Page 9

No option is a good one. As much as I hate this, I have to go through with it, there’s too much on the line. And although I like Hunter, Derrick needs to pay. If he were any other dickbag, he’d already be in jail right now.

I just hope Hunter will forgive me.

“Uh, I was wondering . . .” Hunter’s voice pulls my attention back to him. “Do you want to go on a date Saturday? Not like, out. I mean, like back at my house. I could order pizza. We could watch a movie or something?”

This is exactly the opening I need. Yet, I want to.

Not because of the blackmail, but because I really like Hunter.

Who’s to say this is fake? It’s not. Derrick can believe I’m doing what he wants, and I’ll have two months to catch him.

The possibility that I can both date Hunter and catch that prick makes me breathe easier.

This is all so messy, but it is possible.

There could be a light at the end of it.

A light Derrick will never fucking see sitting in a damn prison cell!

“At your house?”

“Yeah, my roommate will be there, but he stays in his room for the most part. We can do whatever. I have video games too.”

That piques my interest. “Video games?”

“Wow, wish your eyes lit up like that when I mentioned the date,” he teases.

My face heats. “Sorry. I uh . . . I love video games. I’m actually hoping to become a tester. I want to make my own games one day.”

“Really?”

I nod. “I can bring my console; I have some new stuff. Not that what you have isn’t . . . I’m just saying, I uh . . . have stuff too I can bring.”

“Are you making your own game now?”

Embarrassment hits me like it does every time I talk about it.

My family is great, but none of them really understand why I love games so much.

I have two sisters, and while both of them are amazing and supportive, they just aren’t into it.

I don’t have friends back home, and my parents wish I was doing something “more productive” with my degree.

My grandfather understood, though.

Swallowing hard, I take a breath. “I am. It’s just . . . it’s in the planning stages, like it’s not even—” I almost say good . That hits me like a punch to the chest. “It’s just not there yet.”

“I’m not asking for perfection; I just want to get to know you. I just want to hang out a little.”

“Saturday?”

“Yeah. Come over any time after two. I have hockey practice in the morning then I just have a couple of things to take care of. I’ll send you my address. I don’t have a car, or I’d pick you up, I’m sorry.”

“I’ll get a ride, no problem. I’ll bring pizza, okay?”

“I guess that leaves me drinks.”

“Your roommate won’t mind?”

“With any luck he’ll stay in his room. He won’t care.”

“What’s your major? I don’t think you said. Are you hoping to play hockey professionally?”

Hunter laughs. “I wish. That would be a dream, but I’m more realistic unfortunately. I’m majoring in humanities. I want to be a social worker. With kids.”

“Oh wow, that’s amazing.”

I watch his red lips grow into a slow smile, and I don’t just see him smile, I can feel it. It feels like a sucker punch to the chest, shocking me back to life. “Can I ask you a personal question really quick?” he says.

“Uh, yeah.”

“That guy who stormed into your room . . . you said he’s not your boyfriend. He’s not, right? Like, honestly?”

I nearly choke on my drink. “No. God no. No.”

“I don’t like liars and cheaters. I’d feel awful.”

“No, he’s a friend.” Hunter doesn’t look like he believes me. Which, fair. Noah had stormed into my room like a hurricane. “He was a friend with a very special benefit, but that’s over. We’re regular friends now.”

“You sure? He seemed pretty upset.”

I sigh. “He was upset because he wanted to stay over, and I was being a dick. I needed space and I kind of lashed out at him. I deserved that anger. We made up . . . platonically,” I correct.

“That’s the truth. We’re okay now. There are no romantic feelings there at all, there never was. I promise.”

“My last boyfriend cheated on me. It was a year ago but it fucking sucks. Second-guessing every single moment you’re with someone after you find out they lied to you sucks.

I would never want to be part of that.” What person in their right mind would cheat on him?

Did they hate muscles? Dimpled grins? Soft brown eyes that felt warmer than my winter coat? What loser would do that?

Although it’s not any better than what I’m doing now, is it? In fact, what I’m doing is much worse. Derrick doesn’t need to know I have actual feelings for Hunter. I’m going to trap his ass somehow in the next two months before I even have to break up with Hunter. I will. It will all work out.

I hope.

“Can I have your number?” Hunter takes his phone out. “I better get home.” I pull mine out, sending a text to the number he gives me, then smiling, I lift the phone to snap a picture. I watch heat dust his temples before I let him do the same for my contact. “So, two then?”

“Oh, yeah.” I have breakfast with Noah in the morning anyway. “That’s perfect. What kind of pizza?”

“I don’t care—wait. No olives. And none of that sauce on top of the cheese shit. That should be illegal.”

“I didn’t think you were going to be this high maintenance. And no pickles, right?” I laugh.

“Sounds good.” Hunter smiles at me. It’s a searching smile, and in that moment I want to know what he’s thinking. Hunter is so handsome it hurts to look at, and for some reason that megawatt smile is aimed at me.

“What?” I say.

“Nothing. Just excited for our second date.” My stomach turns to liquid as I watch him. How am I supposed to hurt a man like this? There is a way out, though, and I’ll do everything I can to get there. Hunter is golden retriever goodness, and I’m dog shit.

Getting up, I walk with Hunter to the bus stop down the road a little way.

I’ll take an easy walk back; I need to clear my head.

There’s too much going on and it’s slowly pressing against my rib cage.

I want to scream, cry, punch something. This isn’t fair.

I should be enjoying this. Instead, all I feel is dread.

The bus appears down the road and Hunter looks at me with a smile. “You have a good night, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I have the urge to kiss him, but I shut that thought down real fast. “Night, Hunter.”