Surviving Regret (42 page)

“Mom, I’m not ready for this yet.”

Jackson was a nervous wreck. It was kind of cute seeing him like that because normally he was the big tough guy. “We don’t have anything set up at the apartment; we haven’t even had the shower yet.”

“Jackson, just relax. We are all here, and we will help you and Chloe with everything.” Mom reassured him.

We got all the bags into the house. Jaylinn, Mrs. McCormick, and I put all the food away while mom and Jackson went upstairs to check on Chloe. Thirty minutes later, mom and Chloe came downstairs and asked if I was ready to go get our pedicures.

“Chloe, are you sure you are up to going?”

She still didn’t look as if she felt very well. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes narrowed each time she winced.

“Yeah, I need a distraction. The doctor said if I still have these pains by tomorrow morning to head over to the hospital. They’re probably only Braxton Hicks contractions.”

“I have no idea what the hell that means, but if you still want to go, let’s go.” I laughed.

By the time we finished our pedicures and stopped for ice cream, Chloe said that she was feeling much better. We got home and convinced Jackson that Chloe really was fine, so they headed home for the night.

Heading up the stairs to my room, I thought I heard Hailey’s giggle. I stopped and waited for it again. I needed to make sure it was Hailey before I walked in on Mason or Cooper with some girl. I heard it again and knew that it was definitely Hailey’s giggle. I knocked on Mason and Cooper’s door. Cooper opened it. Hails and Mason reclined on his bed. Cooper and his friend, Amy, sat around the floor with Hunter…and some blonde girl I didn’t know.

“Hey, Hails,” I said. “I thought I heard you. What are you up to?”

I didn’t look at Hunter. Or the blonde. What the hell was he doing?

“Just hanging out. Mason said you were still out with your mom and Chloe, so I figured I’d wait.”

I glanced over at Hunter. The blonde smacked him.

“Ok, well, I don’t want to interrupt you guys. I’ll be in my room.”

I almost made it to my room before Hunter called to me. I didn’t feel like listening.

“Hunter, whatever you are about to say, don’t. Just go back in there, and I’ll see you later.”

I locked the door behind me and pumped the volume on my iPhone as I listened to music. If he tried to knock, I didn’t hear him. Around midnight, I fell into an exhausted sleep.

The next morning I woke up early and went downstairs to help my mom start cooking for Thanksgiving. I needed to stay busy so I would not think about Hunter. I needed to remind myself to only focus on me, my social life outside my family and my schoolwork. I would not survive my heart being broken again.

“Good morning, baby girl, how did you sleep?” Mom asked, elbow deep in the turkey.

“Fine. What do you need help with?”

“Start with the stuffing.”

The rest of the morning and early afternoon, I stayed busy helping my mom in the kitchen getting everything ready. A few hours before dinner, I went upstairs to get ready. On my way back to the kitchen, I ran into Hunter.

“Hey,” I said.

“Hey, got a second to talk?”

“No. I need to help Mom get everything out for dinner…maybe later.”

“CC, please don’t do this. I don’t want you pissed off at me. I’m not interested in that girl. I was just talking to her. She came with Amy. I couldn’t just ignore her.”

I knew she didn’t mean anything to him. How could she? We have not even been here for months, but still, it bothered me.

“Hunter, we aren’t together. It doesn’t matter who you talk to or don’t. Now please excuse me; I need to go help Mom.”

“We’re talking about this later, CC,” he said.

I didn’t answer. I hurried to the kitchen before he said anything else.

Thanksgiving dinner was usually great—food, family, and football. But I could tell Chloe wasn’t feeling well, and Jackson looked like he hadn’t slept all night. Hunter kept staring at me all through dinner. Cooper tried to get him to knock it off, but Mason was well aware of the tension.

“Kenzie, what’s wrong with you?” he asked. “You are really quiet today.”

“Nothing, I’m fine.”

“Is Dominic still harassing you at school?” he asked.

“He is leaving me alone for the most part. How are things going with you and Hailey?”

I already knew the answer; I just didn’t want to talk about Dominic.

“Good.” Mason looked over at Hunter and asked him directly, “Are you seeing anyone?”

“No, I’m hoping this girl from school will give me a chance, but lately she has been really distant, so we will see what happens.”

Mason just glared at him when he said that. I was curious enough to ask him point blank, “Have I met this girl? I don’t remember seeing anyone hanging around.”

“Guess you’re not paying attention then.” Hunter’s cell phone chirped. He read the message, cursed, and stood.

“I have to go. Thanks for dinner, Elle and Andrew. Mom, Jay, I’ll see you guys a little later. I’ll be back before dessert, and then I’ll take you home.”

“Dude, what’s going on?” Cooper followed Hunter into the kitchen. I couldn’t hear what he said but, when Cooper came back in, he nodded at Mason.

“What the hell is going on?” My voice squeaked. The last time something like this happened, I found out my boyfriend was having a baby with another girl. I couldn’t handle anything else.

“Nothing, everything is good. Hunter just had to go take care of something.” Cooper said.

“Quit the bullshit, Cooper, what’s wrong?” I said glaring at him.

“Relax, it’s nothing; he’ll be back. If he wants you to know, he can tell you when he comes back.”

I kicked my chair back and left the table to watch the football game. Mom and Dad asked what was happening, but Cooper smoothed it over. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. I woke to Hunter rubbing my arm.

I sat up as soon as I saw his split lip and the welt on his cheek.

“Oh my God, Hunter, what happened? Are you ok?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, just had to go take care of something.”

I reached out to touch his lip. He winced at first then kissed my finger. I ordered him to sit on the couch and dashed into the kitchen to get some ice.

“Here put this on your lip and cheek.” I told him. His cheek was haloed black and blue.

“CC, I’m fine really. Can we talk now?” Hunter took the ice and dabbed his lip.

“Yeah, but not in here with everyone. Let’s go outside.”

“It’s raining.”

“I need to get out of here.” I told him. I really did not want to talk to him about us with the possibility of someone overhearing.

“Ok, let’s go.”

Hunter led me outside, through the pouring rain, and to his truck. He pushed me back against the cold truck. His hands cupped my face.

“I’m done trying to stay away,” he said. “I can’t do it anymore. I need you like my life depends on it.” The rain was streaming down on us, but I didn’t care. “I just need you.” He gently pulled my head to him and whispered. “I’m going to kiss you now.”

That is exactly what he did. I was tired of fighting my feelings for him, tired of being upset, just tired. His lips were so soft and urgent on mine, as if he was expressing all the passion and longing we had been holding onto for so long. I knew right then that Hunter was the only one I wanted. He was my happily ever after.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

All I could think about was Hunter’s lips on mine. A tingly feeling spread from my lips, down my chest, and settled right between my legs. Hunter growled. He deepened the kiss. His tongue slipped in and found mine. I reached up and tangled my hands in his hair. I didn’t ever want this kiss to end. I was not sure what would happen when we broke apart. I would not be able to stop my heart from shattering if he called it a mistake. I didn’t care if our family was sitting in the house or not. I needed this kiss as if my life depended on it.

Hunter started to pull away, but I tightened my hands in his hair, holding his head to me. I was shivering. He reached up, removed my hands, and positioned them between us. He caught my lower lip between his teeth. I whimpered. Panted.

"You know,” he said, chuckling, “We have a thing with kissing in the rain.”

We were both soaked and I truly didn’t care, but then I remembered the cut on his lip.

“Oh god, I didn’t hurt you, did I?” I asked him, reaching up to run my thumb over his cut. God, I was an idiot.

“It was worth it.” He bent down and kissed me again. “I guess I’m forgiven for talking to that girl yesterday?”

“Only if you tell me what happened to you.” I said.

He pushed my bangs out of my face. “I got a text from Hailey telling me that she ran into a very drunk Dominic. He said he was on his way to talk to you. I stopped him before he came over. Let’s just say that he isn’t going to be going anywhere for a while.”

“Hunter, he could have pressed charges against you.”

“He didn’t. And I couldn’t have him come over here and throw himself at you, I can’t handle that shit.”

“KENZIE!” Mason yelled from the front door.

“Shit.” Hunter said, stepping back from me.

“Get your ass in here. Mom wants you.”

Mason glared at us. I knew this was not going to go over well. I hoped he would not make a scene with everyone here.

“Coming.” I yelled back to him. “I guess we better get back inside.” He reached in and grabbed his keys from his pocket. “I’ll be back later. I’m going to run home and change. Tell my mom and Jay that I’ll be back.”

“Ok. See you in a little bit.” I didn’t know what to do. Did I kiss him goodbye or hurry inside?

I didn’t have to guess. Hunter grabbed both of my hands, entwined our fingers, and kissed me goodbye.

“You know, you can drag my ass out in the rain and kiss me anytime you want.” I told him when we broke apart from our kiss.

Smirking at me, he said. “I’ll have to remember that.”

I ran back through the rain to the house and hid in my room to dry my hair. Jaylinn knocked at the door. She frowned.

“Where did you run my brother off to?” she asked.

“He went home to change. He said to tell you he would be right back.”

“And why did he have to change?”

“Because we…”

She cut me off before I could answer her. “Wait, don’t answer that. I don’t even want to know.”

I busted out laughing, I couldn’t help it; I was on cloud nine from my kiss with Hunter.

“Well, I’m glad to finally see you laughing again, and I’m glad it was Hunter who is the cause of it.” Hailey said leaning against my doorframe.

“Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I still have to go downstairs and deal with my brothers.” I pulled my hair up in a ponytail. “Alright, let’s go face the music.”

They waited in the living room watching TV. Hailey ran interference with Mason, and Jaylinn eased next to Cooper.

I took a seat in the recliner next to Jackson and Chloe. “So, Chloe, how are you feeling today? Any better?”

“No, not at all, I’m so uncomfortable.” She said groaning. Poor girl, she was so ready to have this baby.

“Well, with your shower on Saturday, hopefully it will take your mind off of it for a little while.” I tried to shine some kind of light on the situation.

“I sure hope so.”

Hunter walked in looking hot, even dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt. I offered him my seat, prepared to sit next to the couch, but he pulled me in his lap instead.

Mason practically leapt off the couch.

“Dude, that’s my fucking sister. What are you doing?”

“Mason, watch your mouth.” My dad spoke up.

I decided to try to defuse the situation. I walked into the kitchen to start doing the dishes that didn’t make it into the dishwasher. Mason followed me into the kitchen, I assumed to finish our argument, but he was not alone. Hunter and Cooper came too.

“What the fuck is going on between you two?” Mason seethed through his teeth.

Cooper put his hand on Mason’s shoulder. “Mase, man, let it go.”

“No, I’m not just going to let it go. You’re only sticking up for them because you’re fucking his sister.” Mason fired back at Cooper.

My mouth dropped opened.

“What the fuck, Mase!” Cooper groaned.

“You’re what, Coop? That’s my fucking sister.” Hunter yelled back.

I thought it was going to be a free for all, but, thankfully, Jackson and my dad walked in before anyone could get too crazy.

“What the hell is going on? Why is everyone yelling?” My dad asked.

I shrugged. I was
not
getting into this. I focused on the dishes.

“Your daughter wants Hunter,” Mason said.

“I thought you were with Dominic?” Dad said.

“Nope, haven’t been for a few weeks. But while we’re talking about it, Mason’s dating Hailey.” I fired right back towards Mason.