Page 35 of Always You

“Okay.” She reluctantly takes the bag out of my hand, her cute frown still in place.

“Thank you.” I give her a grateful smile, then urge her into the car. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

We both climb in before I hit the ignition, the engine vibrating alive beneath us as I maneuver my truck out of the parking lot and onto the road. She quietly stares out of the window whilewe drive back to town, and after a few minutes, I can’t resist brushing my hand through her hair.

“Hey, I’m sorry I freaked you out.”

Her head rears toward mine, her gleaming eyes instantly burning through me when I put my hand back on the wheel.

“It’s okay. It was only scary until I realized how good you are at it.” I throw her a side glance, detecting a bit of pride in her tone. “That was some serious shit. Who taught you how to fight like that?”

“I did. After the accident, I needed a way to get rid of my anger, my energy. I bought myself a punching bag and started hitting that thing every night until I was drained. Then a year ago, some punk-ass kids were challenging me, nagging me, and I knocked out two of the three within three minutes. It was in front of Phil’s garage. He came out, asked me if I was interested in fighting for money, and I figured why not?”

“But your mom doesn’t know?”

My mom wouldn’t know if I was part of a gang right now. She’s too wasted every day to register anything.

“She doesn’t give a shit about anything I do, so I never bothered to tell her.”

The first time I came home with a black eye, I felt kind of proud, thinking she must be able to see me now. She must show me she cares. When she didn’t say a word, glancing at my shiner, I knew she really didn’t give a shit. That I was as dead to her as she felt inside. It was the day that whatever hope I still had left at things becoming better got tossed out of the window. I had parents and a loving family until I was fourteen, and unfortunately, there wasn't any more in the stars for me.

Charlotte lets out a deep sigh, and she closes her eyes as if it’s too hard to hear, while I glance back and forth between her and the road. Her emotions drift through the car, piercing their way through my skin. I am seen by her. Like I’m in fucking hell andshe’s holding out her hand, but at the same time, I don’t want to take it, simply because I don’t want to destroy her.

“I give a shit about you,” she states. It’s firm. It’s clear. And it’s filled with promise that envelops my heart like a warm blanket. “From now on, promise me you’ll tell me everything? Friends first, remember?”

Two words.

It’s only two words, but those two words are more loaded than any other thing that has ever reached my ears. Two words that warm my heart, because I need her as my friend. Two words that carve through my soul because I want her to be so much more than that.

“I promise.” I grab her hand, braid our fingers together, and squeeze it.

She gives me a gentle smile, and I hold on to her hand a little longer just because I want to. Looking at the time on the dash, I notice it’s almost eleven p.m.

“You want to get some ice cream at that late-night ice cream parlor?”

Her head tilts, her smile spreading to a smirk. “Hunter Hansen, you’re a feeder.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I glance over at her with a playful grin.

“Oh, hell no, I’m a foodie, so we match perfectly.”

Perfectly.

“Right.” I release her hand with a deep exhale.

I’m sure as fuck not perfect for her, but I know she’s perfect for me.

My eyes move back to the road while we continue our drive in silence until we arrive at the ice cream parlor, and I park my truck in front of it.

“You wanna go in or eat in here?” I fix my attention on her, turning my frame.

“In here. I’ll go get it. What do you want?”

“Definitely three scoops.” I reach into my door to grab my wallet, tossing it in her lap. “Lemon, raspberry, and clementine vanilla.”

A grin splits her face as she takes my wallet out of my hand.

“You’re a fruit lover,” she states, then holds up the leather folder. “And I’m only agreeing to this because I forgot my bag.”

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