“I’m not going to let her go, Kacie.”
“You’re not?” I whisper. I can barely hear the words coming out of my mouth with the marching band parading around in my mind. Thump, thump, thump. Blood rushing between my temples. Drumbeats ready to explode out of my chest.
He shakes his head.
“Are you kidding me, Hunter? What about our plans?” I cast a quick glance in her direction and stifle a giggle. Kacie stomps her foot and folds her arms across her chest. She obviously doesn’t realize the strawberry is still on display between those twin peaks.
“I came here tonight with my own plan.” His grip on me tightens with each word spoken. “And that’s the one I’ll be following.”
“You’re such a slimeball,” she seethes. I watch as she grabs her clutch and another full champagne flute and flounces off to a corner of the bar in her hooker heels. I have no doubt she’ll execute her sleazy plans with one of Brandon’s hammered fraternity brothers.
Hunter’s grin widens.
“Don’t let me go,” I murmur then swallow the gasp that threatens to escape my mouth. Shoot, I didn’t mean to say that out loud! I’m not a drinker, but sometimes I think lust may be more dangerous than alcohol. Deadened nerves? Sluggish senses? Massive hangover? No threat of the above, but that deviously delicious lust makes me think, feel, and say things that have much more lasting effects…of the long-term and potentially heartbreaking variety.
“It’s not part of my plan.” He straightens up, his strong arms still wrapped around my waist. “But I think it’ll be better for both of our backs if we’re upright. At least, for now.” The devilish twinkle in his eyes causes the butterflies in my belly to awaken and take flight on a fervent path, circling and swirling, making me feel more alive and in love than I could ever have imagined. His fingertips heat my bare skin, the tiny hairs on the back of my neck standing at attention.
I’m oblivious to the stares from the party guests, and my ears have tuned out all sounds other than the ones tumbling from Hunter’s lips. His perfectly pink and kissable lips. Lips that I’ve wanted to graze with my tongue for much too long.
“Well, well. Looks like the lady has saved you once again.” Elle saunters over, a knowing smile painted on her face. “You’re a pretty lucky guy, Hunter.”
“I know it.” He’s responding to Elle but doesn’t look away from me for even for a split second. “You know what else I know, Elle?”
“What’s that, pumpkin?” I can almost see her self-satisfied grin. If Elle loves anything, it’s being right…after she manipulates people into realizing something she’s long since figured out.
“Liv does deserve to be first in someone’s pecking order.”
I furrow my brow. “Um, when did I become attracted to chickens?”
Elle snickers. “I’m glad you came to that realization, Hunter. Now by all means, peck away, but please do it in some coat closet somewhere. It’s my engagement party, for heaven’s sake.” She leans in close, her mouth practically plastered against my ear. “Just say it. Elle, you’re always right, even if it takes the rest of the world too long to realize it.”
I giggle and spin around to face her. “Yes, everything you said. Next time, if you want me to repeat something, make your point in fewer words.”
She gives my hand a little squeeze. “I’ll take it into consideration. In the meantime…” Elle nods her head toward Randy, whose crestfallen face makes my heart hurt for a beat. “Damage control required.”
I bite down on my lower lip and turn back to Hunter. “Can you give me a minute?”
He winks. “I’ve waited a lot longer than that for you.”
I flash him a quick smile and walk over to where Randy is standing. My dad and Brandon have cleared out, leaving me alone to ruin his night. “Hey, Randy.” I take a deep breath. “Listen, I’m so sorry, but I—“
“You don’t need to say anything, Liv.” His shoulders sag, and his lips form a small, sad smile. “I saw it earlier. The look on your face when he was with that other girl, the way he looked at you when we were outside. I tried to ignore it, tried to convince myself that this best friend of yours wasn’t a threat, but…” His voice trails off and he shrugs. “…it’s clear that you’re both way beyond that. I just hope he realizes what he’s got because from what I’ve seen, it’s pretty awesome.”
A hot flush creeps up the sides of my neck and tears sting my eyes. Jeez, I’m an emotional wreck right now. The guilt over hurting Randy eats away at me while my desire for Hunter is hot on its heels, pushing it out to make way for the promise of what’s to come. “I’m so sorry, Randy. You’re a really great guy, and I wanted to see where this could go, but…” I cast a quick glance over my shoulder, my gaze catching Hunter’s curious one.
“You don’t need to say anything more. I get it. He’s a lucky guy, Liv. Make sure he remembers that.”
“I will.” I swallow hard, past the lump in my throat, watching him walk toward the bar. I twist around to find Elle standing with my parents. They’re all grinning like fools, and Dad gives me the thumbs-up, nodding his head toward Hunter. Warm fingers lace with mine and squeeze. The spicy scent of my favorite cologne wafts under my nose, and I take a deep lingering breath in, letting his essence fill my lungs. His hands circle my waist, and he spins me around so we’re face to face.
“Come with me.” His low, gravelly voice is mesmerizing. I could listen to it forever and eagerly comply with whatever words it utters. He wraps an arm around my waist and leads me into the darkened hallway and around a corner to escape the drunken partygoers. We stop in a small alcove near a staircase, completely secluded from any curious eyes. Hunter backs me against a wall, his lips only inches from mine, just like they were last night. Only this time, he’s not moving toward me. He keeps his distance, although that’s definitely an overstatement, considering I can smell spearmint mixed with Jack Daniels on his breath.
I can’t think, can barely breathe, and my sight is challenged by the lack of light. But I know how I feel, how his mere presence has every one of my senses on high alert, how much I want to feel him pressed against me, and how I long to taste his lips. I finally get it. Everything I’ve been missing with those other guys is everything I want for a future with Hunter. “Why did you almost kiss me last night?” I whisper before I can choke back the words.
“Why did you run away from me?”
“Be-because I was scared of messing up the most important thing in my life.”
“Are you still scared?”
I nod. “Terrified.”
“Enough to run again?”
“No.” I can’t fight the smile lifting my lips.
“That’s good.” He brushes my hair away from my face, his hands cupping the back of my head and neck. His touch alone makes my knees buckle, and I am in imminent danger of swooning on the spot. He draws me near, closing the space between us until our foreheads meet. “But know this, Livvie. I won’t let that happen again. I have you now, and I’m never letting you go because I’m in love with you.” His lips graze mine, his tongue gently forcing open my mouth, and my body goes limp against him as I drink in everything he offers with that solitary kiss – every promise, every hope, every dream to be fulfilled.
When he finally pulls away, my eyes flutter open and I’m left breathless with an insatiable thirst for more. My lips quiver and tears sting my eyes as the impact of his words seep into my soul. “I love you, too,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around his neck.
The smile that lights up his face in that next instant…my God, I’ve never seen it before, and it’s there because of me. It’s a look of pure joy, like a little boy surrounded by huge, brightly-wrapped presents on Christmas morning. “You have no idea what you’ve done to me, Liv. What you continue to do to me, and what I want you to keep doing to me forever.”
The tears pool in the corners of my eyes. “I want that more than anything. But Hunter, what happens when school is over? When we go our separat
e ways? I’ve sacrificed so much for my cheerleading career. I can’t sacrifice you, too. I won’t.”
He brings a hand to my face, his thumb wiping away the lone tear streaming down my cheek. “Hey, I’m not about to let that happen. Your career is the most important thing, and you better believe I’ll be front and center whenever you need me. I already told you that I’m not letting you go again, Livvie. This…” He points to me and then to himself. “…us? It’s the best thing in my life. You’re meant for me. I really believe that. You know, deep down, I’ve always wondered if my mom sent you to me all those years ago, as kind of a guardian angel. Now I know she did.” He kisses the tears that stream down my face and lets out a low groan. “See what you’ve turned me into? One of those sappy, lame guys in the romance novels you love so much.”
I cry-giggle, my shoulders shuddering. “Yeah, but you’re my sappy, lame guy.”
He snickers. “Oh, great, so that makes it better?”
“Much. You’re the real deal.” I sink into his chest and press my face against him, feeling his heartbeat race in time with my own.
“I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you remember that.”
I tilt my head upward, a mischievous smile creeping across my face. “I like the sound of that. Let’s just make sure we have a good stash of Epi Pens on hand.”
Hunter
I jog around the outside of my car the next day, my brain still a little but scrambled from everything that transpired last night with Liv. I open the back door for Allie with a flourish. She gets a kick out of it when I bow and pretend to tip my cap to her. The whole princess thing really hits home with this kid. But I love hearing her giggle, so I do it. And man, it never gets old.
“How was that for a treat, Allie girl?” I point to the chocolate mustache she’s rocking and smirk. “And you loved it so much, you just had to take some with you, huh?”
She skips ahead of me and twirls around in her hot pink puffer jacket, which I now see has also brought home some of the decadence that is a Pop’s milkshake. Oh, well. At least she enjoyed it. I try hard to ignore the nagging ache in my chest. I’m going to miss them. A lot.
A black truck pulls up to the curb in front of my house, and the back door opens. Liv hops out and flashes me a look that screams, Please get me as far away from here as possible! No, I’m not clairvoyant, but I’m pretty sure the look has something to do with the thirty or so texts I’ve gotten from her today. As promised, Brandon and Elle dragged her to no less than five wedding venues and pretty much every vendor in the surrounding towns for flowers, cake, and shoes. Because, you know, it’s Elle. It’s just like her to sneak in a trip to try on some crazy high heels that no bride in her right mind would even consider wearing for ten hours. And it seems like she found the guy who is patient enough to sit and watch. Good for her. Bad for him. Worse for Liv, who’d love nothing more than to step out in her Nikes instead of the ones Elle will no doubt pick.
Elle pushes open her door and jumps out, and Brandon races around the car to meet her.
With a flip of her long ponytail, Liv bends down and scoops up Allie in her arms, swinging her around in a large circle as Allie’s belly laughs get louder and louder.
Finally, she stops and puts Allie onto the grass, collapsing next to her. “You’re getting so big! I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to do that, Allie!”
I sink down next to her and drop a quick kiss on the top of her head. No need to start with the PDA, especially in front of the kid.
Elle snuggles into Brandon. “Hunter, you missed a crazy good time today. You know I’m going to get you back for stealing away my sister.”
My head snaps to attention when I hear my name, as my gaze was very happily settled on my best friend’s…my girlfriend’s… glowing face.
Liv nudges me. “The only way they were able to hold me hostage for this long was by bribing me with strawberries.”
I recoil and hold up my fingers in a cross shape. “Uh, my plans for today didn’t include another trip to the emergency room. I was hoping for more of the good stuff.”
“Don’t worry. I know how to have my cake and eat it, too.” She winks at me.
“What’s the good stuff?” Allie is still dancing around in a circle, pretending to hold up her imaginary ball gown as she takes the floor with her own prince. “Like, chocolate?”
Elle links her arm with Brandon’s. “Love you, guys. Have a safe trip back to school.” She points to Liv. “I want to hear all about your trip, understand? All. About. It.”
Liv’s cheeks, which were pink to begin with, are now flushed a deep cherry red. “I’ll text you later.”
With one final wave, Elle and Brandon disappear into the truck and it peels away from the curb.
“Tell me, Hunter! What’s the good stuff? Can I have some?”
I gently tug on the string hanging from the front of Liv’s hoodie. “The good stuff…it’s not actually food, Allie girl. It’s more like...” I glance at Liv and shrug. How the heck do you explain this stuff to a five-year-old?
“It’s more like a fun time.” Liv rubs Allie’s back. “A fun time with someone you really care about a lot.”
“Like you and Hunter? You guys have fun together, right?”
“Yes! We definitely do.”
“And you love him.”
Liv’s mouth drops open, but no words come out. Her eyes have a serious S.O.S sign flashing in red, but I’m enjoying this too much to interject just yet. Besides, I don’t know what to say and how much is too much. Kids usually accept evasive answers, but Allie keeps digging. She gets that from her mother.
“Yes.” Liv grabs my hand and squeezes. “I do love him.”
Allie points to me. “And do you love her?”
“More than anything.”
“Okay.” Allie folds her arms and stares at the sky. “So, the good stuff is having fun together when you love each other?”
“Well, yeah. We’re gonna be like…um…like…”
“Like Cinderella and Prince Charming!” Liv finishes for me, followed by an exaggerated eye roll in my direction. “Seriously, Hunter?”
I snicker and pull myself off the ground, pulling Liv up with me. “It’s her favorite movie, not mine.”
Allie skips to the front door, humming something about chocolate cake. Must be in the blood. I grab my moment and snake an arm around Liv’s waist, grazing my lips against hers. “I hope you were serious when you said you eliminated any traces of that evil fruit from your mouth. Although this kiss is worth another visit to the ER.”
Her hands creep up my back, stroking the back of my neck. I swallow a moan.
“Easy, killer,” she murmurs. “We haven’t even officially come out to your parents yet, although I’m sure Allie has beaten us to it.”
“I don’t care who sees us. I’ve waited too long for this.” I bury my head in her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of her coconut body lotion. “Mm, you smell good enough to eat,” I murmur.
She snickers and grabs my hand. “Come on, we have to get on the road soon, but I want to hang with the kiddies for a little while first.”
I let her drag me into the house where we’re greeted by Cindy, whose smile is so wide, it literally stretches clear across her face. “So,” she says, “I guess I don’t need to ask if the party was good.” Her eyes flicker between both of us, finally landing on me.
I drape an arm around Liv’s shoulders. “It was a little slow to start, but once the ball got rolling, it just didn’t stop. In fact, I don’t see it stopping any time soon.”
“Well, I’m glad you two finally told each other what the world, including the hospital staff, already knew.”
My brow furrows. “What do you mean, the hospital staff?”
Liv gasps and covers her mouth. “Oh my God.”
Cindy waves us into the kitchen and returns to the center island to frost a seven-layer chocolate cake. She picks up a frosting spoon and swirls it ar
ound the spongey layers. “Let’s just say you both have been on the same page for quite a while, but you never bothered to let each other know.” She points the spoon at me. “And you, my dear, do a lot of talking while under the influence of heavy-duty antihistamines.”
“So, you did hear—?“ Liv smacks her forehead with her hand. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed about what?” I have no idea what’s going on right now. It may be because I’m a guy and there are lines I can’t even see, let alone read between.
Liv’s cheeks bleed into a deep purple color. “The nurse was calling you my boyfriend.”
“I’m still not getting it.”
She lets out a deep sigh. “I didn’t correct her. I wanted it to be true. And Cindy walked in when the nurse and I were talking about you.”
I let out a loud whoop. “So, this secret desire of yours…not so secret, huh?”
“It was never really a secret; at least not to any living, breathing person within ten miles of you both.” Cindy’s grin gets even wider, if that’s possible. “And Hunter, you said plenty, too. Just for the record. God, I love being right.”
“You sound just like my sister,” Liv grumbles.
“I knew I always liked Elle for a reason.” Cindy laughs and creates peaks with the thick frosting. “I’m just happy that you two finally figured it out.”
Liv lays her head on my shoulder, snuggling into me while we laugh and joke with Cindy. Allie rushes into the kitchen and begs to lick the spoon, and the sudden wailing from the Pack and Play in the corner alerts us that Chrissy has just woken up from her never-long-enough nap. Dad walks in and scoops her up so she can join the party where, unfortunately for her and her tiny baby stomach, the only food being served is chocolate fudge cake.
I release a slow and steady breath. My shoulders relax, and I lean my head on top of Liv’s. I feel loose, content, and complete, almost like every empty space inside of me has finally sealed up. No gaps remain, and no pieces are left missing. Liv has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but I never let her in deep enough to fill in the many cracks. I’d been afraid that if she did, I’d do something to mess things up, and dealing with that loss would be crushing. But now, with her by my side, I’m whole, and I’ll do everything I can to hang on to this feeling forever.
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