Page 9 of The Boy Next Door

Hunter kissing me was strange enough. What happened next really fried my brain. He asked me out.

Hunter Cruse kissed me so passionately he made my knees weak and then he asked me on a date. I had to pinch myself several times over the following days to be sure this wasn’t a surreal dream.

When he asked me out, well, I was so off-kilter and stunned. It was a very confusing time, and it all happened so fast!

Somehow, I ended up saying yes.

As the days pass, it still seems strange, but I manage to put enough of the pieces together.

The wrong brother found my note. Hunter found the note first and thought it was for him. That’s why Dylan was acting so normal the day afterward. He didn’t receive the note and hadn’t known about it yet, not until Hunter told him after school.

Ugh, how stupid can I be? Why didn't I write a name on the note? It wasn’t addressed to anyone in particular.

Hunter and I are going out on the weekend. On a date. There are a few precious days where I can avoid it somehow. Maybe by coming clean to Dylan? He's too busy with Renee. And I'm not even sure this is real. Why did Hunter agree to this? Is he that bored being back home?

I spend the days leading up to the weekend brainstorming ways out of this mess... and trying not to remember the feeling of Hunter's lips.

When I arrive home from school on Thursday, it appears Hunter has just woken up and is heading out. I rush toward my home, but he reaches me first.

"Hey, where you rushing off to?"

"Oh, you know, homework." I eye the path longingly, so close to my porch and door, but so far away. "It waits for no man."

"Not even the really cute ones?" Does he mean himself? I've never associated him with 'cute,' but the way he’s looking at me now... maybe it applies.

"Um, right, yeah." This is breaking my brain. "Homework. It won't do itself." I wince. "Please don't comment."

"Not getting cold feet, are you?" His words make me stare down at my feet. "Saturday keeps getting closer."

"Right. It's just..." Here it is, my opportunity to invent an excuse and bail, but the right words won't come out. "The thing is, you… You’re you. Uh, you… you…"

"Me? Am I hideous or something?" He shakes his head. "Damn, why did nobody tell me before?"

Nobody with eyes has ever called him hideous.

Despite the cool day, he's wearing sandals and a black tank top, showing off that hint of a tan and his toned arms. He's always been attractive, but he bugged me too much to really notice it before.

Now that I know how his skin feels against mine, now that I know those lips can do more than smirk. ..

"Wow, I'm uglier than I thought," he says when I just stare dumbly at him.

Oh god, am I being a jerk?

"It's not you!" My shoes once again become the safer sight. "You-you're very... you.”

“Yeah, you mentioned that.” He might actually be smiling at me, but I don’t dare look up when I’m being so mortifying.

“And kissing you, that was really, well, you must know. Not that you’ve ever kissed yourself before, is that even possible? Um, what I’m trying to say is that, uh, kissing you… kissing you was…”

"Good?" he asks.

"Uh-huh." I nod, face heating.

"You too," he whispers. What?!? No way.

Peeking up, his dark blond hair looks messy and unwashed yet strangely works for him. Before I can question him or spontaneously combust from overheating, he keeps going.

"Who knows? Maybe a date isn’t the worst idea in the world. What if we go well together?" He shrugs, and I put my hands behind my back to fight the urge to feel his biceps. "You know, you slow me down, I speed you up."

"I'm too slow?" Just great.

"No, I don't, uh. That’s not what I…" His fumbling? Oddly enjoyable. "Good, remember?"

"Good." I nod dumbly.

"Okay." He takes a deep breath. "I'm going to attempt complete sentences."

"You got one." Hooray?

"And now for another. You totally surprised me.” Whoa, he’s definitely smiling at me now. He looks impressed. “The note? Definitely bold."

"I surprised myself," I whisper.

Tell him he got the wrong idea. Tell him! Not only because I love his brother, but I'm not bold after all. I should do anything to stop this.

"I can admit when I'm wrong," he says. "Maybe I'm completely off about you."

The expression on his face nearly knocks me to the ground. He's never looked so open and friendly, not even as a child. The blue oceans in his eyes don't seem as stormy and treacherous.

"So, can I get to know the new you?" he asks, his smile an invitation. When I hesitate, his smile falters. "Hey, if you wanna say no, it's cool. I'm not gonna force you. But why not?" His shrug and casual demeanor seem a tad forced.

"Why not?" I echo, unable to find a reasonable excuse.

"Are you sure?"

There it is, the out.

"No, no," I say. "I want to. See you Saturday?"

"Cool."

He tosses me an easy smile, heads to his car, and drives away.

The weirdest part of all... for a second there, it's true. I want to go on a date with Hunter Cruse.

Something about his admission, that he was wrong. The only better thing to come from his lips was the kiss. Uh... But in some ways, this is even more unexpected. I hadn't expected the warm feeling that started in my belly and grew at hearing him tell me I'm bold enough after all.

It sounds like I might be his equal. Or just that he finally sees me as a person. No, as a guy who interests him rather than his little brother's friend. I hadn't known I wanted this quasi respect, but I can't let it go yet.

Which means... I'm not escaping this bizarro world anytime soon. I'm going on a date with Hunter Cruse.