Page 24 of Hunted: Season Two

I might need to take a few practice laps at that.

“I’mma head out.” Garcia clears his throat the way the air needs it. “I know it’s Kipp’s birthday and you all have plans so-”

“They’ve changed,” Nolan proclaims without a second thought.

Bunny snaps upward to argue, “But-”

“No crowds. No unvetted places,” our boyfriend repeats.

“But-”

“How about pizza, beer, and a Halicki movie, Kid?”

“But-”

“Done,” I loudly declare over her objections prior to meeting her pouty stare. “I’ll even let you make me a birthday cake.”

Her beautiful, glossed lips pull to one side in obvious disappointment, yet she softly concedes, “All by myself.”

“You can even make itLightning McQueenred if that’ll make you feel better about the situation.”

“Would that be red velvet?” Nolan inquires as Garcia heads towards the front door. “Cause I ain’t had red velvet in aloooooonggggggfucking time.”

Garcia shoots him a finger. “Not since-”

“Nope.” The two of us rise to our feet to follow them. “And I honestly wouldn’t mind a better fucking memory than that one.”

“Wasn’t that bad,” Garcia insists while turning the knob for an exit.

“You can say that because she’syoursister.”

“I will make you your own cake if you tell us that story, Garcia,” Bunny’s playful poking precedes tucking her pen back into her bun and locking fingers with me. “Actually,anyembarrassing Mutt stories are welcomed. I will cook for anecdotes. Better the memory, the more courses the meal can have.”

“Keep this shit up, Rabbit, and The Kid won’t be the only one gettin’ birthday brat spankings tonight,” our boyfriend threatens during our descent down the stairs.

Laughter collectively leaves the group; however, rather than turn the brights on the pebbles of jealousy regarding unknown parts of my best friend’s past or hearing my girlfriend bribe another dude with food, I keep my hands on the wheel.

Focus on the fact he’s unashamed of what happened between us.

What’s continuing to happen.

What will be happening again and again.

That he loves me.

That he wants to be with me.

Plans to.

Our arrival at the side garage door is accompanied by Garcia tossing me a mischievous smirk. “You really wanna see your boyfriend squirm? Ask him abouthistwenty-first birthday and why he’s been banned for life from Pirate’s Beach View.”

Seeing my boyfriend’s face pale in color causes me to grin widely. “What happened at Pirate’s Beach View,Sir?”

He aggressively opens the door to kick our attorney out. “That’s not-”

Bunny’s sudden, sharp scream sends my stare out the door to where a familiar face lies still, stiff, and lifeless with the message “Happy Birthday” carved jaggedly into his forehead.

Fuck.

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