Page 94 of Falling With a Spin

“I’ve been so worried about you.” He whispers, and I close my eyes, preparing myself for what he says next, but it doesn’t come.

When they open, I see his hurt and worry, and I just want to lose it all over again. “I know, and I’m sorry for the hurt I caused you. I didn’t know what to do.” My voice cracks. “I thought I was okay that knowing he wasn’t around anymore made it easy but it didn’t. Coming here is my escape. To lose myself in the music and movement again, to be the person I can be. To not be a failure.” I whisper the last part

Hunter's fingers lift my chin, and those blue eyes stare into my watery brown eyes, “You’re anything but a failure. If you think that because of the verdict, then let me show you everything you have accomplished.” He clenches his jaw, and I can see the anger behind his eyes.

“That isn’t-” I try to tell him, but I’m cut off by his eyes narrowing at me, and I shut up after that.

“Don’t shut me out, please. Lean on me. I know you are used to doing everything yourself, but for once, let others help you.” He pushes back a piece of my hair that has fallen, and I lean into his touch, feeling the warmth of him again brings flutters to my stomach.

“I’ve missed you,” I say to him. I have so much.

“Oh, baby, how I’ve missed you so much too.” He leans in and kisses me softly.

Everything feels just right again as he lays me down on the floor and shows me how much he has missed me.

Chapter 35

Emma

“Can you hand me my shirt, please?” Hunter's voice comes out low as he holds out his hand.

I grab the shirt that I quickly tore off of him not that long ago and pass it to him as a blush crosses my cheeks. Grabbing the black spandex shorts he ripped off of me, I shimmy them back on. The sports bra I was wearing is useless now since he ripped it in half for no reason. I tell him each time to be careful and take it off like a normal person, and each time, he ignores me, becoming aggressive like the men in the books I read. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but damn, can a girl at least keep her clothing?

Luckily for me, I brought extra clothes in my bag. I grab the AJR sweatshirt, throw it on, and toss my hair up in a bun. Hunter stands by the door with my bag in hand and a smirk on his face. Even with that cocky look on him, my heart still swells with how much I’ve missed him. I hate that I became this way with someone so fast, but I wouldn’t want it with anyone else. He’s shown me that he won’t back down or give up on me, being here every step of the way, even on the hard days. He loves me for all my ugliness, brokenness, and beautiful parts.

“Where’s your sports bra at?” He jokes, and I shoot daggers at him as I go towards the door and when I hear the little chuckle that he makes, it takes everything I have to not turn around and smack him across the head.

Fucking asshole

We arrive back at the apartment, I see Caleb and her on the couch. I give them both a wave and a smile, and my response takes them back. I can’t blame them. I haven’t been the greatest friend or roommate to them lately and they definitely deserve better. Hunter’s hand lands on my shoulder right before I drop my bag, running to Taylor. I throw myself on her and squeeze the life out of her as her arms wrap around me, and I hold back the tears that threaten to spill.

“Okay, okay, I know you’re tiny, but holy shit, you’re strong.” She chuckles and pries my arms off her. “Also, I love you, but please go take a shower.” I scowl at her, and we both laugh because she is definitely correct about that.

“I’m sorry,” I look towards her and then to Caleb.

“We’ll talk when you’re done, okay?” She says, giving me a reassuring smile.

I grab my bag from Hunter, and he follows me to my room. I quickly take a shower and change into some sweats and one of Hunter's shirts that I stole a while back. The look he gives me when I walk out of my closet is filled with lust and desire, but I shake my head no.

“Round two can wait for later, I promise.” Giving him a quick kiss and dash away before his hands land on my hips and bring me in for a deeper one.

I walk back into the living room and sit down on the edge of the couch. Hunter sits next to me, taking my hand in his and squeezing it. This feels weird seeing both Taylor and Caleb in front of me like this.

“First, hear us out. We have a few things to say.” She sits up straighter, her mouth forming a thin line. “We love you so much, but god damn it, Emma, you're scaring the living shit out of us. We might not understand what you went through, but we saw it. The scumbag doesn’t deserve to walk this earth or breathe the same air as you.” I can feel the anger radiating off from her. There has only been one other time I’ve seen her like this, and it was when her Mom called. “But what you are doing isn’t okay, and we won't stand around any longer to watch you do this to yourself.” She finishes with a long exhale, and I don’t realize that I’m crying till Hunter wipes away a tear.

“Alright, Caleb, your turn.” She turns towards him. “Say it before she starts speaking.” A combination of a sob and laughter comes out of me and he gives me a concerning look.

“Emma, you and I have been best friends since before we could walk, and all I have wanted you to be is happy. I haven’t seen you truly happy since this one,” he points to Hunter, “came along, but everything that Taylor said is true. We are done and want the Emma we love so much to be back with us.”

What did I do to deserve these friends? They love me endlessly, and I’ve been terrible to them.

“I’m so sorry for everything.” I look at both of them and see tears start to fill Taylor's eyes as I attempt to hold mine back. “I didn’t mean any of it. I thought I was doing what was best for me and taking space, focusing on the one thing that I needed most. Dance. But in the midst of that, I was hurting you three, and I can’t describe how sorry I am.”

“We love you, Em. Please don’t do this anymore.” Caleb's cracking voice is what shatters me, and I walk over to them, sitting down in the middle as their arms wrap around me.

“Okay, enough of this love fest. There is one more thing, and it came two days ago.” Taylor gets up, and I give her a puzzled look as she pulls open the junk drawer in the kitchen. “I didn’t want to give it to you till we had this conversation.”

She approaches me with her hands behind her back looking at me, “You need to close your eyes and hold out your hands.” She says, and so I do. My heart starts beating faster, and I feel a thick paper land in my hand. “Okay, you can open them.” She softly says.

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