Biting the inside of his lip, he looks at his phone with a sigh. “I’ll be back.” He leaves the booth and walks outside. The cloudy springtime sky sets a moody backdrop for the scowl on his face as he paces the sidewalk, phone to his ear.
“Lover’s quarrel?” Willa bumps me with her elbow, and I whip my head to her. I haven’t told her anything about the last few months with Hunter. I haven’t told anyone.
“What are you talking about, Wills?”
“Oh please. I saw you two holding hands as you walked up to the restaurant, and I’m pretty sure you’ve been rubbing ankles under the table this entire time. Not to mention the way he keeps looking at you. So are you two a thing now?”
Damn it. We’ve walked to lunch hand in hand so often lately; I didn’t even think about Willa being able to see us.
“Look, you can’t tell anyone. And no, we’re not athing. We’re dating.”
“How is that different?”
“I’m dating himandTrevor…casually.”
“How the fuck is any of this casual, when you’re in love with Hunt?—”
“Can younotsay that out loud! Damn.” I glance around, making sure these perfect strangers didn’t hear anything. “Look, I’m just seeing how it goes, okay? Plain and simple.” She gives me a dubious look. We both know there’s nothing simple about this, but I’m sticking to what I said.
“That shit sounds messy, Ash. I don’t like it.”
“Youdon’t have to.”
Maybe it is messy. It could all blow up in our faces at any minute. But it’s also the most at ease I’ve felt in years. With Trevor, I’ve found the gentle, assertive affection I’ve been looking for. Kayla was right about him; he’s an amazing man. And at the same time, I feel like myself when I’m around Hunter. There’s no need for me to put on an act with him. He accepts me as I am: annoying moods and all. I like being with them both.Shit, that’s chaotic as hell.
“It was all Hunter’s idea. He’s trying to convince me he’s serious with a bet. I’m not convinced yet.” I shrug despite his words from last week echoing in my mind.
“That’s bullshit, girl, and you know it.”
“How would you know?” I snap, the sudden need to defend myself sparking in my chest.
“Have you seen Hunter back down from an argument? About anything? Ever?” she asks. Pursing my lips, I wait for her to finish. “With the force that man used to bite his tongue just now, all so you could get your way, I’d be surprised if he didn’t leave marks. I won’t say anything about your bullshit bet, but that man is serious about you.”
“I just…don’t know if I believe it yet.” How easily that lie slipped out of my mouth causes me to shake my head. He’s absolutely serious. There was a shift in him after our fight, one I’ve been trying to write off ever since.
“At this point, you’re choosing to ignore it. Someone’s going to get hurt.”
Doubts surrounding this bet weave in and out of my mind, all trying to build a case for the men hanging in the balance. There are so many conflicting truths. Hunter’s clearly trying, but will he give up as soon as he wins? Despite everything he said last week, what happens the next time we fight? When the novelty wears off?
Even with the distance, Trevor’s clearly the sensible choice here. He’s kind, consistent and open—everything I’ve been looking for. But we’re still at the impressions stage. Will he accept me when he gets a peek at my anxiety?
I sigh as Hunter walks back to the door. It’s not the time or place to be hashing this out with her. “Anyway, we’re taking it slow. And I’m still seeing Trevor.”
“You’re playing dumb is what you’re doing. But okay, have your little messy love triangle.” Willa shakes her head, and I can almost taste the disagreement oozing out of her.
“Okay”—Hunter sighs—“we’ll be across the street at a sports bar called Ripley’s. It’s far enough away that they can ‘act single,’ but close enough that we can throw them in a car together at the end of the night. Happy?”
“Yep.” I send over the cheesiest grin I can muster, and he shakes his head, biting that same spot on the inside of his lip. This time, the silence is earsplitting. We argue all the time about the dumbest stuff, and he usually meets all my sass with snark of his own. Lately though, our arguments are short-lived, stifled with a change in subject or an abrupt kiss from him. And yeah, I notice his disinterest in other women when we’re together. His effort is promising, but trusting he’ll continue to do so is a big leap for me. One that worries me more than I’d like to admit. I’m not ready to believe it. Not yet.
When Hunter walks me back to work, he stops me just short of the Fit4U building. “You ever thought about being a swim coach?” he asks.
“Uh, what?”How does he know about that?
“I was just thinking about our conversation on the beach a few weeks ago…”
“I’m lost, Hunt.”
“You know. The kids and making a swim team… Anyway, you like working with kids, and you like swimming. Why not combine them?”
