s room was to finish what needed to be finished.

  “Why is Dominic in here?” My mom asked.

  I didn’t know if I should tell my mom the story or not, but I was sure she would have put two and two together anyway.

  “Hunter got into a disagreement with him on Thanksgiving. I didn’t know he was here until yesterday I want to give him closure so he can get over this. He has a kid to think about now, you know?”

  She smiled. “I’m so proud of the young lady that you’re becoming. You make your dad and me so proud.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  Mom waited outside Dom’s room. His mom sat near his bed. Dom didn’t look great. Two black eyes, a broken arm, and stitches on the bridge of his nose and above his eyes.

  Dominic’s mom excused herself from the room.

  “Good luck.” She said to me on the way out.

  Dominic didn’t look at me. He turned away as best he could. I regretted coming.