Page 50 of Seeing Grayscale

I want to ask what made him snap. Why now, when I’ve been gone for two and a half weeks?

People say the universe only gives you as much as you can handle, so maybe that’s why. I almost snort at the ridiculous idea that some mystical, invisible overlord decided to cut me a breaktonight.

I doubt it has anything to do with this. I think it’s just Hunter.

“You never answered me before,” he says while flicking the turn signal, “are you hungry?”

“I could eat.” Up until now, I hadn’t even registered my hunger.

“We’ll pick something up.”

“Where are we going?” Unlike last time, I’m not panicked about leaving town.

I don’t like to admit things that might make me appear weak or vulnerable. Relying on Hunter to do more for me is just fucking stupid, but there’s a rapidly growing part of me that wants to see everything he wants to show me. Maybe I’m finally accepting I’m not wanted anywhere else but inside this car.

“I booked us a room—locally,” he adds quickly. “Is that alright?”

I nod, only slightly disappointed. “That’s fine.” But then it registers what he said. “Us?” My head pivots, a soft flutter forming in my stomach.

“I finished the movie, you know,” he says, ignoring my question. Hazel eyes find mine when we come to a red light. “Hepays her for her time, not her body. It’s only after they share a connection and mutual respect that sex comes into the picture.”

“Um…”

“Edward didn’t like the idea of something bad happening to Vivian when he could prevent it.”

“Okay,” I draw out the word. “You lost me.”

“My point is, you mentioned before that what we are doing isn’t whattheydid in the movie. And I agree. I don’t want topayyou, Gray. I want to help you get on your feet and make your own way. You don’t need a sugar daddy.”

The urge to blurt out that I have a felony is strong, but that might be a deal breaker, so I keep it to myself. “So we are going to share a hotel room because you ‘aren’t my sugar daddy’?” I use air quotes.

“Correct. I’m your friend.”

My eyes narrow into slits.

Friend.

Somehow, that feels far more intimidating than a would-be-lover.

After picking up some food at the Italian place we got that first night and reaching the evenfancierhotel, I couldn’t stop the question in my head.

Do you have any friends?

From the way he’s given me little peeks into his life, I doubt Hunter has many, if at all. I have…acquaintances. I know people decent enough not to backstab me, but I wouldn’t call them my friends.

Tammy certainly isn’t my friend.

One Tooth Ray is even farther from that category.

I take my time in the luxurious shower, the fixtures so shiny I can see my warped reflection. The unease I felt the first time Hunter paid for a night in a hotel is gone. I don’t have the fear that he’ll try something or fuck with me. But I do wonder why he wants to be so close. I brush my teeth, scrubbing the pasta sauce and garlic from them, then I get dressed. The clothes I left behind are clean. It’s obvious Hunter really thought this all out, down to picking up my pain pills from the pharmacy.

I popped one as soon as I had food in my guts.

Loosened up by the Norcos and full, I go to open the door, but his voice comes through. Even though it's in a hush, his tone is serious. His commanding voice easily comes through the door.

“—don’t care. After what wasdoneto him?”

There’s a pause, and I wonder if the name I coughed up—Ray’s—is the subject matter of his conversation. I fucking hope it is. While I inhaled my spaghetti, I almost ratted out Dan, but his inner circle goes higher than I could ever dare to reach, including Xavier. I don’t want either of them coming for Hunter. I can spare him that heat.

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