Surviving Regret (45 page)

“What the fuck was that, CC?” Hunter said through clenched teeth.

“Nothing, I was dancing.”
Shit! I didn’t mean to piss him off.

“You call that dancing? It looked like you were about ready to fuck him out there.”

“Far from it, did you not notice I was looking at you the whole time?” This was not going how I planned it.

“Yeah, I did, but that guy was enjoying himself too damn much. Did you even notice how close to kissing you he was? If I didn’t shove him back, he would have made a move.”

Damn it!

“No, I guess I didn’t. He knew I was watching you, though.” I said, and then looked down to the floor. “And that you were watching my every move.”

Hunter took a deep breath. With his fingers under my chin he made me look up. “You got me all hot and bothered, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it while I’m working.”

Now that’s what I’m looking for!

I smiled and stood up on my tiptoes to place a kiss on his lips. Hunter walked us backwards and pushed me against the lockers. He reached down and grabbed the back of my legs, pulling me up to him. I wrapped my legs around his waist. Hunter slid his hands up and down my ass. I needed more, so I pushed myself until I felt his length pressed hard against my middle. He stopped moving his hands and pushed back against me.

Hunter started kissing from my lips down to my neck before he started nipping on my shoulder. We continued like this for a few minutes before he started sliding me down his body.

“You’re gonna kill me, you know that?” He placed another kiss on my shoulder.

“That would be a shame.”

“Such a smart ass.”

“Learned it from the best!”

“Alright, let’s get back out there before someone comes looking for us. I’m sure Zeke had to save my ass tonight.”

“Sorry, I guess I wasn’t thinking.” I said bashfully.

“Just don’t do that shit to anyone else unless it’s me.” He placed another kiss on my lips before he pulled the door open. I walked through the door and he smacked me on the ass.

Hailey, Gracie, and Zoey called me over. We danced for another hour or so, and then Zeke took us back to the dorms.

My phone woke me early the next morning.

“Morning, Sunshine, get your ass out of bed. I’m outside.” Hunter said. Too chipper for so early.

I groaned. “What the hell are you so happy about? And what time is it anyway?”

“It’s nine a.m. and I want to get home, so get your hot little ass out of bed and get down here.”

I rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands and hung up the phone.

“Hails, get up; Hunter is here.” I said, walking towards the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later, Hailey and I lugged all our stuff out to Hunter’s truck to head home for Winter break.

***

I woke the next morning with a fever and an earache. Not how I wanted my break from school to start. I went downstairs and asked my mom to make me a doctor’s appointment.

Two hours later, manned with antibiotics and fever reducer, I hunkered on the couch. Hunter came by to see how I was doing.

He walked in with chicken noodle soup and a movie. My heart melted a little more for him.

I curled up on the couch and rested my head on Hunter’s lap. Hailey, Mason, Cooper, and Jaylinn came home.

Mason narrowed his eyes. “Get up.”

“Mase, don’t start. I don’t feel good.”

“I don’t give a shit. Lay your head on this end.”
Really?
Is he kidding me?

“Just let her be, man,” Hunter warned.

I tried to defuse the situation. “Are you girls all ready for Christmas tomorrow? All your stuff wrapped?”

“Yeah, we just got back from the mall, getting our last minute things.” Jaylinn said.

“I still have a few more things to wrap. Kenz, come help me with this last one I have,” Hailey asked.

I followed Hailey and Jay upstairs. She pulled me into my room and shoved a bunch of papers under my nose.

Ski passes? The Poconos? This coming weekend.

New Year’s Eve weekend.

The weekend I was going away with Hunter.

She winked at me and said. “I have to keep him busy somehow. There’s only so much I can handle of him before I can’t walk.”

“Oh my God, Hailey! I don’t want to hear about that shit!”

“No really, I told Hunter I would help him. I’m not sure this is going to work but it should since he has no idea you are going away with him.” Hailey said.

I glanced at Jay. Her lip tucked into a frown.

“I don’t have any plans,” she said. “Cooper said he was busy.”

“Coop doesn’t have shit planned, Jaylinn. You guys are coming with us. Just don’t tell him I told you. It’s supposed to be a surprise. And you,” Hailey said pointing at me, “better make this time worth it.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

I woke up Christmas morning feeling slightly better, my fever gone at least. I was so excited; I loved Christmas and I got to spend it with my little nephew. I made it downstairs as Jackson and Chloe arrived, little Alex in tow. I took the car seat from my brother; I couldn’t wait any longer to get my hands on Alex.

“Merry Christmas to you too, Kenzie.” Jackson grumbled.

“I need my nephew first.” I unfastened Alex from the car seat and picked him up. He was so much bigger than the last time I saw him just a few weeks ago.

“Merry Christmas, baby Alex.” I cooed to him, and he grabbed a hold of my finger. He was so sweet and handsome. He looked so much like Jackson, with a little touch of Chloe.

A knock echoed over the living room. Cooper swooped in and grabbed Alex from my arms, so I greeted our guest.

Dominic.

Shit!

“Merry Christmas,” Dominic said.

“Um, Merry Christmas. What are you doing here?” I asked. I didn’t need there to be a fight on Christmas.

“I just wanted to stop by and say thanks.” He ran his hand over his jaw.

Huh?
“What are you talking about? Look, Hunter is going to be here any minute and I don’t want there to be another fight.”

Cooper came up behind me. “What the fuck are you doing here? Did you not learn your damn lesson over Thanksgiving?”

“I’m not here to start any shit, Cooper. I came by to let your sister know that Brittany isn’t pregnant. She lied about the whole damn thing.”

Wow, I’m not really surprised by this. Brittany was the type who seemed like she always needed attention. I’m glad for Dominic that this wasn’t true but it wouldn’t change my feelings for him.

“That’s good and it explains why she was at the bar the other night with Logan.”

“She was at the bar with Logan? You sure?” Dominic asked.

Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut. “Yeah. Look, you really should leave before Hunter shows. I’m glad you got an extra Christmas present this year.”

I shut the door and spun to face Cooper. “Not a word that he was here, got it?”

“Whatever.” Cooper snorted, stalking off towards the kitchen.

Hailey was helping my Mom and Chloe make breakfast.

“Merry Christmas, Hails.” I kissed her cheek.

“Get off my girl,” Mason said, sneaking up on me.

“Your girl? I think she was mine first.” I wrapped my arms around him. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Kenz. What are you doing for New Year’s?”

Shit!
“Umm, I don’t have any plans just yet; maybe hang out. ”

“Maybe we should invite everyone over here and have a party. I don’t really feel like going out anywhere.”

Hailey didn’t look up from her pancake batter mixture.

”Yeah. Maybe.”

Hunter, Mrs. McCormick, and Jaylinn eventually visited, armed with gifts.

Alone in the pantry, Hunter wrapped his arms around me. “Merry Christmas, CC.”

“Merry Christmas.” Turning around in his arms, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him. He grabbed the back of my head with one hand and let his other slide down my sides and around my waist to caress my ass. His tongue brushed my lips, wanting access into my mouth.

“What the fuck!” Mason yelled.

Hunter and I broke apart but Hunter grabbed my hand, started pulling me back in the kitchen, towards Mason. Mason stopped us from passing.

“I told you to leave my sister alone, dude.” Mason gritted through his teeth.

Hailey came up behind Mason and tried to grab his hand, but he moved his hand away from hers. Looking at me with his jaw set, he was waiting for one of us to answer him.

No one said anything. It was Christmas. I didn’t want there to be a fight. Hailey walked away. Jackson came up behind Mason and put his hands on Mason’s shoulders, pulling him backwards. Hunter and I walked out to the dining room, still hand in hand.

Mason walked out a few minutes later and took a seat next to me but didn’t say a word. Hailey gave me a sympathetic smile. Even with everyone seated around the table, you could still feel the tension in the air. Cooper was doing his best to make everyone laugh as he normally did, but not this time.

I couldn’t finish my breakfast. I dumped my plate in the sink and snuck outside for some air. Chloe followed close behind.

“You ok?” She asked, zipping up her jacket.

“Kind of. I just wish Mase didn’t have such a problem with Hunter and me. I don’t have a problem with him dating Hailey.”

“He’s protecting you; you know how they are.”

“Am I supposed to just stay single the rest of my life?” I gripped the railing a little harder, trying to keep myself calm. This was why I didn’t want to go to school with them; I needed to live my life, away from my brothers who always felt the need to interfere with everything I did.

“They’ll get over it. You’re smart enough to make smart decisions; they just have to trust you and let you live a little. They love you,” she nudged my shoulder, “sometimes I think a little too much.”

I smiled. “Well, it’s freezing out here. We better head back in before they send the search team out for us.”

After we opened presents—and after Mason left with Hailey to visit her family—I curled up on the couch, watching
A Christmas Story.
Hunter joined me though he made sure not to aggravate my brothers and sat in the recliner.

“You didn’t say whether you liked my gift or not,” he said.

I smiled. “I didn’t open it yet.”

“Good.” He smirked. “I thought you didn’t like it or something.”

“Anything you give me I like. You know that bobble head turtle you bought for me when you went to the Bahamas a few years ago?”

“Yeah.”

“I loved that little thing. I even brought it with me to school.”

Looking around to make sure no one was in earshot, he said, “Do you think Mason realized we aren’t going with them this weekend?”

“No, and hopefully Hailey keeps him distracted enough. I’m staying out of his line of sight as much as possible, so we’ll probably be staying at your house a lot this week if you want to see me.”

“You in my bed is something I can’t wait to see.”

Groaning, I reached up, wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled him into a kiss.

Once everyone was gone I rushed to my room to open my present.

I ran up to my room and as soon as the door closed behind me, I ripped the card open.

The front of the card was blank; the inside, filled with his handwriting.

CC~

Open the gift and then finish reading this.

I quickly tore open the box. Inside was a necklace with a locket. I picked the letter back up and finished reading.

Now that you have the necklace in your hands, I can tell you that this is my heart; no one has ever had a piece of it like you. I know I don’t always tell you how I feel, but with this, I hope you now know. A key goes with it as well. I’ll give it to you later, once you’re ready for it.

Love,

Hunter

I picked up my phone and sent him a text.

Me 10:48 pm: Love the necklace, thank you

Hunter 10:51 pm: Glad you like it

Me 10:53 pm: Can’t wait for this weekend so I can give you yours

Hunter 10:56 pm: I told you not to get me anything. having you alone is enough

Me 10:59 pm: Goodnight Hunter xoxo

Hunter 11:01 pm: xoxo

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Hunter and I spent a lot of time together over the week, mostly at his house. Mason and Cooper were distracted by the upcoming Pocono trip, and they still hadn’t mentioned Hunter and I going with them.

Friday morning I was up early. I couldn’t sleep. I was too excited for my surprise from Hunter. My mom cornered me while waiting for him to arrive.

“So, since your brothers are heading to the Poconos this weekend, what are your plans? I thought you would be going with them.”