“Hunter,” I growl, shaking my head at him.
“Shh! I won’t. Just…go, before they get suspicious.” He moves me behind him as he opens the door and peeks into the hallway. With the coast clear, he shoves me out and swats me on the ass, making me yelp in surprise. I turn around, my mouth gaping at his audacity. Shrugging, he winks and closes the door.Like hell he’s letting last night go.
CHAPTER TWENTY
ASHLIE
You were the sun…
Hunter’s words echo in my head, distracting me as I creep through the kitchen. I turn toward the stairs and bump right into Trevor. “Oh!” I say, putting a hand on his arm to steady myself.
“Ope! You okay?”
That simple question shoots memories of last night through my mind, of Hunter kissing my wrist before asking the same thing. The cuddling. His confession. But the image of a brunette in lingerie chases it all away.One night.No more. I shake my head to clear the haze. “Hi! Yeah, sorry… Just distracted. What are you doing here?”
“Chayla’s cars weren’t ready, so I gave them a ride. They invited me for Thanksgiving a few weeks ago; we probably should have carpooled in the first place.
“Chayla?”Did he really just make a portmanteau of my best friends’ names?
“Yeah.” He smiles. “It’s easier than saying ‘Chase and Kayla’ all the time.”
“Kayla’s going to hate that… I love it!”
He nods and shifts on his feet, but doesn’t move out of the way. “So, I was looking into things to do up here, and I guess there’s a ton of hiking trails…”
You lit up my worl?—
Ugh, quit it!“Yep.” I grin like my thoughts aren’t beating the hell out of me. “Everything from beginner to advanced.”
“It’s supposed to be warmer today. Would you like to go on a hike later? With me? Maybe after lunch?” The eager look in his eyes sends flutters through my belly. Subtle assertiveness.I like.
“Uh…” My phone buzzes, reminding me again of that picture of Ava as I dig it from my pocket. It’s the last bit of resolve I need to let it all go. “Sorry, hang on. This is my sister.” I don’t bother stepping away before answering.
“Wills?”
“Get me out of this fucking house!” she whisper-screams into the phone.
“Wha—you came home?”
“Clearly, I’ve lost my mind. And I’ll be on the first flight back to LA if you don’t come get meright now!”
“Okay, let me shower, and I’ll be right there.”
“It better be the fastest damn shower of your life, Ash. I swear.”
I laugh, fully entertained by her intense tone. She saysI’mthe dramatic one. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”
“Sorry,” I say again, turning back to Trevor.
“Everything okay?”
“My sister decided to come home for the holiday, and my parents are already driving her crazy. I have to go get her, but a hike after lunch sounds fun.” I smile, and he returns it.
“Yeah? Okay, cool. It’s a date…”
“Cool… Well, I have to…” I point up the stairs.
“Right. Yeah. Go get your sister.” He chuckles nervously as he steps to the side, and I slide past him.
