Page 37 of In The Dark
“Okay, show off.”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about, angel. Everyone out there is probably drunk as hell. They won’t be able to tell why your lipstick is smudged. But I’ll know you why.” He touches the corner of my mouth and hums. “If you’re feeling generous, I’d love your phone number. If not, I’ll wait for the universe to intervene again.”
I hold out my palm and he passes over his phone. I take a quick look at his home screen and the background, smiling at the photo hidden behind a dozen apps. “That’s your friend from earlier,” I say. “The redhead.”
“Leo, yeah. We’ve known each other for years”
The image is of two teenage boys on either side of a beautiful woman with long hair and the prettiest smile I’ve ever seen. She has her arms around both of them, squeezing them close, and I can feel the love radiating through the picture.
“Who is she? She’s gorgeous.”
“My mom. We were fourteen there. She let us skip school and took us to Adventure Oasis. We rode roller coasters for hours then stayed for the fireworks. One of the best days I’ve ever had.”
“Good days are nice, aren’t they?” I pull up his contacts list, adding my name and number. Wanting to make it personal, I take a selfie. My eyes are closed. My hair is messy. I’m sticking my tongue out, but I smile when Hunter saves my information asMax the Angelwith a heart after it.
“I promise I won’t send any unsolicited dick pics,” he says.
“You better not. I’m around children all day, and I don’t get paid enough to have that kind of conversation with them.” I hop off the table and find my clothes. My body aches, sore in ways it hasn’t ever been, and a hot bath when I get home sounds like heaven. “I should find Skyler. I don’t want her to worry. I guess I’ll talk to you soon?”
“Very soon.” Hunter loops his arm around my waist, tugging my naked body flush against his. I sigh, happy and on top of the world from the orgasms and the sweet kiss he drops on top of my head. “Have fun with your friend.”
“You too.” I button my skirt and pull my shirt over my head, wishing I wasn’t putting my clothes back on. “I hope your friend scored the girl he was after.”
“So do I.” He gives my ass a light smack and I laugh, feeling young and stupid and unbelievably light.
“Until we meet again, Hunter.”
“Looking forward to it.” He swipes the knife off the ground and licks the handle, his eyes on me as his tongue runs up the black metal. “Stay out of trouble.”
It’s hard to drag myself away from him, but I stand on my toes and give his cheek one last kiss before I skip out of the breakroom. I take a deep breath when I reach the hallway, the noise from the party returning. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out, a text message notification in the center of my screen.
Unknown Number
Miss you already
*Attachment: 1 image*
I grin at the selfie of Hunter that comes through, his lips in a pout and his eyes closed. I hold my phone to my chest, sure this has been the best night of my life.
FOURTEEN
HUNTER
Me
Happy Friday, angel. Headed to school?
Max the Angel
Nope. I’m on fall break, so I’m off until Monday.
Me
That’s exciting. Doing anything fun?
Max the Angel
Skyler and I are driving over to the beach this morning before she heads to Fright Nights tonight.
