by Nicole Dykes
I shake my head, “Sure.”
“I’m happy we can be friends is all I’m saying. Even though you won’t talk about real things with me.”
I sigh, “Cassie, if you need to talk about something I’ll be here.” Probably not smart to say. “But I’m not just having open conversations about sex.”
She grins at that and then finishes her food as we pull into my driveway, “Thank you, Hunter for the burger. You’re such a nice guy.”
She really wouldn’t think I was a nice guy if she could read my thoughts. Like the way her fucking tank top hugs her curves in all of the right places. How her ripped jeans, showcase her perfect ass. Yeah, totally not a nice guy. “No, I’m not.”
She laughs and unbuckles turning herself in the passenger seat so her legs are folded up and her whole body is facing me. “Yes you are. I dated a real asshole in high school.” I remember Luke telling me about Cassie’s ex-boyfriend, Brent, several times. He hated him and even got into a couple of fights with him.
“Yeah, I know.”
She nods her head like it doesn’t surprise her that I know, “Everyone hated him in my family and tried to talk me out of it, but it kind of made it hotter. Then he dumped me and I was heartbroken.” My heart pangs for her. The girl has been through a lot. “After that I thought I should try a nice guy. So, I dated Austin for a while. He was so sweet, Hunter. Like the sweetest guy you could ever want and he treated me like a fucking princess.”
Okay. I don’t know why she is telling me all of this stuff, “Cassie, we should go inside.”
She places her hand on my shoulder, “No wait, you said if I needed to talk we could. We are just talking and I’m not going to say blowjob or anything.”
Damn. Hearing that word coming from her mouth shouldn’t make my cock twitch, but it does. See not a nice guy at fucking all. “Alright.”
She drops her hand, satisfied, “Like I was saying, Austin was incredible. He put me first always, he respected me which is what Dylan said I should look for. On paper, he was perfect. Maybe not panty dropping hot, but he’s cute. Kind of dorky, but when he kissed me I felt nothing. It was like blah. Like kissing a cousin.”
Wow. “Okay, so he wasn’t the one. You’re only eighteen.”
“Yeah, but it just makes me think.”
Don’t ask, Hunter. Just don’t. I sigh, “What does it make you think, Cassie?”
She bites her lower lip, but I’m not sure she even knows she’s doing it. “Maybe I’m only attracted to assholes. Maybe they are the only ones that can drive me wild and get me hot.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding in, “Cassie, we should go inside.”
She leans her body closer to mine, her stomach resting against the console between us and places her palm on my chest. I’m certain she can feel my heart about to pound right out of my chest, “I’ve been thinking a lot this week. You would be a great test to that theory.”
What the hell is she talking about? I have to ask, “What do you mean?”
Her face is entirely too close to me, she’s leaned impossibly close, “Kiss me.”
“What?” She’s been drinking. A lot.
“Kiss me. You are a nice guy. Certainly, not an asshole.” Wrong. “So please just kiss me so I can see if I’m broken.”
I look into her beautiful eyes, they are surrounded by makeup, but it’s still her. The girl I danced with to the Chicken Dance at the wedding and spent several hours talking to that night. “You are not broken. You don’t need a kiss for that.”
“But don’t you get it? If you kiss me and it turns me on, then I’ll know that I’m not. If you kiss me and I feel nothing, then I’ll know that I’m just a broken mess like everyone thinks. That I’m destined to only be with assholes.”
I have to get out this truck. If I stay any longer her theory will seem plausible and I’ll want to prove her wrong. I cannot kiss Cassie Monroe. Not under any circumstance.
I reach for the handle and open my door, seeing the hurt on her face. I convince myself that she will forgive me tomorrow when she is sober. I walk around to her side of the truck and open her door, helping her out. She’s pissed at me, but maybe that’s a good thing right now.
She’s finally quiet as we walk up the porch. I didn’t notice in the truck, but the party has been shut down. When we walk inside, the house is quiet. Thanks Cam.
Cassie looks around, “Wow, he actually listened to you.”
I’m just as surprised as she is. I gesture for her to follow me, “You can take my room.”
She follows and when we pass Cam’s room we hear a loud feminine moan. No mistaking what that was and then followed by Cam’s voice. Cassie giggles, “Cam’s getting some tonight at least.”
I smirk and shake my head as we walk into my room. I flick on the light switch and Cassie walks right over to my made bed and sits on it, looking around, “You are super clean!”
I laugh, “Habit from my childhood I guess.”
She nods her head, “This is a comfortable bed.” She kicks off her shoes. “You gonna join me?”
I shake my head, “I’m sleeping on the couch.” I go to my dresser, “I’ll find you something to sleep in.”
I hear her stand up from the bed as I’m searching and finally find an old high school t-shirt of mine and some old sweats with a draw string. I turn around to hand them to her just as Cassie tosses her tank top on the ground.
Fuck me. I’m only human. I admit my eyes move down to see that she’s now in a lacey black bra and I can see the top of her perfect, full breasts. I hand her the clothes, “Fuck, Cassie. Put these on!”
She rolls her eyes dramatically, “Jesus, Hunter. They are just boobs. I’m sure you have seen lots. I’m just changing for bed.”
Her hand goes to the clasp on the back and I turn around, “Cassie you are drunk. You need to sleep this off.”
I stay that way until I hear, “I’m decent now.”
I turn around and she’s wearing only my t-shirt. Decent hell. It barely covers her ass and her nipples are visibly poking through the thin material on my shirt. This girl is killing me.
I walk over to my bed and pull down the comforter and sheets, gesturing for her to get in. She walks over to me, but doesn’t climb in. She stands inches from me, “Kiss me.”
“No.”
“Are you gay?”
What the fuck? For some reason that is not the question I expected next. “What? No.”
“Well my roommate Dani said that no one ever sees you with girls and there are no rumors or stories about you being a player going around campus. You freaked out at the sight of my boobs and you don’t want to kiss me.”
I move in closer than I should, our lips nearly touching. “Cassie, it’s not about want.” I force myself to pull back. “Now go to sleep. I’m going to sleep alone in the living room. Goodnight.”
With that, I walk over to the door and breath out in relief when she gets into my bed. I turn off the light and leave, closing the door behind me.
I find a spare blanket and walk past beer bottles and red solo cups, making a path to the couch. I lay down and close my eyes, seeing her beautiful face and her full lips before finally drifting off to sleep.
“Hunt, what the fuck are you doing on the couch?”
I open my eyes and see Cam standing in front of me. I slowly sit up, “Someone is in my room.”
Cam’s eye bug out, “Shit, did someone fuck in your bed last night? I told them the bedrooms were off limits.”
I shake my head, “No.”
His eyes grow larger and sits next to me on the couch, “Holy shit, did you finally pop your cherry?”
I roll my eyes. Those jokes never get old. “I haven’t been a fucking virgin for a while.”
“Yeah I know, but they say it grows back after an extended period of time. I mean it’s been two fucking years since Miranda.”
I cringe at her name. My high school girlfriend. The only girl I ever said �
��I love you’ to, who crushed me my freshman year of college. The only woman I’ve ever been with. This fact kills Cam. “No, I didn’t have sex last night. Cassie is in my room, thanks to you and your dumbass party.”
He stands up, excitedly, “Holy shit, Cassie is in there?”
He points to my room and I nod. “She was locked out and really drunk. I had no choice.”
He grins, “Of course you didn’t buddy. And I’m sure nothing happened.”
“Nothing did happen.”
He starts walking back, “I’m just gonna peek in and see if she wants breakfast.”
I get up and chase after him, “No you aren’t.”
It’s too late and he’s already opened my bedroom door, “What the fuck, Hunt. Cassie isn’t in here.”
I open the door wider to see he’s right. What the hell? I notice the window is cracked. She snuck out my bedroom window?
I have to find out if she’s okay.
Chapter 11
Cassie
I finally make it back to my dorm, the bright morning sunlight making my headache from my hangover worse. I walk inside wearing the same clothes I went out in. I left Hunter’s t-shirt folded on his bed.
I feel like I’m going to throw up. I made a huge ass out of myself last night. On my list of fuckups, last night is pretty high up there.
I walk inside the building and take the elevator up to my floor. Avoiding eye contact with everyone I see. They all think I’m doing the walk of shame. I am, but not the traditional one. I finally get to my room and knock on the door, praying Dani is back.
She opens the door with a grin, “Hey! Look at you! Out all night.”
She’s way too damn cheery. I brush past her and into our room, collapsing on my bed. “Yeah, well I had to be since you have my keys and phone.”
She covers her mouth and sits on my bed, digging through her purse. The jostle of the bed makes me nauseous. She pulls out my stuff and sits it next to her on the bed. “Oh shit, Cass. I’m so sorry. I totally forgot.”
“So did I until I couldn’t get in last night.”
“Oh wow. So, who did you stay the night with then?”
There is a happy curiosity in her tone that is pissing me off, but I don’t feel like arguing right now. “I stayed at Hunter and Cam’s.”
“Whose room?”
I sit up slowly, “Seriously? Nothing happened.” Except me making an ass out myself and asking Hunter to kiss me several times. She’s still waiting for an answer, “Hunter’s. He slept out on the couch.”
“Boring.”
“You know something really bad could have happened right? You just left me there with nothing!”
“I’m so sorry Cassie. I swear I didn’t plan on it. I couldn’t find you and Travis and I needed to find some privacy. The bedrooms were apparently off limits.”
“You could have looked harder.”
She nods, “I’m sorry. I’m a bitch. The worst friend ever.” She mocks begging for forgiveness with her hands folded together at her chin. “Please forgive me.”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
She laughs and drops her hands. “I know. I really am sorry though. It’ll never happen again, I swear.”
“You’re damn right it’s not happening again because I am never going to another party again. I’m sure as hell never drinking again.”
She laughs at that. “Yeah right, Cass.” I stare at her, not changing my serious expression. She sighs, “Okay, what happened with Hunter?”
I groan. I know I’ll eventually tell her anyway. “I totally threw myself at him.”
She lays back on the bed, her feet dangling over the edge, “Uh, like poking you lip out and shit? I’m sure he didn’t even notice.”
I shake my head, “No, like begging him to kiss me and taking my shirt off.”
She pops up, “Holy shit! You didn’t?”
“I did.”
“And? He didn’t go for it?”
I shake my head again, “No. He was a total gentleman.”
“Gay.”
“He’s not gay. I don’t know how I know, but I just do. He’s not. And I asked him if he was last night. So, thanks for putting that in my head. He confirmed he is straight. He’s just not into me.”
She has a fit of laughter at that, “Oh shit, Cassie. You are hilarious. So, what did you do?”
“Nothing, I slept in his bed while he slept on the couch. When I woke up this morning I climbed out of his window and walked here.”
“You didn’t even wake him up?”
I’m about to answer that and then there is a loud knock on the door. I look at her, “Tell me you are expecting someone.”
“Sorry. I’m not.” She stands up and walks to the door.
Hunter’s muffled voice comes from the other side of the door along with another knock. “Cassie, are you here?”
My eyes widen and I sit up on the bed, “Don’t answer it.”
She looks at me like I’m insane, “I’m not letting him stand out there worried.” She opens the door, “Hey, Hunter. I’m Dani.”
“Hi, is Cassie here?”
I see Dani move away from the door and motion for him to come in. Which he does. He walks over to where I’m sitting and my heart is pounding. His hair is combed, but not wet. He’s wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but it’s obvious he just got dressed and came right over when he woke up. Guys can do that. I probably look like the walking dead right now.
He looks pissed, “Cassie, what the hell? You scared the shit out of me!”
I stammer out, “I’m so sorry, I just didn’t want to wake you up.”
“I didn’t know if you made it here or not. You didn’t answer your phone.”
I pick my phone up off of the bed and try to turn it on, “It’s dead. I’m sorry.”
He softens and Dani, who I honestly forgot was there clears her throat and says, “Well, it was nice to meet you Hunter. I’m gonna go get something to eat.”
I nod and Hunter turns to her, “It was nice to meet you too. Thanks for letting me in.”
She grins and then when he turns back to me she mouths, “So fucking hot!” over at me.
I motion for her to leave and she laughs as she closes the door behind her. I gesture toward the desk chair. “Want to sit down?”
Hunter is tall and it’s honestly making me dizzy looking up at him. Luckily, he takes a seat. “So why did you leave?”
“Are you kidding me? I’m humiliated.”
“Why?” He grins, knowing exactly why.
“I made a total ass out of myself, Hunter.”
He shakes his head, “Nah, you just got a little drunk.”
“And asked you to kiss me.”
He laughs, “It happens.”
It probably does happen to him a lot. “I showed you my boobs.”
That gets to him and if I didn’t know better I would say that he may be turned on by the memory. “I actually turned away.”
I smile, he may have turned away before I took my bra off, but I know he saw plenty. I play along, “So it didn’t count?”
“Nope.” He adds, “Besides I’ve seen people way worse off than you were last night.”
“Really? Like how?”
“Well I’ve seen people puking on themselves and on other people. I’ve seen people passed out and others drawing on them. Guys stripped naked and left in the middle of campus. Trust me, last night was nothing.”
We barely know each other, but somehow he knows how to make me feel a little better. I drop my face in my hands, “I’m just always messing up. I came to college thinking I could change, but I haven’t. I’m just the same ole’ Cassie.”
He takes my hands in his much larger ones and pulls them gently from my face, “What the hell is wrong with the ‘Old Cassie’? I like her.”
“Yeah because she showed you her boobs.” I tease.
“I liked you long before that.”
“I just make terri
ble decisions.”
“Like what?”
He seems genuinely interested, “Like in high school, I fell hard for Brent. I let him talk me into all sorts of crazy things. Sneaking out and one time he even convinced me to skip class and go back to my house to have sex. Dylan caught us before anything happened, but made him walk home naked.”
I wait for his face to sure pure horror, but it doesn’t. Instead he half chuckles and says, “I have even more respect for Dylan now. You were young though. Shit happens.”
I smile at his attempt to write it all off as mistakes everyone makes. I know I’m screwed up, but if I keep going he will know exactly how messed up I am.
Maybe I should hide a little of my crazy.
Chapter 12
Hunter
I shouldn’t be here. That seems to be my mantra lately. I should have just left after I knew she was safe, but I can’t. She just looks so fucking broken. She’s back in her clothes from last night, but her hair is up in a ponytail and some of her makeup has worn off. She looks beautiful.
“Hunter, you don’t want to hear all of this.”
“Sure I do. Look I told you we are friends and if you ever need to talk about anything, I’m here. Just not sex. I’m sure you have Dani for that.”
She laughs, “Yeah, that’s Dani’s favorite subject.” She visually relaxes, “Okay, well after Brent dumped me for being a tease I started dating a really great guy.”
I remember her telling me about him last night. “Right, but he didn’t do it for you.”
She shakes her head, “No, not at all. Then Brent decided he wanted me back so I dumped him for Brent. Then lost my virginity to him and Luke walked in on it and beat the shit out of him.”
I know my eyes widen when she says that. I should just let her continue, but for some reason I have a really hard time holding back with her. “Wait, that was your first time?”
She nods matter-of-factly, “Yup and then he dumped me because my brother was insane.”
“Cassie, that’s terrible.” Fuck, now I want to beat the shit out of her ex too.
She shrugs, “After that I let him use me whenever he felt like it and then just toss me to the side. I went to tons of parties and snuck into clubs. Then last night...” She covers her face again, “Last night may have been the worst.”