Page 45 of Always You

“Sure, just give me one second.” I strut past him, a fake smile curling the corner of my mouth, pushing Hunter away from Kayleigh—or whatever her name is.

“I’ll be right back, sweetheart,” he bellows over my head as I push him backwards until we’re in the back of the venue.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Hunter?” My blood boils through my veins like lava, because I know I will get a bullshit answer.

“What? Kylie wanted to go bowling.”

See? Bullshit.

“Kyliewanted to go bowling.” Each word falls from my tongue with more indignation, and I’m really tempted to put my hands around his neck and strangle him. Remind me why he’s my friend again?

“Yeah,” he dares, enjoying this way too much. “Why? Is there a problem, Charls?”

“You! You are the problem. You’re an asshole, and you know it. You’re fucking hijacking my date, Hunter. Why? Why can’t you just–” I cut off my words, pulling my hair. I wish we were the kind of friends who could go on double dates. And maybe one day we might be, but right now, I need him to back the fuck off so I can actually convince my heart that friends is all we are. I need to find out if I can feel something for anyone else, before my heart crushes in the hands of Hunter Hansen.

“You don’t see me crashing your fucking dates,” I add.

He moves a little closer, our heads almost touching. He smells fresh, manly, and as intoxicating as ever.

“You can crash my dates anytime, babe. Best friend privilege and all.”

My heart skips a beat, feeling him overwhelming me with his energy, hating the effect he has on me. There are moments when we’re best friends and nothing more, when we can justlie next to each other and talk, feeling completely comfortable with one another.

And then there are moments like this, when he gets in my face, flirting with me and messing with my head. I hate those moments because I can’t control them, but I would be a liar if I didn’t say I also live for them.

Friends.

It feels the same way when I told my eleven-year-old-self my mother would never get sick ever again.Lies.All fucking lies.

I roughly push him away from me, pointing my finger into his chest.

“Don’t fuck this up for me, Hunt.” A growl escapes my lips, walking back to Kylie and Dylan with a sweet, yet fake as fuck, smile on my face.

One hour of bowling. I can get through one hour of bowling at the double date from hell.

“Never, Charls,” I hear him retort behind, and I reply by lifting my hand to flip him off.

Motherfucking asshole.

As much as I need to get over the zoo he manages to ignite in my belly every time I’m the object of his attention, I also love it about him. It’s part of his personality, and most of the time, it makes me feel special. That I mean more to him than all those other girls he messes around with. Like he puts me first. But I didn’t fully understand how possessive he was going to be until he just crashed my date.

“Okay, who’s up?” Hunter rubs his hands together with an excited look on his face, wiggling his eyebrows.

“We can just add you to our game and we can play together,” Dylan suggests.

I mumble something in agreement while Hunter and Kylie take the bench opposite me, and she snuggles into his side. My jaw ticks in annoyance, the whole sight making me gag.

This was not what I was expecting when I said yes to going on a date tonight. I wanted to get to know Dylan, see if there is any potential, see if there could be enough to shove whatever feeling I have for Hunter in a box. But my best friend seems determined to keep me single for no fucking reason other than his own enjoyment.

“Alright, Hansen. You’re up,” Dylan says.

Hunter gets up with a small jump, like the idiot he is, grabbing a ball and throwing it down the lane in a perfect strike.

I hate him.

Thirty minutes later, the boys are having a match of their own, both not willing to lose to the other, while Kylie and I just throw without giving a shit.

I sink my teeth into another chicken nugget, my mouth no longer able to form a placating smile.

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