Page 64 of Fumble

“Will that be everything?”

“Yes, thanks!” I can’t move for the line of cars in front of me.

I turn my attention to Hunter, eyeing me with some kind of disturbed wonder.

“You can’t possibly eat all of that. You’re just one tiny woman.”

“What can I say? I guess your cock wasn’t enough of a mouthful.” I love the fake wounded look on his face. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel.

“I’ve got a good mind to whip it out right now and let you tell me that.”

“Bring it on. Going down on Hunter Vaughn in a car seems like a nice check to add to my list. Lost my virginity to the mighty Vaughn, check. Ride Hunter’s face, check. Deep throat his massive cock, check. In a Mustang, soon.” I reach over to rub the hard-on I can see straining against his jeans when I hear laughing. Shit. Fuck. Fuckery! It’s coming from the drive-thru speaker.

Hunter’s face pales as realization sets in.

“Faith! You just told the entire staff of McD’s about our sex life.” His eyes are practically bugging out his head. “You just announced that I’m the V-slayer.”

“I’m sorry!” Of course, the cars begin to move, letting me pull up to the window with my face redder than a bowl of cherries—popped cherries at that. Hunter grabs a baseball cap from the glovebox and slides it on, careful to face away from the window. Sure enough, there’s a phone ready and waiting to snap our picture. Without thinking, I pull out of line, wanting to be anywhere but here.

“It’s too late now. Damage is done.”

“How do we undo it? What if I went in and gave her cash to delete the picture or to keep her mouth shut?”

“It’s not just her. Everyone in there just heard us. I don’t have a mind-eraser like Men in Black. The best I can do is try to mitigate the damage. It doesn’t matter. It was always going to come out.”

“Fuck. Why am I such a car wreck? I can’t get anything right.”

“You give a fucking amazing blow job.” He’s trying to make me feel better about outing him as a de-virginizer, but I can see the panic in his eyes.

“Call Malcolm. Maybe he’ll help you.”

“Fuck that. Trust me, this is the last situation he’d be up for helping to bury at this point, and even if he could, I’d rather go live in front of the entire nation and announce I slept with you than ask that douchebag for anything. Don’t you get it yet? He hurt you. I wouldn’t piss on him if he were on fire.”

“I just want to make this better for you. What can I do?” He rests his hand on my knee, giving it a light, reassuring squeeze.

“I’m a big boy, I’ll handle it. We just need to be proactive about telling your dad. I don’t want him finding out from the tabloids. I owe him that much.”

“Holy fuck! My dad!” I slam my foot to the floor, the speedometer ratcheting up way too fast.

“Calm down. I’ll speak to him.”

“Are you freaking kidding? He’ll shoot you! I’m not even playing around.”

“You might have told me that before you decided to make me a wager for your amusement.” He’s playful, but a pang of guilt rushes through me as I navigate the streets back to Coop’s place.

“Faith, slow down. I’m not joking. You’re going way too fast.” My heart is thumping so hard I can hear it pounding in my eyes. “Faith!”

Sirens sound in the distance. Of course, I’m getting pulled over. If there’s something that can go wrong, it’s going to happen to me.

“You’ve got to be kidding right now. Could this day get any worse?”

“Can you do me a favor? Please, for the love of God, don’t speak. You’re about to have a horrific case of verbal shits. I can feel it. Stay in the car.” As I pull onto the side of the road, Hunter clicks open his seat belt. As soon as I grind to a halt, he exits the car, dipping his head down just long enough to tell me to put the window down and have my license ready.

I’m glued to the rearview mirror watching Hunter stride with grace and confidence to the back of the car. I can see the moment when the officer recognizes him, reaching out to shake the hand of Titan, Hunter Vaughn. I can’t make out what they’re saying, but the ease with which Hunter conducts himself is foreign to me. My palms are sweating, afraid I’m about to get carted off in handcuffs, and not in a good way. Imagining the worst, I brace myself when they start toward the window.

“Good afternoon, ma’am. You were sure driving like a bat out of hell back there.”

“Officer, I’m so sorry. I’m usually such a cautious driver. I don’t know what happened. I…”

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