Page 3 of Always You

“Your heart.”

Fuck me.

“I have a boyfriend.” I scoff, finding the nerve to glare at his hooded eyes.

“We both know he doesn’t mean shit.” He takes another sip of my drink, as if claiming my glass means claiming me. There is a confidence in his eyes that’s pissing me off, reminding me of the cocky son of the bitch in the fighting cage.

Ready to play dirty for as long as it takes to come out as the winner.

Refusing toeverlose.

I used to admire it, but right now, it just feels like a threat to my already torn-up heart.

“You don’t mean shit,” I counter in a lame attempt to insult him, before an arrogant grin washes his face.

“And your pretty eyes tell me that’s a lie.”

“Stop flirting with me.”

“Never.” He winks.

Hefuckingwinks, creating a stutter in my chest.

He keeps staring at me with an intensity that has me nailed to my seat, the corner of his mouth curled up in a small grin. I hold his gaze, hoping he will cower. Hoping I can keep up a strong, determined front, but after a few heated heartbeats, I release a deep sigh.

“What do you want, Hunter?” I roll my eyes and put my focus on my drink in front of me. Then casually swirl the contents through the glass while faking an indifference I sure as fuck am not feeling, but knowing it’s all I’ve got. It’s all I can do to not let him thunder back into my world and fuck up my life some more.

The mess I’m in is big enough, thank you very much.

“Eight dates. One for every year that I should’ve made you mine and didn’t, and then one extra for the years we’ll have in the future.”

For a brief moment, my lashes fall and my heart cries. It’s like he plants a knife right into my chest with his words, and part of me wants to let it sit there and let the excruciating pain linger, before I find the strength to straighten the features on my face.

“What? No! I have a boyfriend,” I emphasize, throwing him an incredulous look to hide how my heart really aches for him.

“Who cares?” Hunter dramatically throws his head back as he drags out the words.

“I do.” I pinch my thumb in my chest. “And I bet he does, too.”

“I’m not going anywhere, babe.” The statement is clear.

It shouldn’t mean anything, yet it means everything coming from his mouth. A year ago, I’d be out that door with him in a heartbeat, not even thinking about the consequences. Hunter Hansen being home is the equivalent of trouble. Trouble I have a hard time staying away from as soon as I look into those piercing eyes.

But he destroyed too much. He shattered my heart into too many pieces. Him coming home doesn’t mean anything. I have my own life now. He didn’t want to be a part of it, and I’m going to hold him up to that decision for self-preservation.

“You can’t do this. You can’t just barge back into my life like that. Expecting everything to be all good.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, hearing Julie sarcastically snicker next to me. My jaw clenches at the sound of it, and I volley her a death stare with my green eyes.

Thanks for the backup, girlfriend.

“I know, but I’m fucking doing it, anyway.”

I should just keep my eyes on my glass, avoiding eye contact at all costs, because one look too many, and I’ll be hooked again.

Like a druggie, trying to resist a shot of heroin, free of charge, ready to fuck up your life for a high you know you can’t resist. But still, my head slowly but surely twists to find his determined gaze filled with regret. Hurt laces his expression while he’s holding up this bad boy front. Acting as if everything is well in the world.

It’s like looking into a fucking mirror, and I hate how I still want him to be happy, more than I want it for myself.

“Eight dates, Charls. Eight dates to convince you to give me another shot. If you still want me to leave after those eight dates, I’ll be gone. I promise.”

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