“That bad?”
“My mom used to have me cook a killer dinner for all of us, but other than that there wasn’t really anything special about it,” I explained.
Hunter stopped and turned to face me, “Wait, so you got to slave in the kitchen all day and got nothing for it?”
“Not nothing—I got to eat it too,” I half smiled, “and a new pair of jeans like everyone else.”
“Sometimes I wonder if you’re parents are worse than my dad,” Hunter’s forehead furrowed and his eyes searched mine, “I’m still having trouble understanding how you’re so strong.”
“Thanks.”
“You know what I mean…you’re a good person still after being subjected to that strict molding,” Hunter replied, cocking his head at me and tucking a hair behind my ear.
“And so are you,” I responded, “Under much harsher conditions than myself.”
“That’s a matter of opinion,” Hunter replied, and I knew there was no point in fighting with him about it. We were both too stubborn to give in.
“So big party? New Year’s?”
Hunter raised an eyebrow, but turned and continued walking with me, “Yes, we do one big party New Year’s day to celebrate Christmas and the new year—count down and everything.”
“So when do we get to chose our stylish new outfits?” I asked.
“The guys wear the same thing every year; it’s just you women that choose a new outfit. I’m really not sure how it works to be honest with you—Mara will have to help you with that,” Hunter replied with a wink as he slipped his hand back into mine. One more year couldn’t be that bad, could it?
Chapter 35
Hunter was determined to give me the best Christmas, New Year’s, birthday ever, and in his determination he had locked me away in his bedroom with Mara. The worst part was the Mara seemed to know what was going on and was taking great pleasure in my anxiety. In truth it was nice to be with Mara without everyone else around. It was a risk, as I often felt too comfortable with her, and then I had to watch what I said carefully. I could tell from the glint in her eyes that she thought that right now would be the perfect time to ask me about why I had bolted from the common room and acted so strange about the Christmas tree. Stupid tree.
“Do you really hate Christmas?” Mara asked, leaning on her arm as we lay on Hunter’s bed.
“Not at all, I might after seeing Hunter’s dad again though,” I answered as I plopped my head down on the bed.
“Why did you get so upset then?”
“It’s my birthday soon is all—it just hit me strange. Everyone probably thought I was nuts when I ran out of the room like that,” I commented, covering my face with my hands.
“When’s your birthday?” Mara asked.
“Today.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” she gasped and grabbed my arm and shook me.
“You didn’t ask sooner why I was upset,” I retorted.
“We really haven’t had any privacy lately; otherwise you know I would have asked. I’m nosey like that,” Mara replied, her eyes squinting happily at me.
“I’m starting to see that,” I observed as I turned to face her.
“So what’s such a big deal that Hunter has me locked up here with you?” I pried, my eyes wide.
“I have no clue.”
“You’re a good liar. You’ve even fooled Hunter once or twice,” I commented with my eyebrows raised.
“What do you mean?” Mara asked.
“I guess I’m not the only runaway here.”
Mara’s face didn’t change as she answered, “I guess not.”
“So you have no clue?”
“I might have some clue. I figured it would have to be something pretty good for him to ask me to come up here and entertain you. I don’t think anyone besides you and those other girls have ever been up here.”
“I’d almost forgotten about the other girls,” I took a deep breath, “Ughh…”
“So have you guys talked about the kiss?” Mara continued to pry, biting her lip in anticipation.
I shook my head, “I don’t know what it meant anymore than when it happened.”
Mara smirked, “I think you do know, and you just don’t want to admit it.”
“What do you mean?”
Mara sat up, thought for a moment and then seemed to decide to keep her thoughts to herself, “So the dresses this year are so nice. Allan went over the top this year—I can’t wait to make our boy’s mouths drop.”
It irritated me when she changed the subject like that, but in this case I was relieved to think about something other than analyzing Hunter’s actions.
“I can’t wait to see Hunter in something besides a black t-shirt,” I sat up and ran my hands through my hair, “I don’t know what to do with my hair.”
“I was waiting for you to ask,” Mara winked at me.
“Uh-oh,” I said as she stood and grabbed the bag she had dropped on love seat, “What’s that?”
“A curling iron—we can enhance those gorgeous waves of yours. Maybe we can make Hunter confess his undying love for you today. The perfect birthday slash Christmas gift, right?”
There it was again. She couldn’t just drop it, but then again neither could I.
“You forget this is Hunter we’re talking about,” I replied as I pulled my knees to my chest.
“So you admit you’d love that?” Mara pushed.
I tilted my head at her and she sighed.
“Alright, well do you want to see the dress I picked?” She asked, pulling a floor length dress out of the bag.
“I love the colors,” I commented as I looked at the ombre-print black and red dress. It was drastic and brought out the pink in her cheeks. I felt a pang of jealousy that she had natural coloring when I had to load on blush to glow.
“I was nervous about it being strapless, but I really love this little rose on the waist and the color, so I just couldn’t pass it up,” she explained, holding it up to her body.
“You’re going to look amazing,” I stood and took a deep breath, “I assume you want to see the one I chose?”
“Yes, seeing you were so private about it!”
“Okay, I’ll go get it,” I came back into the room with the dress and the heels I had picked out to go with it. Mara looked up and a wide smile came to her face.
“Hello legs!” Mara remarked, taking in the short satin crimson dress with a pleated bodice and ruched skirt.
“I kind of went strapless too—well one shoulder,” I showed her the shoulder strap made of mesh topped with a rose of the same material, “Do you think it’s too short?”
“If the idea is to make Hunter’s eyes pop out of his head it’s definitely going to work,” Mara teased.
I bit my lip, “Your dress is so conservative compared to mine.”
“Believe me I haven’t worn a dress like this to every party. You will have plenty more of these parties to wear a conservative dress to,” She reassured, but her expression sobered when she looked at me, “You have that doomsday look on your face again.”
“Not at all,” I forced a smile, “I’m just nervous about whatever Hunter is doing in the common room that I can’t see.”
“They’re just setting everything up. It’s a party remember?” she joked.
“Don’t women usually set up for parties?” I chastised as my brow knit in disbelief.
“We cook the food, which we did yesterday. They know how to turn an oven on to heat the food back up and put it on the table. It’s just hors d’oeuvres anyways,” Mara responded with a wink.
“I’m not convinced that they all know how to turn on an oven—I’m not sure half the women here know how to do that.”
“Okay, well Rob does and so does Hunter, so I think they’ll be alright. I’m not letting you go down there until its time, so stop trying to manipulate me.”
“It’s my birthday can’t you just let me take a peak?” I asked, and the look on Mar
a’s face was my answer.
“Now let’s start getting ready, Mhmm?” she instructed.
Chapter 36
“Anxious much?” Mara commented, watching me pace in front of the door.
“So when is it time to go down?” I asked.
“You haven’t seen Hunter for three hours and you’re already having a panic attack?” Mara retorted as she blew a piece of her straightened hair out of her face.
“It’s a good thing you did this up-do hair style. Otherwise I’d be yanking my hair out at this point. I just don’t like surprises—they’re never good.”
Mara stood and took my hands in hers, “I promise you this is a good surprise.”
“Fine…can we just go down now?”I begged, clenching my jaw.
“Actually,” Mara began, and I went straight to the door, “Slow down killer; you fell down these stairs without heels on.”
“Fine,” I said as I slowed and took each step with care. I knew she was right, and I didn’t want to spoil the surprise with me ending up on my face again.
Mara laughed, “You’re going to love this.”
“So you do know?” I accused, turning and facing her as we reached the front door.
“You said it—I’m a good liar,” she smirked as she reached past me and opened the door. I wanted to smack her and hug her all at the same time. My insides were doing a complete dance as I turned and looked in the door.
“Holy,” was the only thing I could manage as I stared at the transformed common room. It was dimly lit by sapphire blue lights and white paper lanterns hung from the ceiling for ambiance. The room practically glowed and although the room was crowded I found Hunter quickly. He was standing on a stage that was set up in front of the flat screen TV, which was pulsing with soft blue lights. The gentle strobe only added to the dreamlike trance I felt I had entered. After a moment I managed to speak, “What’s he doing?”
“You don’t have to whisper Kate,” Mara replied as I grabbed her arm.
Hunter’s eyes met mine, and he strummed the guitar once, a smile spreading across his face. I just about melted into a pool of water on the floor.
“God,” I stammered.
“You want your tongue back?” Mara teased, and all I could do was shake my head.
Hunter was wearing a black suit with a skinny navy tie and white dress shirt. It only served to enhance his broad shoulders and small waist.
“Is it that obvious?” I asked over my shoulder, not taking my eyes off of him as he began to sing my favorite song. The sea of people began to move to the music, but I was still standing in the same spot, gripping Mara’s arm white.
Mara stepped in front of me and started swaying her hips, “Only to me—now dance.”
My body had finally stirred, and I started to naturally swing my hips to the beat of the music, “I can’t believe he was hiding that voice from me. I had no clue he could play the guitar, or that there were instruments here!”
“They get bored too. I guess that’s how they sometimes pass the time—the band room is right next to the gym downstairs,” Mara explained with a quick wink as she twirled in front of me.
“I’ve never even been downstairs,” I replied half-hearted. I didn’t really care as my eyes locked on Hunter. He was shaking his head at me with a wide smile on his face, and in that moment everything disappeared. The fear that was creeping into me each night since my injury was gone. It was just Hunter and I, and our friends Mara and Rob. It all felt normal at that moment.
Hunter sang the words to the song pointing at me with one eyebrow raised. His eyes teased me as much as the words, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“This is amazing.” I murmured.
“Don’t tell me, tell him,” Mara instructed, stepping aside as the song ended, and Hunter handed his guitar to Rob who was playing bass.
“Happy Birthday, darling,” Hunter pulled me into a hug.
I pulled back smacking him on his shoulder, “You just killed it.”
“Awe,” his hands fell to my hips, “I’ll just have to serenade you some more.”
“Mhmm…” I played with the lapel of his suit, “You might have to make up for it that way.”
“You look amazing,” Hunter commented as his eyes glided down my body and back up to my eyes.
“I could say the same for you,” I replied with a blush.
He rubbed his permanent five o’clock shadow, “Shabby chic.”
I reached up, loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt a few spaces.
“Oh, save that for later,” Hunter teased, biting his lip.
“Now you’re shabby chic,” I commented as I rolled my eyes.
“I know my ego—it’s just so big,” I shook my head with a smile, and he looked like he wanted to kiss me, “So what do you want me to play next, birthday girl?”
“How did you know that was my favorite song?”
“I checked the playlist on the itouch. You play that song a lot,” he ran his hand through one of my curls, “and it just happens to work very well with my voice.”
“You should know what my next favorite song is then.”
“Same band, works for me,” he replied as he unbuttoned the suit jacket and turned back to the stage.
When I looked up Mara was passing Hunter as she left the stage.
“You look like you have an evil plan,” Mara observed, tilting her head.
“Let’s make our men drool,” I replied, my hands on my hips, and my eyes locked on Hunters as he pulled the guitar strap over his shoulder.
“Best Christmas party ever,” Mara commented as Hunter began to sing, and I began to sway my hips.
Hunter smirked tossing the microphone stand from one hand to the other and tapping his foot to the beat. I felt Mara slip past me and watched as she swayed her hips all the way up to the stage where she went to dance next to Rob. She raised her eyebrows at me, but I still wasn’t as bold as she was. Hunter pulled the microphone from the stand, slinging the guitar behind his back and jumped off stage in time with the beat. He sauntered up to me singing, and I grabbed his tie pulling him into me.
“Clever,” I whispered into his ear. He continued to sing, his eyes speaking for him as I danced closely to him as I ran my hands over his shoulders. The song ended and the room exploded with clapping.
“Let’s slow this down a bit,” Rob suggested into the microphone as he nodded at Hunter and me.
“I’ll be right back,” Hunter told me as the music began to play and Rob started to sing. Hunter put the microphone back on the stand and leaned his guitar against the wall before coming back to me and pulling me into his arms.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked as his breath caressed the bare skin of my shoulders.
“I’m having the time of my life, but what will your father think?” I asked as I leaned my head on his shoulder.
“What will he think? I can already see it on his face.”
I pulled back and looked into his face, but his eyes were bright and left me breathless as they contrasted against the sapphire lighting, “What’s he thinking?”
“That my cock has completely overridden my brain,” he brushed a curl away from my face, “but he’s wrong. It’s my heart that has taken over.”
“You have one of those?” I teased, trying to remind myself how to breathe, but it didn’t seem to be working. I couldn’t believe that Mara could be right. I couldn’t let myself give into that.
“Come on—I have something for you,” Hunter’s hand slipped down from my waist into my hand, and he led me into the empty hallway.
“I thought this was my present,” I replied as he pulled a small velvet box out of his pant pocket.
I leaned up against the wall as he opened the box to reveal a silver heart necklace encrusted with blue diamonds and a single key, “Not quite.”
There was no way I could keep breathing now, “You’re kidding me.”
“Not at all,” he replied as he slipped it out of t
he box and reached around my neck. The heart dropped onto my skin and he rested his hands on my neck. Everything had slowed, and the music in the other room was just a dull buzz compared to the sound of his breath and mine. He sighed as he pressed his forehead against mine before continuing, “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
I swallowed as my heartbeat suddenly began to overwhelm my brain, “Yes?”
“Hunter,” Allan stomped into the hallway, “I need to speak with you for a moment.”
Hunter closed his eyes as he clenched his jaw, “Right this second?”
“Yes,” Allan scolded.
“Give me a second.”
“Now General,” Allan demanded, his voice stern. He slipped back into the common room, but I knew he was standing just at the threshold waiting.
“You should follow him. He sounds pissed,” I finally said, and reality rushed back to me.
Hunter nodded his head and kissed me lightly before speaking, “I will tell you. I promise.”
I nodded my head as he turned away. The heat of his lips against mine killed me, and I longed to pull him back into me. I watched his shoulders tense and his hands form fists as he went into the common room.
“What?” he growled, and I heard his father mutter something to him before their voices drifted away into the sound of the music.
“Kate?” Mara peaked around the door frame, “Are you okay? Hunter looks like he’s about ready to kill his father. I’ve never seen him that angry before.”
“His father has impeccable timing,” I responded, realizing I had one hand on my lips and one wrapped tightly around the heart at my neck.
“I saw him watch you guys leave the room—I tried to stop him, but he was a man on a mission,” Mara ran her hands through her hair, “Are you still having a good time?”
“Excellent,” I answered as I let my hands drop.
“Holy crap,” Mara blurted out, coming forward and touching the heart, “That’s beautiful.”
“He kissed me,” I uttered, my cheeks flushed.
“Like that’s any surprise. The heat in the room between you two could light the place on fire,” Mara replied as she slipped her elbow into mine.
In Between Seasons (The Fall) Page 14