Page 24 of Because I Liked A Boy (Because I Liked A Boy Trilogy #1)

The shrill beep of an alarm clawed through my sleep.

I groaned, dragging the blanket over my head. “Hunter, if that’s your idea of a joke, I swear—”

“Not a joke, princess.” His voice was far too awake for this hour, smug as hell. The mattress dipped as he leaned over, lips brushing the shell of my ear. “Rise and shine.”

He grinned, shirtless, hair a mess, tattoos sprawled across muscle like he knew exactly what he was doing to me. “Possibly. But you’ll thank me later.”

“For waking me up at—” I squinted again. “Literal dawn?”

“Yup.” He waved a travel mug under my nose. Fresh coffee. Then dangled his phone, the screen flashing a confirmation email: Six Flags – Your Tickets.

“Tickets?”

“Day off’s sorted. Cleared it with Whittaker yesterday. Roller coasters, greasy food, me winning you the biggest stuffed bunny they’ve got. No excuses.”

I buried my face in the pillow, but the corner of my mouth betrayed me with a smile. He stole his coffee back for a sip, then brushed his mouth over mine just enough to tease. “Now get up. Ten minutes before I drag you out myself.”

That’s when I noticed the neat little row at the end of the bed. Denim shorts. A white lace bra and panties. A tiny floral cami.

I turned slowly. He was leaning in the doorway, arms folded, grin smug.

“You went through my drawers?”

Hunter shrugged, unbothered. “You take forever getting ready. Figured I’d save us both some time.”

“By picking my underwear?”

“Matching set.” His wink was lethal. “You’re welcome.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And you’re still gonna wear it,” he said easily, brushing past me like he owned the place. “Don’t make me come back in here and help.”

I slammed the bathroom door behind me, pulse ricocheting in my chest. Nervous. Excited. A little terrified.

The lace bra clung to trembling hands, and when I caught my reflection in the mirror, it startled me. Flushed cheeks. Softer edges. A girl who looked… wanted. That scared the hell out of me.

“Princess.” His voice carried through the door, smug as ever. “Eight minutes.”

Heat rushed to my face. “What are you, my alarm clock?”

“More creative,” he shot back. “But I can think of better ways to wake you up.”

I rolled my eyes, tugging the shorts up.

“Seven minutes,” he called again, voice teasing but softer. “But take your time. You’re worth the wait.”

Those words burrowed deeper than they should have.

When I opened the door, my pulse was still racing.

Hunter was sprawled on the edge of my bed like he owned it, cap turned backwards, long legs stretched wide. The second his eyes landed on me, his grin spread slow and wicked.

He stood, dragging his gaze down me in a way that made the cami and shorts feel scandalous. “Wow. And with five minutes to spare.” His thumb brushed along my jaw. “Guess I’ve got options.”

“Careful,” I murmured, tilting my chin. “You’ll make us late.”

“For you?” His smirk deepened. “I’d risk the apocalypse.”

Before I could sass him, he spun me onto the bed with a laugh that was all trouble. His mouth was hot and hungry on mine, stealing what little breath I had left.

When he finally pulled back, his forehead pressed to mine, grin crooked and wrecked. “Five minutes isn’t enough,” he murmured, lips grazing mine. “Should’ve set the alarm earlier.”

“Hunter—” My warning melted into a gasp as his hand slid under my cami, heat sparking across my skin.

“Fuck, princess.” His grip tightened on my hip. “You’re gonna make me forget we’ve got somewhere to be.”

For a beat, I almost didn’t care.

But he pulled back first, breath ragged. “Later,” he promised, tugging me up with him. His forehead rested against mine, voice low. “Right now I just wanna give you a good day.”

The morning air was cool against my skin as he tugged me toward the truck. Before I could reach the handle, he swung the door open with a mock bow.

“Your chariot awaits.”

I rolled my eyes, climbing in.

“Yeah,” he smirked, shutting the door after me, “but I’m your chariot.”

The engine roared, the sun bleeding gold across the horizon.

“How exactly,” I asked, side-eyeing him, “did you manage to have your car and clothes ready if you were here all night?”

“Left while you were drooling on my chest.”

I gasped. “I did not—”

“You did. Cutest thing I’ve ever seen.” His grin softened, just a little. “Grabbed my stuff, came back before you even stirred. Smooth as a ghost.”

“You… planned all of this?”

He shrugged, casual, but his knuckles flexed tight on the wheel. “Yeah. Wanted today to be easy. No excuses. Just us.”

The words hit harder than they should’ve.

“Why?” I whispered.

His jaw flexed. “Because you deserve it. And because I wanted to see your face when I told you.” His green eyes flicked to mine, sharp but soft. “That’s it. No strings.”

Nobody had ever chosen me like that. No expectations. No bargains. Just… me.

“Hunter Hayes,” I muttered, shaking my head. “You’re trouble.”

“Best kind,” he grinned. “And I’m winning you that bunny.”

The highway stretched wide, sunlight spilling across the dash. Hunter drove with the windows down, playlist blaring—old rock, a little country, even a shameless pop anthem he sang without hesitation.

“Who even listens to this stuff anymore?” I asked when the next song hit, country twang sharp enough to make me snort.

Hunter’s grin split wide. “People with taste.”

“People with horses,” I muttered, earning myself a bark of laughter.

He leaned closer, voice dipping low. “Careful, princess. Mock my playlist again, and I’ll pull over just to show you another way to keep your mouth busy.”

My cheeks burned so fast I turned toward the window, pretending the wind whipping my hair was suddenly fascinating.

He laughed, squeezing my thigh. “And you’re smiling.”

And God, he sang. Loud. Off-key. Drumming the wheel like he didn’t care who saw. At first I just watched, caught up in the way he threw himself into it. Free. Alive. Then laughter bubbled up and I joined him, shouting lyrics into the wind, my hair whipping wild.

It felt reckless. Wild. Like living for the first time in years.

Hunter shot me a glance, grin splitting wider like I’d just passed some unspoken test.

About an hour in, Hunter swung the truck into a gas station, killing the engine.

“Coffee,” he announced, already out of the cab. “And snacks. Road trip rules.”

“Road trip rules?” I echoed, trailing after him.

“Yeah. Driver picks the music. Shotgun supplies the snacks.” He yanked open the cooler. “So, princess, what’s it gonna be?”

I grabbed water and M&M’s, tossing them onto the counter. Hunter returned with two coffees and a bag of gummy bears the size of my head.

“You’re insane,” I muttered.

“Insanely fun,” he corrected, tearing open the bag and holding one up to my lips. “Fuel for screaming on roller coasters all day.”

Against my better judgment, I laughed—and let him feed me the stupid gummy bear.

By the time the skyline shifted and the giant Six Flags sign rose into view, my stomach had already flipped three times and not from the rides.

Hunter thumped the wheel, grinning like a kid on Christmas. “There it is, princess. The happiest place on earth for adrenaline junkies.”

I swallowed, nerves sparking under the excitement. “Do I get a say in which rides we start with?”

“Absolutely not.” His grin widened, feral. “Biggest one first. Just to hear you scream.”

I rolled my eyes, but my pulse hammered anyway. Whatever the day brought, I knew one thing Hunter would make sure I didn’t forget it.

The coasters twisted against the sky, screams echoing faintly as the truck rolled closer. Hunter’s hand rested easy on my thigh, thumb brushing circles that made it impossible to think straight.

“Big day ahead, princess,” he said, that grin tugging at his mouth. “You ready?”

I tried to sound casual, but the butterflies betrayed me. “For roller coasters or for surviving a full day with you?”

“Both,” he said instantly, kissing my temple before turning back to the road. “But don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

And God help me I wanted to believe him.

The coasters towered above us, steel beasts twisting against the sky, screams echoing like a warning. My stomach flipped, but Hunter looked like he’d just walked into paradise.

His hand tightened on mine as he pulled me through the gates, flashing the attendant a wink like he owned the place.

“Still time to turn back,” I muttered, though I clung to him like he was my lifeline.

Hunter leaned close, his breath hot against my ear. “Princess, you’re about to get the ride of your life. And not just from the roller coasters.”

Heat flushed through me. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’re blushing,” he smirked, tugging me deeper inside.

The air smelled like sugar and grease, kids darting past sticky with candy, rides clattering overhead. Chaos everywhere. My chest tightened until his arm slid around my shoulders, grounding me.

“Relax,” he murmured against my temple. “I’ve got you.”

Then he stopped in front of the Titan, the biggest coaster in the park. Steel stretching so high it disappeared into the clouds.

“Oh, fuck no,” I blurted. “Absolutely not. Pick something smaller.”

Hunter’s grin was lethal. “Smaller’s not my style.” His hand slid low, squeezing just above my ass. “You can handle big. Trust me.”

My knees went weak. “Hunter!”

He only laughed, tugging me toward the line. “Biggest one first. Breaks the seal. Can’t wait to hear you scream.”

I gaped. “You’re talking about the roller coaster, right?”

His smirk curved sinful. “Sure.”

The line moved too fast. Before I knew it, we were strapped into the front row—of course the front row—my hands white-knuckled on the harness.

“Hunter,” I hissed. “This is a death trap. You dragged me here just to murder me.”

Cool as ever, he stretched an arm across the bar between us. “If you were gonna die in my hands, princess, it wouldn’t be like this.” His green eyes glinted. “It’d be a lot messier. Louder.”

“Disgusting.”

“And you’re shaking,” he shot back. “Don’t worry. I’ll hold you when you scream.”

The car jolted, dragging us up. Each clank ratcheted higher, the ground shrinking below. Hunter looked thrilled. His grin was lazy, sharp, eyes locked on me like I was the real show.

“Look at you,” he murmured, thumb brushing over my hand. “Clutching me like I’m the only thing keeping you safe. Which is true.”

“If I survive this,” I muttered, “I’m killing you.”

“Promise?”

The track tipped and dropped.

I screamed, wrecked and raw. Hunter just laughed, gripping my hand so tight I couldn’t have let go even if I wanted to.

By the time the ride screeched to a stop, my legs were jelly. He tugged me up, one arm firm around my waist.

“See?” His lips brushed my temple. “Told you I’d hold you when you screamed.”

“I hate you,” I gasped.

His grin turned feral. “No, princess. You’re addicted to me.”

And God help me he was right.

He didn’t let go of my hand after that. Not through lines, not through spinning swings that left my stomach in knots, not through the log flume where he wrapped me up right before the plunge.

His laugh boomed when I shrieked and clung to him, water soaking us through.

He kissed me anyway, grinning against my lips like nothing else mattered.

“See? You love me wet,” he teased.

“Hunter!”

Then came bumper cars, both of us ruthless, him slamming into my side on purpose, me shrieking loud enough for people in the next row to laugh. By the end, I was breathless, cheeks aching, and he looked like he’d never had more fun in his life.

We slowed down after that—lazy rides, fried food, stolen bites of churros and greasy fries by the lake. He leaned back, sunglasses low, arm draped behind me.

“Not bad for a date, huh?”

“If your goal was to terrify me, mission accomplished,” I said.

“If my goal was to hold your hand all day and make you laugh until you can’t breathe…” His grin curved sharp. “Mission accomplished too.”

The words hit deeper than I wanted to admit.

By the time we hit the midway games, the sun was high and my stomach hurt from laughing. Hunter threw bills at the basketball stand, tattoos flexing as he spun the ball.

“Hunter, no. Nobody wins these—”

“Correction.” He swished one. Then another. Then another.

Minutes later, I was buried under the world’s biggest bunny, white fur and ridiculous pink bow.

“I can’t believe you actually—”

“Told you,” he cut in, brushing a kiss over my temple like it was nothing. “You’re carrying it the rest of the day though. Gotta protect my rep.”

“Cocky. Insufferable.”

“And yours,” he added smoothly, smirking down at me.

God help me I couldn’t argue.

We stayed until the sky melted pink. Water rides, haunted houses, neon lights buzzing across his grin. Somewhere between the teacups and another round of bumper cars, I realised my cheeks hurt from smiling.

The Ferris wheel carried us up into the sunset, the whole park glittering below. Hunter tugged me close, voice softer now. “Not bad, huh?”

“It’s perfect,” I whispered.

For a moment he just stared, like he was memorising me against the skyline. Then he kissed me slow, deep, different from the teasing touches all day. Like he couldn’t stop himself.

And when the ride creaked us back to the ground, all I could think was I don’t want this to end.

The drive home blurred into soft playlists and open windows. Hunter’s voice hummed off-key, hand warm on my thigh. Halfway back, a song I loved spilled through the speakers, one I’d hummed once weeks ago. My chest tightened when I realised he’d queued it on purpose.

“Hunter—” My voice broke, too soft.

He flicked me a glance, smirk tugging at his mouth. “Told you I pay attention, princess.”

I turned toward the window so he wouldn’t see the smile I couldn’t fight. For the first time in forever, I felt safe.

My eyes slipped closed, his hand steady on my thigh, the rumble of the engine lulling me under. I dreamed of sugar, laughter, neon lights, and the stupid bunny squashed in the backseat. A day that felt like freedom.

“Princess.”

His voice pulled me back as the truck slowed, tires crunching gravel.

“Wake up, baby.” His thumb brushed lazy circles on my leg. “We’re home.”

I straightened, blinking groggily out the window. Not Maplewood. Not my street.

A porch light glowed against dark siding, ordinary and unexpected.

My pulse skipped. “This is… your place?”

Hunter cut the engine, grin curving slow, wrecked in that way that always undid me. He leaned close, lips brushing my temple.

“Welcome to my world, princess.”