Page 97 of Always You

“Sweet Lord, I know you told me you had a pool, but I didn’t expect it to be this big?” My jaw drops to the floor, and I give Hunter an incredulous look, then turn toward Jason, who’s looking at me with his arms folded in front of his body, a pleased look on his face.

“Not bad, huh?” Hunter says as his phone starts to ring, and he pulls it out of his pocket, glancing at the screen. “I gotta take this. Jay, can you show Charls her room?”

“You mean your room?” Jason’s remark has me frozen on the spot.

The blood seems to leave Hunter’s face, my heart cramping with an increased tempo.

We didn’t discuss where I would be sleeping, and now the awkward look he’s throwing me doesn’t help to put me at ease.

“Myownroom, Jason,” I reply with a tight smile. Hunter presses his lips together with what I think is disappointment, but it’s gone when he nods before he leaves us. Jason studies my face, ignoring the last five seconds. With a sympathetic smile sliding on his cheeks, he walks toward me, giving me a slight push in the opposite direction. “Come on, Roux. This way.”

“Jason, this house is—I don’t even know what it is? This is like a dream.”

“I know, it’s like we woke up in MTV cribs or something.”

“Oh my god, it really is.” I follow him to the guest bedroom, and I jump onto the perfectly made king-size bed, shaking my head. Everything has a soft cream color, from the duvet to the curtain and the fluffy floor.

“This is your guestroom?”

“Yeah, on your left is Hunter’s room. The asshole claimed the biggest.” Jason points a thumb to his right. “Jensen sleeps down the hall.”

“Jensen?”

Jason’s eyebrows glue together, raking a hand through his light blonde hair. “He didn’t tell you about Jensen?”

I shake my head, my shoulders instantly tightening, wondering if that’s some chick that moved in with him.

“He plays for the LA Knights.”

“A hockey player?” My neck stretches with a tiny smile, wondering if that brings up bad or good memories for Hunter.

“Yeah, you’ll meet him later tonight, but he still had practice.” Jason’s leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed in front of his body. “You settle in for a while, get some rest. We’ve got a party tonight.”

“We’re going to a party?” I give him an unimpressed look. The last thing I want to do right now is go to some party. I’d much rather spend some time with them, just hanging out. Catching up. Hearing all the silly stories I’m sure they have after living here for the entire summer.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure Hunt won’t leave your side for a minute.” He throws me a wink that I’m guessing should be reassuring, but instead it feels like someone just punched me in the gut.

A party.

Yay.

I’m staring out of the window at the Hollywood Hills, the Hollywood sign clearly visible if I stretch my neck to the right.

I can’t believe I’m here.

I’m not really a glamor kind of girl. I don’t do parties, and I rarely dress up, but I’ve seen the movies, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t dream of seeing the Hollywood Hills at least once in my life.

And here I am.

“Not a bad view, huh?” I turn around as Hunter walks into the room.

He’s wearing dark jeans, with a navy dress shirt, looking clean and fresh. His sleeves are rolled up, showing off the chiseled curves of his tattooed arms, while his boyish grin peeks out from under his snapback.

He takes my breath away.

“Not bad at all.” I turn back around, putting my gaze in front of me as he stands next to me. It’s weird; it feels like somethingis standing between us. Like an invisible wall of questions and thoughts keeps us from being fully…well…us.

“It’s not mine, Charls.”

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