My Favorite Mistake (30 page)

“How?”

“Gimme some sugar,” he said, stopping and pointing to his puckered lips.

“No way, man.” I tried to walk, but he wouldn’t let me.

“Come on. Give your fiancé a kiss.”

“That was your stupid idea.”

“Nonetheless. Kiss me, please.” If only he hadn’t said please.

“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to. It was that I knew if our lips met, I wasn’t in control of what happened next. It was like I had an excess of sexual frustration built up after so many years of celibacy. Could that happen?

I pressed my lips together so there was no hope of tongue and gave him a little peck. 

He shook his head.

“Nope. Still in pain. Gotta do better than that.” I tried again, giving him a little bit longer, but still pulling back as soon as I wanted more.

“Who are you, my grandmother?”

I was about to stomp my foot and say enough when my phone rang.

“Forget about it,” he said, leaning in.

“It’s my mom’s ringtone.” It was
Hip To My Heart
by The Band Perry. She loved that song. “I need to take this.” I hadn’t talked to my mom in a while and I felt horrible about it.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, Kid! I feel like it’s been ages since we talked. I got out of work early, so I thought I’d give you a ring. You’re not in class are you?”

“Nope. I wouldn’t have answered if I was. Or I’d be whispering.”

“Right. So how are you?”

“I’m good. Busy. Classes are nuts.”

“That’s good. How’s the job?”

“That’s good to.”

“And the roommate situation?” 

“Tell her it’s great,” Hunter whispered. The volume on the phone was loud enough for him to hear. I turned it down and walked away from him.

“It’s sort of been resolved.” So far. “I’m going to deal with it for the rest of the semester and then we’ll see.” 

“Oh, good. You sound better. You sound really happy, actually.”

“Do I?”

“Yes, you do. What’s the cause?” The boy who was currently trying to wind his arms around my waist and distract me from talking to you.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the new year. My birthday is coming up.”

Mom wasn’t fooled. “It’s a boy, isn’t it?”

“Not really.”

“Oh. My. God. I thought it would never happen. I want details, Kid.” She sounded like Tawny.

“He’s just a guy.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“Not really,” I said. Hunter was trying to tickle me. “Will you stop that?”

“What?” Mom said. I glared at Hunter, and he gave me a wide-eyed innocent look.

“Nothing, I wasn’t talking to you.”

“That was him, wasn’t it? Is he there with you? If you’re on a date, we can talk later, as long as I get details. Oh, God, you’re not in the middle of something, are you?”

“Mom!” My face went scarlet as Hunter laughed quietly.

“I was just asking. You never know. Are you on a date?” The excitement in her voice was palpable, even over the phone.

“We’re not on a date.”

“Yes we are,” Hunter said, loud enough for her to hear.

 I put my hand over the speaker. 

“Will you shut up?”

“Kid, why don’t you call me back? Oh, before you go, I thought I could have you and Tawny over for family dinner on Saturday night. Why don’t you bring him? I’d love to meet him.”

“You don’t even know his name.”

“Doesn’t matter. If he’s gotten through your walls, I know he’s something special. Your standards are high.”

“Yes, they are,” Hunter said in my ear. His warm breath was making it very hard to think. “I’d love to meet your mother.”

“Was that him?”

“Yes.”

“Tell her I’d love to meet her,” he said so loud that I’m sure people from miles around could have heard him. I gave him a death glare.

“Tell him that’s great. I’ll be sure to make you something special.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Call me later, Kid.”

“I will.”

“You’d better. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

I hung up with Mom and jabbed my fist into Hunter’s stomach. He dodged at the last moment and wrapped his arms around me, giving me a bear hug.

“I can’t wait to meet your mom. I want to see what you’ll look like in twenty- five years.”

“Well, since you invited yourself to dinner, I guess there’s nothing I can do to stop you.”

“Exactly.” He dived in and got a good kiss in, smiling against my mouth. I totally let him. “There. Now was that so hard?”

I made a grumpy noise.

“Come on; let’s go have some music sex.”

We settled back in our spot, and Hunter serenaded me as the sun sunk lower in the sky. Renee and Darah texted me, asking when we were getting back. I messaged them back and said I didn’t know. I was at Hunter’s mercy. Renee was dying for details. She’d probably be disappointed with my lame details.

“One last song. What’ll it be?” he said.

“How about something older? Oooh, how about
Love Me Tender
?”

“Elvis?”

“What? He’s the King.”

“Yes, yes he is.”

I put my hands behind my head and stared up at the sky as Hunter’s voice lulled me into that safe bubble again. My stupid phone popped it.

I stared at the screen. Tawny. I ignored the call. I’d call her back later. Hunter kept singing, drawing the song out longer than it normally would be.

Immediately, she called back. That raised a red flag. She didn’t do that unless there was a reason.

“What’s up?” I said, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. Hunter stopped playing.

“Travis is up for parole.”

Every bit of oxygen I’d had in my lungs left in one puff of air.

“What?” Hunter looked at me with a question mark on his face. I turned away from him.

“He’s up for parole. There’s a hearing in a couple of weeks.”

“But he has two more years.”

“I know, but you know how it works. He got the date almost two months ago, but they forgot to let us know.”

“They can’t let him out,” I whispered.

“They could.”

“Can we go?”

“We should be able to, since we’re both victims. They should have called you, too.” I’d had a call earlier, but I’d let it go to voicemail since I didn’t know the number. What a moron.

“What’s wrong? You’re shaking.” Hunter put his hands on my shoulders.

“Don’t fucking touch me!” I shrieked. 

“Taylor! Don’t freak out. It will be fine. They’re not going to let him out. Where are you?” Tawny said.

“Camden.”

“What are you doing there?”

“Not important.”

“Okay, well I want you to go back to your apartment and stay there. Is there someone to stay with you?”

“Uh huh.” Hunter didn’t touch me, but started packing up our stuff.

“It’s Hunter, isn’t it? Have you told him yet?” Tawny said.

“No.”

“Let me talk to him.”

“NO!”

“I’m not going to tell him. Just let me talk to him.”

“She wants to talk to you.” I handed him the phone. Nothing after she’d said the thing about Travis had seemed real.

“Hi, Tawny, what’s up?” His voice was clipped. He walked away from me and listened, then responded in a hushed tone. “Okay, we’re going.”

I didn’t move. I wasn’t sure if I could.

“We were supposed to have two more years. Then I was going to leave and go where he couldn’t find me,” I said to whoever would listen.

“Come on, we need to get you home,” Hunter said. My legs wouldn’t work. “All right, baby, I’m going to pick you up, okay?”

“No, I can do it.” I reached out for his hand, and he pulled me to my feet.

“You don’t always have to do everything yourself,” he said, taking my arm with one hand and carrying his guitar with the other.

 I stumbled like I was drunk back to Hunter’s car. I didn’t want him touching me, but then I knew I wouldn’t have gotten back to the car by myself. 

Hunter didn’t ask for details as he drove as fast as he could down the windy road back down the mountain.

“Slow down,” I said.

“I’m getting you home.”

“Well, I’d like to get there in one piece.”

“Fine.”

“Did Tawny tell you?”

“No. She said you would. All she told me was that I should get you home and stay there.”

“Nothing else?”

“No. I wished she would have.”

“So I’m guessing you’re waiting on an explanation.” My shock was thawing a little having him there.

“I’ve wanted one ever since I met you. You’ve got secret written all over you. But I’m one to talk about that. I just wish you’d trust me with it. I know it can’t be easy for you to carry.”

“It’s not.” I was not going to cry.

“I’d like to help you. Telling you about my parents made it better, not worse. Outside of family, you’re the only one I’ve ever really told, and it was scary as hell, but it felt good after. The truth will set you free and all that.”

“I’m afraid of what you’ll say.”

“Missy girl, there isn’t anything you could tell me that would make you think any different.”

Oh, but there was. It had the power to change everything. Especially now.

“I wish I could believe that.”

“Then do. Believe it. Believe me.”

I wanted to. More than anything.

I sat back in my seat and tried to calm my racing heart. I turned on The Head and the Heart again. I found the folky, slightly blue-grassy melodies soothing.

“Can you hand me my phone?” he said when we got back to the entrance of the park. He stopped the car, but left it running. I handed him his phone, and he hit the speed dial.

“Hey, Mase. I need a favor. Can you take Dare for the night? I need some time with Taylor. Yes. Uh huh. Thanks, man. Yes, I know I owe you. Thanks. Bye.”

He hit dial on another number.

“Hey, Ne. Can you do me a favor? Taylor and I, um, need another night. Yes. No. I will. Don’t worry. See you tomorrow. Bye.” 

He tossed the phone in his cup holder.

“I thought you wouldn’t want a bunch of people around bugging you.” He knew me far too well. “I’m not going anywhere, okay?”

“Okay.” All the fight had gone out of me. My mind was already picturing Travis getting out of jail and then fulfilling the promise he made to me that night. 

I didn’t talk for the next half hour as Hunter drove as fast as he could while still driving safely. I kept hearing him counting under his breath.

One, two, three, four, five.

I listened to him, and it lulled me into a weird sort of waking shock. It was like that feeling when you stare off into space. Only it didn’t end. 

By the time we got back to the apartment, Renee and Darah were already gone. They’d left us a little surprise in the form of a heart made of cupcakes.

“Look at me,” Hunter said, as we walked in the door. Rationally, I knew that there was no way Travis was there, but my head still went there.

“No one is going to hurt you. You’re not a weak girl. You kicked me in the balls within hours of meeting me. You’re not afraid of anyone,” he said.

I was just afraid of one person.

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. Go take a shower and I’ll make some dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Sorry, but Tawny told me to make you eat.” That was something she’d say. She used to force me when we were younger, too.

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

“Okay.”

He went to the fridge and started assembling ingredients.

“I’m going to take a shower.”

“Okay, then.” He smiled and shook his head.

I slowly pushed the door to my bedroom open with my foot. I waited a second before reaching in and turning on the light. I slowly walked in, my heart pounding the whole time. I glanced in every corner before I completely entered the room.

I grabbed my clothes and shower stuff as quickly as I could and rushed to the bathroom. I took a quick shower, jumping at every single noise. I remembered this feeling well. I’d lived years of my life like this, but it had dulled in the last few. Now it was back full-force, and I was twelve again and throwing up out of fear every day. I’d almost given myself an ulcer. That was when the therapy had started.

I came out and Hunter was busy with tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.

“I made the margherita ones you like, along with the avocado,” he said.

“I’m not hungry.”

“You’re going to eat a damn sandwich and a bowl of soup even if I have to kiss you into submission. Got it?”

“Please don’t touch me.”

“Then eat.”

“I hate you.”

“Nice try. I’m not going anywhere.” He put a sandwich on a plate, cutting it crossways so I could see the mozzarella cheese oozing out. Normally I would have devoured the thing and burned my mouth, but I didn’t want to eat ever again.

He poured a bowl of soup. He’d even added milk to make it creamy.

“Why don’t we have a tray? We need to get a tray,” he muttered.

 I had no idea what he was talking about. I finger-combed my hair and waited for him to be done. 

“Go sit on the couch.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.” I didn’t want him treating me like an invalid. Worse, I didn’t want him treating me like he had to take care of me. That I was some sort of burden. A person he was obligated to take care of.

I went and sat on the recliner instead of the couch and turned the television on, flipping from one channel to the next, not even noticing what was one before I changed it.

“Here we go.” He set a plate and bowl down on the table, pulling it close to the recliner. He handed me a spoon and a napkin.

“I would suggest you eat, but I’m not telling you what to do. Because you don’t want me to,” he said.

“That’s right.”

He got his dinner and sat down on the opposite end of the couch, as far away from me as he could get and still be sitting in the living room.

I found a marathon of romantic comedies, starting with Pretty Woman. Score.

“She has way too many teeth. And no hooker has ever looked like that, I can guarantee you,” Hunter said, sitting back and munching his sandwich.

I ignored him and tried to watch the movie, but I kept jumping at every little sound. My brain had convinced itself that Travis was going to burst through the door any moment. I kind of wished I had a sharp object, but I’d have to settle for my spoon or the remote. Or Hunter. He’d probably do as a weapon in a pinch.