“Can I buy you a drink?” asked the guy next to us.
“No!” I grabbed Kit’s arm and started dragging her away.
“What are you doing?”
“We need to get the hell out of here,” I muttered. “Go dancing or something.”
This shit was out of control. Typical night out with my sister.
• • •
Two hours later I found myself in a cab headed toward Hunter’s house.
How we got from me dragging Kit out of a bar to stalking my former kidnapper, I wasn’t quite sure. I’m usually a pretty sensible person.
But in my defense, she bought me shots.
Anyway, because Kit is a sneaky bitch, she had the cabbie drop us not quite a block from Hunter’s address, so we could creep up on him. (I swear, in the moment it made sense. Shots!) We tiptoed along the sidewalk like two cat burglars, which would’ve been far more effective if we hadn’t been giggling hysterically and stumbling around. About two houses away we realized there was a party going on at his place.
Even during a party he took the time to answer “my” text!
Some part of me deep inside—the part that’s too stupid to live—thought this was sweet. That’s when I had to bitch-slap myself mentally, because seriously? Kidnapper. Naked photos.
Endless orgasms . . .
No. Don’t think about those.
We stopped behind a giant rhododendron and peered through the leaves at the house. People flowed through the front door, and loud music filled the air. Hunter stood in the corner of the old-fashioned porch, leaning against the rail and looking down over the yard. It was one of those old houses that defines Portland—tall and skinny on a narrow lot. Almost Victorian, but just a little more raw, as if the builders couldn’t quite afford the gingerbread. The porch slanted forward and steep stairs led to a narrow walk. Tree-sized shrubs surrounded it, many of them still flowering despite how late it was in the year.
Hunter watched impassively as a group of girls staggered up to the house. A tall chick with giant boobs tried to talk to him and I felt myself tense, but he ignored her and after a minute she followed the others inside.
“Wow, he’s hot,” Kit whispered. “No wonder you’re obsessed with him.”
“I’m not obsessed.”
“Whatever,” she said. “But damn . . . That chick looked like she was ready to drop to her knees on the spot if he gave the word. Not many guys would turn that down. Text him!”
“And say what?”
“Ask him what he’s doing,” she hissed.
“You already asked him that!”
“Oh yeah. I forgot. Ask him if he’s got anything interesting planned.”
I dug my phone out of my jeans and started typing, which was harder than you’d think, since my thumbs kept hitting the wrong spots.
ME: So you have anthing intrsting plnned? I’m out wth my sister
Seconds later Hunter reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, glancing down at it. He smiled and I melted, because he really was gorgeous. He started to type something back, but then a beautiful girl with bright red hair came out and wrapped her arms around his waist.
I waited for him to push her away or freeze her out like he’d done with Big Boobs.
Instead he hugged her back. She said something to him and he laughed, the expression on his face so tender I could have thrown up. Bastard. Motherfucking cocksucking bastard. Hunter leaned over and whispered in her ear. She smacked his stomach playfully.
“I think we should kill him,” Kit hissed. “He doesn’t look nearly as cute with that bitch wrapped around him.”
I nodded.
He kissed the top of the girl’s head and she laughed again, then pulled away and went back into the house. Hunter turned back to his phone and I got a text from him.
HUNTER: Nope nothing planned. Just hanging out with the roommates. Shit it’s good to hear from you Em. Miss you. How are you?
I showed the message to Kit, and she growled.
“That takes balls,” she muttered. “You saw how they were together? That’s not some new thing, they’re a couple. He’s f**king with you. Either that, or he’s f**king her while thinking about you. Not sure which one sucks worse.”
“I know,” I said, my voice grim. God, why had I wasted so much energy on this guy? Why the hell was I surprised to see him hanging on some bitch right after he texted me?
Hunter wasn’t a nice guy.
We’d covered this.
I should just slink away. Just go home before I embarrassed myself even more. Then I pictured him naked with that redheaded twat and my head exploded.
I stepped out from behind the shrub and started marching across the lawn. I’m sure he noticed me right away, because Hunter had been doing that same watching thing my dad always does. He liked to keep an eye on everyone, always looking for potential threats. Considering what a giant dickhead Hunter was, I’d bet tons of people wanted him dead.
I was the new queen of their special club.
Pushing through the group at the foot of the stairs, I headed straight toward him. The surprised shock on Hunter’s face was satisfying as all f**k.
“Em, what the hell are you doing here?” he asked, glancing around the yard quickly. Maybe he expected an army of Reapers behind me? Well, I might not have the brothers with me, but I had Kit. Under the right circumstances, she could be scarier than a dozen angry bikers.
“So, you miss me?”
“Um, yeah,” he said, studying me like I was some sort of alien creature. “Where did you come from? I thought you were in Coeur d’Alene.”