We strode across the room to them just as Colt sat up and dropped the weights with a loud thud. The shirt was stuck to his back in a few places, and as he stood, he pulled it away from his front in a move I’d seen countless times before.
“Hey, stranger.”
Colt spun around, surprise written all over his face. Fora moment, the mask he always wore slipped, and he flashed me a heart-wrenching, crooked smile before it fell back into place. His gaze roamed down my body, getting hotter and hotter as it traveled farther down and took in my skin-tight workout clothes.
“Those looks again. Guys, please, I’m not getting laid right now, all this passion will set me on fire if you keep it up.”
Ella struck a tone of feigned desperation that made me shift my gaze away from Colt and stare at her with raised eyebrows. She didn’t hesitate for a second and turned her attention to the blond titan in front of us.
“Hi, I’m Ella.” She waved at Hunter, who, as usual, remained silent.
His face remained an expressionless mask, but unlike Colt’s, there was a certain coldness to it. Colt sometimes joked that Hunter acted like a robot, and Icouldsee the similarities. His steely gray eyes stared down at my roommate without returning her greeting.
Over the years, he had bulked up, like Colt, and became even more imposing, but in a different way. Colt was thick, but Hunter’s every muscle was cut. They were almost the same height, and although Ella towered over me by several inches — apparently that was useful for tennis — both of them loomed almost a head above her as well.
When it became clear Hunter had no intention of answering, Ella spoke again. “I’m Hailey’s—”
“Roommate. I know.”
“Oh,” she said, perplexed, and my eyebrows went up as well.
When I glanced back at Colt, I saw an equally bewildered expression.
“Anyway, Ella, this is Hunter, Colt’s best friend androommate.” Before I could finish my sentence, Hunter had already turned away to take his position on the bench. He didn’t give a singular fuck — as usual. For a moment, all three of us watched as he picked up the weights, completely unfazed, and began his set.
“Um, okay. Sorry about that, Ella, don’t take it personally. He doesn’t really talk much.” Colt’s tone was apologetic and slightly sheepish.
“Yeah, Hailey already mentioned that.” She didn’t take her eyes off Hunter’s form, still with that almost creepy, fascinated glint in them.
“Okay, I guess we’ll just ignorethattoo. I’ll see you later? Dinner?” I turned back to my boyfriend —eek.
“How much longer will you be here? We could go to my place together when we’re done?” He walked backward toward the bench.
“Sounds good to me. Is that okay with you, Ella? Do you need a ride?”
“Sure, don’t worry about me. I’ll probably just walk, it’s not far.” Was it my imagination, or did Hunter just twitch?
“Are you sure?” Colt asked as he plopped down heavily.
“Yeah, dude, I walk this almost every day, it’s really no problem.” Ella waved dismissively, a friendly smile on her face.
Hunter let out a grunt that had her eyes darting in his direction again, and Colt seemed to interpret it as some kind of demand. No one knew Hunter as well or could understand him the way Colt could. “Alright, man, I’m on it.”
“We should probably get back to it too. See you later, babe. Hunter, always a pleasure.” I gave them a little wave, not that Hunter cared, and started backing away.
“See you boys,” Ella purred, waving her fingers as she led the way.
“Later,” Colt puffed, strained as he moved the weights. So hot I needed to fan myself.
“Well, that wasinteresting.” Ella’s long wavy ponytail bobbed with each step.
“You could say that.”
“I like him.”
“Colt? Yeah … I know.” I said slowly. “I was there when you met him. The first day we moved in?”
“No, not Colt. I mean, wait, of course I like Colt, in ahe’s nice and my roomie’s boyfriendway. But I was talking about Hunter.”
