Page 61 of Between Hate and Desire

“Trust me, Liam.” I pat him on his rock-hard shoulder. “We know.”

Mason and Maddie are dancing, and for a moment, I’m brought back to when Brandon and I used to dance together when we’d go out. We’d have so much damn fun. He’d spin me around and rock our hips together to the rhythm of the music, and we’d laugh the night away.

A numb feeling hits my gut knowing the last time we danced together was thefinaltime. I always assumed there would be another time we’d go out and have fun. There’d always be more kisses and hugs, ass grabs, and we’d wake up next to each other every morning for the rest of our lives. Though we always exchangedI love youslike it was our last time, I knew we’d say it later. Never in my worst nightmares did I think I wouldn’t get to tell him again.

“Lennon, you okay?” Hunter’s voice has me blinking away the fog and there’s concern on his face. With pursed lips and brows pulled together, he studies me.

I swallow, shaking my head lightly. “Yeah, fine. Anyone want a refill? Next round’s on me.”

“Yeah, I’ll go up with you!” Sophie offers. “Hulk, you need another drink?”

Liam groans, handing over his empty beer. “Better watch it, woman.”

“Or what? You’ll man up?” She chuckles, grabbing his bottle and walking with me to the bar.

I can’t deny how much I love hearing my sisters laughing and having a good time. I know they both work so hard, and it puts a small smile on my face when they can let loose.

“Should we cave and get Maddie a drink?” I snicker.

“We could get her a diet cherry Coke and tell her there’s alcohol in it, and she’d never know,” Sophie says, laughing. “Let’s do it and see if she notices or pretends to be tipsy.”

“We’re going to sister hell,” I quip, chuckling with her.

“It’s our obligatory duty to tease her.” Sophie shrugs, then orders.

While we wait, Sophie looks at me with an odd expression on her face. I give her a confused look in return.

“So…you gonna tell me what’s going on with you and Hunter?”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

HUNTER

Lennon and Sophiewalk to the bar and think about how good it was to hear her laugh again. She looks gorgeous, as always, and I’m shocked she went with the outfit I suggested. I thought for sure she’d tell me it was a bad choice, but the moment I saw her walk into the living room, I had to remind myself not to react.

The fact she’s letting her guard down gives me hope that someday she’ll be able to move on and find happiness again. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for her. It’s all Brandon ever wanted too.

“You know she’ll always be off-limits, right?” Liam’s words have me snapping my gaze at him.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I ask roughly, not appreciating his accusing tone.

“Lennon,” he clarifies as if I’m a fucking idiot. “I don’t know what’s going on between the two of you, but she’ll always be Brandon’s girl. No matter what.”

I swallow hard, not wanting to lose my cool with Liam. Fuck, I wish I had my beer right now.

“Nothing’s going on,” I reassure him. “I’d never cross those boundaries, and for you to think otherwise is pretty fucking shitty, man.”

“Look, I’m only calling it like I see it. You two are getting chummy, and I know how vulnerable she must be right now.”

“We lost someone close to us,” I harshly remind him. “She lives in my apartment that she barely leaves, so yeah, we’ve grown closer over the past month or two. Doesn’t mean I’m trying to fuck her.”

Liam shrugs. “Doesn’t mean you don’t want to, though.”

“What’s your deal?” My hands ball into fists.

“Hunter, calm down.” He keeps his gaze locked on mine. “You’re more transparent than you think.”

My jaw clenches, not appreciating what he’s implying. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

---