Page 65 of Always You

Drunk Hunter doesn’t agree, though.

Drunk Hunter thinks he can afford to be an asshole.

Drunk Hunter is a dumbass.

“Well, that was clearly a mistake, anyway,” I sneer, lowering my head closer to her face, my fury matching hers. “I should’ve left you sitting on your damn porch.” Our eyes stay locked, like two magnets unable to resist the pull. Kim and anyone else completely forgotten.

“I would’ve, if you didn’t show up at my doorstep.”

Without a second thought, I press my hand into her stomach, pushing her against the cold metal of my truck, caging her in as my breath starts to fan her face. Kim mutters some shit behind me while my intoxicated body tries to stay focused on the girl I call my best friend.

“You want me to stop coming over?” I growl.

“I do if you’re going to keep acting like an asshole!”

“I wouldn’t be an asshole if I actually would’ve seen you tonight!” I roar, making her wince before the fiery look on her face turns into wildfire. I might be drunk, but I don’t miss the silence that has formed around us, and I realize we’ve caught everyone’s attention.

I’m totally fucking this up.

“How the fuck dare you?! You donotget to act like a baby, when for once my world doesn’t revolve around you!” Her shouts are as feral as her eyes, yet she’s still gorgeous as an angel. Her words expand the rock in my stomach, but before I can tell her she’s right, she pushes me off her, slapping my face.

What in the actual fuck?

The feeling of her palm connecting with the skin on my cheek burns the intoxication right out of my body, leaving nothingmore than the anger that’s been the root of my energy the entire day. I roughly grab her wrist, pulling her flush against my body, my hand moving up to grip her chin, forcing her to face me as I glare down at her in a dominating way. My chest is heaving as I look into her fearless eyes.

“You know slapping me doesn’t impress me anymore.”

Her eyes slightly widen, putting her scowl back in place while I squeeze her chin out of frustration.

“You don’t come to me for pity,” she grates out. Time seems to stop around me as I take a deep breath to calm myself down, trying to find the right words rather than swing her over my shoulder and throw her into my truck.

“You’re right,” I rumble against her face, with a menacing tone, her eyes fluttering when my breath fans her face, “I don’t. I come to you for support, because I fucking need you when everything else is goingshit.”

“And I’m here,” she howls. “What fucking more do you want, Hunter?” The ache in her eyes sobers me right up, but instead of pushing my asshole behavior to the background, all that it does is expand the fear I’m sensing.

She can’t walk away too. I won’t let her.

“You! I haven’t seen you all night, even though you’re here forme!”

“I can’t do this.” She frantically shakes her head. “I can’t be at your beck and call, if all you do is take! A relationship is a two-way street, Hunter!”

“Shut up,” I bark, increasing my grip on her face, unable to let her go.

I can’t.

She slaps my hand away, trying to push me off her, but I keep a hold of her wrist, while her other hand tries to slap me again.

“Let go of me, asshole.”

I wish I could. I wish I could set her free and walk away.

“Hunt,” a deep voice growls beside me, and I find Jason glaring at me. “Let her go.”

I grind my teeth, letting go of her wrist. She rubs the hurt skin on her arm, shooting me another glare while Jason approaches us, holding up his hand with a disappointed look on his face.

“Keys.” Wanting to avoid a fight with both my friends, I reach into my back pocket, slamming my keys into his palm.

“Get in. Both of you,” he orders as he climbs behind the wheel.

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