I guess now is the time to confess that I haven’t given much thought to Hunter Dawson Hayes since I left for college. In fact, I had made it a point to never ever mention him at all, even in my thoughts. But that is how much I have wanted to forget his entire existence. Sure, he lurks in almost all of my childhood memories as the one always pulling me down, figuratively and sometimes literally.
So why was it that I was able to recognize him the instant he stepped into the party I was currently reveling in?
“No.” I blurted.
A nearby freshman stuttered his apologies and moved away. I was too distracted to take the time to reassure him that I hadn’t been talking to him.
How in the world had he found me? After 3 years of a blissful, Hunter-free life he was not going to ruin this party for me.
Setting down my soda, I stormed over to the front door.
“What are you doing here?” I blocked him from getting any further into the house than he already was.
His slow perusal and equally steady grin burned my insides to the point where I was ready to punch him. And I would have too, if my roommate and best friend, Shay, hadn’t popped up next to me with an overly cheery smile.
He didn’t seem to notice her though as he drawled, “Emberlee Kellmann.”
“You know him?” Shay chimed in eagerly. “Introduce me, Em.”
I couldn’t form the words. He couldn’t come in and insinuate himself into my life as easily as this. Through my silence Shay’s smile didn’t waver as she swooped in front of me, dragging me closer than I preferred to be to him. “Hey there stranger. I’m Shay, Em’s roomie. It is an absolute pleasure to meet you. How do you know Em?”
And as quickly as she had appeared, Shay was pulling him to the back where a table was holding up a vast array of junk food, chatting the whole way over. He only glanced back at me once, with a smirk on his way too handsome face.
I stared. He had to go. There was no way he could stay.
Realizing that I had lost the battle of keeping him out of the party I again stormed across the room, stepped right in front of him leaving no space between us, and crossed my arms. Yes, I fiercely ignored the shivers shooting through me as I practically threw myself into his ridiculously hard chest. With a gulp, I struggled to scowl.
He didn’t look down at me immediately though his hands found my waist, settling there as if he thought they belonged there. When he did meet my glare it was more like a casual acceptance, as if he had been expecting me to be there, in his space, all along.
“Yes, Emberlee?” His low chuckling voice was at odds with the serious look he gave me as he ignored Shay.
“Get out.” I growled quietly. I stood my ground, even when he smiled his uber-charming smile my way. Even after I felt his hands slide around my waist, pulling me even closer to him. After a lifetime of seeing that smile and its influence I knew I wouldn’t fall under the spell of it. Though maybe I had lost some of my immunity as my knees wobbled slightly.
“Now, why would I leave? I only just got here.”
Shay grabbed at my arm for my attention. “Why would you kick him out when we were just getting to know each other?” She pouted and I had to resist the urge of shaking her off too.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Shay. She is an amazing roommate and an even better friend. She was just way too distracting right now when I needed all of my attention to corral Hunter and keep him out of my current life.
I switched tactics, forcing my voice to go sickly sweet. Shay did a double take beside me. “Maybe we could step outside for a minute and catch up, Hunter. It’s been so long and you have definitely grown since the last time I saw you.”
His chest swelled even as his eyes narrowed on me. “With a request like that, how can a man refuse?”
Gritting my teeth I allowed him to take my hand and slowly lead me out the back door and onto the less crowded patio. We may have weaved through the crowd a little more than necessary but I wasn’t going to blow my chance to get him in a corner and pound some sense into his head.
I don’t know how he managed it but as soon as the door closed he was spinning me into a deep, strong hug. I couldn’t put any distance between us.
“What are you doing here, Hunter?”
Hunter didn’t look up, his arms tight around me. His smile lit up his eyes. “It’s been a long time, Emberlee. You haven’t come home. And there are some things I’ve been waiting quite a while to say to you.”
“Like what? My hair is the wrong length? My shoes look stupid? My face offends you?” I could feel my irritation rising even though he appeared unaffected.
He shook his head. “No.”
“Then what?” I was shaking and I didn’t know why because it wasn’t cold out.
“Now?” He looked a little surprised.
“When else am I ever going to see you again?”
His smile bloomed once again. “Actually I was planning on staying in town for a bit.”
“A bit? How long? Why?”
He leaned in, touching his forehead to mine. I don’t know why on earth I let him do that but I did. “I meant what I said, Emberlee. I want to catch up.”
I resisted the urge to stomp my foot. “You want to catch up? How did you know where I was? What did you come here to say? Why won’t you answer my questions?”
His arms stayed locked firmly around my waist as he pulled back just enough to look firmly into my face. “Emberlee, I’ve been answering your questions. Looking back on the years we spent growing up together I realized I seemed very much like a bully. And I want you to know that I wasn’t out to hurt you or make you feel bad. I liked you. I thought I was protecting you and keeping you safe from other guys. Now I know how wrong I was and I want to apologize. I want you to get to know the real me.”
“You treated me like you did because you liked me?” I could feel the heat fueling my ire begin to subside.
He nodded.
Backing away I shook my head. He was too handsome to be near with that kind of knowledge.
I whispered as I retreated. “And you still like me?”
“I haven’t seen you in a few years but I’d like to venture to say that I do. Give me a chance to show you that I am not the boy you knew.”
“There’s going to be a lot of proving before I believe you are different. We need to become friends if you ever want me to consider more. You made my life miserable.” I warned as I poked him in the chest. “Now I’m going inside, friend. Enjoy the party.”
