On The Rocks

I nod, definitely remembering when Casey and her parents flew across the country to watch him compete. Casey was so excited, as were her parents, because they just couldn’t afford to trot across the globe to watch him.

“Well, she was a bitch… couldn’t stand her. She was rude to my parents, rude to me, and was a complete bitch to Hunter. I assume their relationship was really on the downswing at that point. Hunter was pretty embarrassed by her behavior. We all went out to dinner that night, and all she did was complain. Complained about the way Hunter surfed, about what clothes he was wearing, about what food he ordered. I swear… he sat through that meal with his teeth clenched so he wouldn’t tear into her. The only saving grace was Dad… I mean, you know how easygoing he is, and he could talk for hours with a complete stranger.”

This revelation made me feel exquisitely good and made a little bit of the jealousy over their relationship ease in my mind.

“I wanted to knock her teeth out when she kissed Hunter,” I admitted. “Then I wanted to kick him in the balls for letting it happen.”

“He pushed her away fast, Gabby. I watched the entire thing. You were turned away, grabbing your purse.”

“He told me that last night,” I add.

“Did you see the look on her face when you approached them? I wanted to knock her teeth out myself. I mean… I knew it. Even before you called him an asshole. I saw the look on your face, the look on his face, and I knew there was something going on between you two. So I looked at her, and she had like this shit-eating grin on her face. It’s like she liked causing trouble, you know?”

Sadly, I did know. I hated people like that and had seen plenty in my life. “I really am sorry I didn’t tell you about us,” I reiterate, just because she’s brought up the fact again that she didn’t know.

“Seriously, girl… it’s fine. I’m over it. I don’t even want to talk about that anymore. I want to plot on how we can make Sasha’s life hell while she’s visiting.”

Sighing, I flop back on the bed in frustration. “It’s my life that’s going to be hell. Hunter said he has no clue how long they’re staying, but John had mentioned on the phone he might be here a few weeks. I don’t know if I can bear her being in his house that long.”

“You don’t have to worry about Hunter. He’s—”

I cut Casey off. “I’m not worried about him at all. I just hate that we probably won’t be spending the same amount of time together that we were before. I mean… it would be awkward me staying over there while she’s there, and he certainly can’t abandon them to stay at my place.”

“You’ll figure something out,” Casey says as she pats my shoulder. “Now, I need to get in the shower and head in to work.”

I roll over and off Casey’s bed, telling her I’ll see her later, and leave the house. Driving toward Last Call, I hope I can get a few moments alone with Hunter sometime today to talk about our arrangement—how he foresees us being able to spend time together while he has company. Maybe we should just cool it until they leave, but as soon as that thought crosses my mind, my stomach almost cramps with pain at the thought of not seeing him.

Yeah… Casey’s right. I can’t do casual and the minute I accepted Hunter into my body, I gave him carte blanche access to my heart as well.