Page 5 of Heartless Summer (Claremont Cougars)

SKYE

W hen fifteen minutes trickle by and Hunter doesn’t return, I glance around, searching the darkness. Since Lanie is busy flirting with one of the football players, I decide to take off and look for him. I pass by groups of classmates, talking and laughing as they knock back drinks.

It’s only now as I weave my way through the thick crowd that I realize these people are really nothing more than acquaintances.

Sure, we’ve gone to school together for the past twelve years, but I’ve spent all my time hanging out with either Lanie or Hunter.

I never branched out and found a bigger friend group.

It’s not the same for Hunter. He’s always been popular.

All the guys want to be his friend, hoping some of his talent and charisma will rub off on them, and the girls are desperate to catch his eye.

Even though I haven’t come out of high school with a ton of friends, I wouldn’t change how I spent these last four years.

They’ve been the best of my life.

I search the sea of drunken faces for another ten minutes. Just as I’m about to give up and return to the bonfire, I catch sight of a couple in the darkness, standing away from the swell of people. My feet stumble to a halt as I recognize the broad set of his shoulders and dark head.

It’s Hunter.

And Hannah.

Air gets trapped in the middle of my throat, making it impossible to breathe. Not once have I ever thought Hunter would cheat on me. And if I weren’t witnessing it with my own eyes, I still wouldn’t believe it.

But there’s no denying the way her arms are tangled around his neck or the look of total adoration in her eyes. Even from this distance, with only bright moonlight to spill over them, the intensity of her expression would be hard to misinterpret.

My heart clenches, twisting beneath my chest, before beating harshly into overdrive as she reaches up and presses her lips to his.

A whimper escapes from me as I shake my head, trying to will away the image playing out in front of me. Instead of looking away, my wide gaze remains focused on them.

One gut-wrenching second passes.

Then another.

And still, he doesn’t push her away or tell her to stop. He stands there, allowing the intimacy to unfold between them. Nausea churns in my belly before rising in my throat until the acidic taste of bile fills my mouth as I swing away and stumble sightlessly through the crowd.

Hunter has always been my heart, and it now feels like it’s cracking in half.

It only takes a few minutes to find Lanie again. She’s making out with the guy she’d been flirting with all night. It’s tempting to leave without saying anything, but I don’t want her to worry when she realizes I’ve disappeared. As loathe as I am to interrupt, I tap her shoulder.

When they break apart, I say, “I’m going to head home.”

Her forehead furrows. “What? Are you serious? It’s not even ten o’clock.”

“I know.” I glance away, not wanting to tell her the reason for my sudden departure. “I’m really tired. It’s been a long week.”

“Where’s Hunter? Did he ever come back with our drinks?”

My teeth scrape across my lower lip as I lie. “I have no idea where he is.”

Moisture pricks the backs of my eyes as I swing away to gather up my straw beach bag before stuffing everything inside the tote.

“Wait a minute,” she says, voice rising. “I don’t understand what’s going on. You’re just going to leave?”

“I’m sorry,” I mumble. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.” If she presses the issue, the tears I’m fighting back will fall, and I don’t want that to happen. Not here, in front of all these people.

Before she can investigate the situation any further, I rush up the beach toward the street where I parked my car earlier this afternoon. With a huff, I slide behind the wheel and start up the engine before driving home.

Not only does the image of Hunter and Hannah wrapped up in each other’s arms flicker through my head, but so does my conversation with Mason. As much as I’ve tried to push it aside, it’s there, eating away at me.

Ten minutes later, I pull into the driveway of my dad’s house.

Since it’s early, the front door is still unlocked, and the knob turns easily in my hand.

I quietly close the thick wood before sneaking to the staircase.

All I want to do is take a hot shower and go to bed.

Hopefully, everything won’t feel so dire in the morning.

“Hey, kid. Did you have fun at the beach?”

I nearly jump out of my skin before swinging around to find my father sitting in the living room with a book in his lap.

Dad is old school and likes the feel of a hardcover in his hands.

Preferably Stephen King or Lee Childs. I always make sure to stuff one in his stocking as a gift every Christmas.

“Um, yeah. It was good.” As close as we are, there’s no way I’m going to tell him about what happened with Hunter. We’ve been dating for so long that he practically considers him family. After his parents died, Dad offered to take him in so he could finish out high school.

Mason refused.

With a nod, he glances at his phone. “You’re home early. I wasn’t expecting to see you until breakfast.”

I shrug, wanting to downplay the question.

“I’m tired,” I say lightly. “It’s been a long day. I think I got too much sun.”

“I suppose it has been.” His eyes search mine, and I get the feeling he’s sifting through all the lies swirling within them. “Sure nothing’s bothering you?”

“Yup.” I shake my head, only wanting to escape. “It’s all good. No worries.”

“Brandi’s probably up if you’d rather talk to, you know, another woman.”

With a shake of my head, I point to the staircase. “Thanks, but I’m just gonna hit the sack.”

“All right, sweetie. I’ll see you in the morning.”

I nod and beeline for the steps. When I’m halfway up, I pause. “I love you, Dad.”

A smile quirks the corners of his lips. “Love you, too.”

With that, I hustle up to the second floor before closeting myself in my bedroom.

Thankfully, I didn’t run into Brandi in the hallway.

That woman is the absolute worst. She’s so concerned with driving the latest Mercedes and surrounding herself with all the luxuries she didn’t have before marrying my father.

Most of all, I hate the way she eye fucks Hunter whenever she’s around him. It’s so embarrassing. She loves to pat his muscles all the while cooing about how big and strong he is. I wish Dad would open his eyes and toss her out on her ass before she sucks him dry.

All I can say is that marriage, the second time around, was definitely not a charm for him.