I hear him sigh and then relax a little as he does. “I am sorry Payton,” he says, removing his death grip from the steering wheel and taking my hand squeezing it lightly. “I am here for you and if he comes back I will beat the fucking shit out of him. No one fucks with my baby sister.”
I wipe the tears that are running down my cheeks and smile at him. “Thank you, Matt.” I squeeze his hand back lightly. We drive the rest of the way in silence. Not the tense silence like before, but a silence that relaxes me, knowing he isn't mad at me.
Chapter 5
Hunter
Knowing that Matt is looking after Payton right know helps me relax before I head out to the bar. After finding out that they caught Keegan I was overjoyed. But then Don busted that feeling real fast by telling me that he was released on bail.
I should have known that would happen. His dad is a very powerful man in this town. I am pretty sure Don and I are the only cops that don't take his shit when he throws out threats.
I am not about to bow to anyone, especially to Keegan and his dad. They are the type of people that piss me off. Thinking that they can do anything because they have money.
I don't even know how Payton could fall for his shit and keep going back to him. I am going to have to make sure that doesn't happen again. There are plenty of good guys out there. Ones that would love her and cherish her like she deserves. I want to be one of those good guys for her, but I know I can’t be, not with my life right now.
Wanting to forget about the whole thing, I go and do my workout for the day and finish some running around I have to get done. But forgetting about Payton is like forgetting to eat, it doesn’t happen. The last few months have been the worst. She has made it into my thoughts more and more every day. Ever since Matt planted that seed in my mind that he would be fine with Payton and I dating.
I don't want to start anything with her. That is something I tell myself every day. But lately it seems like every hour I have to tell myself that I don't want to be with Payton. Even more so since the night we slept in my bed together. Her soft body up against mine. I could feel every curve of her. Tucked tightly up against me. I wanted to do more with her then. Never have I wanted to be with someone as bad as I did at that moment. I wanted to run my hands along her curves and just feel her, and I feel like an ass thinking about it.
I get ready to go out and head to the bar we are meeting at. I don't want to be out all night, but I want to celebrate with Matt. Hell, I get to watch my best friend get married to the women he loves. I find it funny that he and Emily are getting married. Growing up with Emily close by and always checking out Matt or making some kind of unladylike comment to him. At first he played it off and told me he did not like her like that. But all her hard work and endless flirting did get his attention.
Payton is the one that always told him “if you hurt her, I will hurt you.” So Matt never asked Emily out until I told him to suck it up grow some balls. Really, I was sick of hearing how head over heels he was about her. She had him whipped before they even started dating.
I get to the bar and park in the lot behind it and walk in. Matt and his father are sitting in the back, at our normal table. I wave to Matt and walk to the bar to get a beer.
“Hey Hunter, would you like your usual?” I look up to see Kelly behind the bar.
“When did you start working here?” I asked, giving her a shocked and confused look.
She hated this place. When we were dating, she made it clear that she did not like coming here, saying it was beneath her. That’s one thing I like about Payton, she doesn't think she is better than anyone. The tiny voice in my head keeps telling me that she is though. She is so much better than me. So much better than Keegan. Or any asshole who wants to get with her. Damn, if I had my way she would be single forever and maybe have fifty cats. Then no one would want to date her. I am going to have to buy her a cat now, get that collection started right away. I want to smile at my thought but then remember who I am talking to once I feel her hand touch my arm. I look down at her hand and pull my arm back, out of her touch.
“I left my family,” Kelly says as she drops her hand on the bar.
I try to focus on Kelly, pushing Payton from my mind for the hundredth time today.
She looks down at the bar sadly. “They did not approve of you and I still love you and was hoping we could talk about getting back together.”
I just stare at her dumbfounded, not knowing what to say to her at first. I was not expecting that at all.
“No Kelly, we can’t. I am sorry, but dating doesn't fit into my life right now. Not with my job.”
She gives me a sad half smile and goes to grab my beer and hands it to me.
“You could think about it Hunter. I know you are scared about your job and everything. I thought we had something special and I can handle your job.”
She looks at me, trying to search for something. Something I know I cannot give her. I can see the hope draining from her face every second I don’t say anything to her.
“Is there someone else Hunter? Is it Payton? I know how you feel about her, but she is dating that guy Keegan. Before we started dating, you told me that you and Payton could never be more than friends.”
“Look Kelly, I just can’t do this okay? We had our fun. I don't want a relationship with you. I told you how I feel. Leave Payton out of it.”
I know I was getting mean but really this chick needs to move on. I gave her 6 months, told her how I felt before we started dating, told her it could not go too far. I put the beer to my lips and take a big gulp and look at her again, shaking my head as I walk away from the bar. Leaving her behind, just staring at me. I could feel her eyes drill into me as I walked over to Matt and his dad.
“If looks could kill I think I would be going to your funeral. Matt's says laughing, slapping me on the back.
“Breaking hearts again Hunter? Nothing ever changes does it?” Mr. Preston says with a laugh.
I smile at him. He became a big part of my life when my own father walked out on my mom, he left us without a single look back. That was 15 years ago and I still have not heard from him. I learned quickly that he was a piece of shit and didn’t care for my mom and me. He was never around before he left. Once Mr. Preston found out about my dad, he helped my mom out and took me in as his own. Inviting me over for dinner and making sure he included me in on family outings. I owe him a lot. He is also the one who talked me into following my dreams of becoming a cop.
“No sir, nothing changes,” I give him a sly smile and take another big drink of my beer before setting it on the table and sit down across from the both of them. Mr. Preston and Matt talk about the wedding. I have to smile at them as I listen. Matt’s dad tells him many times how proud he is of Matt and that he is finally settling down and how much he loves Emily and respects her. He shocks me the most when he brings up Payton.
“Now only if Payton could find someone other than that tool Keegan.”
Matt and I look at him.
“About that tool, I don't think he will be around anymore,” I say suddenly before I can even stop the words from coming out of my mouth.
I get uncomfortable and look at Matt, taking another long pull of my beer. I know we agreed not to tell Mr. Preston about what all happened, but for some reason I had a bad case of word vomit and spit everything out. Matt shakes his head at me, knowing I have dug myself into a hole with Payton.
“That shithead,” Mr. Preston says, slamming his fist on the table. “I swear he is a dead man. No one touches my baby girl like that. I hope you arrested him Hunter.”
“He got away last night but was picked up this morning.” Before he gets the look of delight on his face about Keegan being arrested, I add “But his dad paid his bail a few hours after he was arrested, so he is out now. I am going to take Payton tomorrow to get a restraining order on him that way we can try to limit their contact.”
We all get quiet and drink our beers. I can tell
the frustration is getting the best of us. Mr. Preston wants to say more, but he doesn’t. A few times he opens his mouth but then closes it, at a loss for words. He ends up being the first one to get up, saying that he has to go, he has to work in the morning. Matt pleads with him to not confront Payton about Keegan. That she will tell him when she is ready to. Mr. Preston looks torn and sad, but agrees. I get up and shake his hand and tell him thanks. He walks out leaving just Matt and me.
We stay a few more hours. I allow myself to have more beers than I should but right now all I want to do it drink and forget my feelings. I keep noticing Kelly staring at me. But I don’t keep eye contact with her for long. Matt and I finish our last beer and get up to leave. Before I can make it to the door Kelly grabs my arm and stops me.
“Hey, can I talk to you?”
Matt watches us for a few seconds, tells me he will text me tomorrow, and walks out the door.
“Sure, what do you want?” I ask Kelly.
“I know you said that you don't want anything from me relationship wise. But can’t we be friends with benefits? If you are not dating anyone or seeing anyone, it means you aren't getting any, and neither am I.” She gives me a sexy smile, moving closer to me, so she is pressed up against me. Pressing into all the places I knew she would. I know how our bodies work with each other.
“You know we are good with each other in bed. Why give that up? I am off now, I could follow you to your house.” She walks her fingers up my chest, slowly in a seductive way, nibbling on her bottom lip.
I smile back at her and take her hand into mine, and wanting to get Payton out of my head, I agree. She is a good distraction. One I know I will regret when tomorrow comes. She goes and gets her purse and we walk out together and head to my place. I have her drive me in her car since I had too many beers to drive my own car. Tonight is about forgetting.
***
Payton
Emily ended up staying with me until Matt left the bar. We spent the night vegging out on the couch, eating junk food, and watching sappy romance movies. We talked about the wedding and everything she wanted to get for it. She tried to bring up the topic of Hunter, but I told her that it was nothing. He was only helping because he is Matt's best friend.
Now that Emily left my apartment it feels empty and eerily quiet. I start to get that scared, closed in feeling, the one you get right before you start to panic. As soon as she left I turned on all the lights and kept making sure the front door was locked. I really did not want to deal with Keegan tonight, or ever again.
I get up and grab my blankets and pillow and bring them out to the couch, throw them on the couch and laid down. I try to close my eyes, but they pop back open with any little noise I hear. Why was it so easy to sleep at Hunters last night? I should just see if Matt and Emily could sleep over here tonight, or if I can just crash on their couch, but I don't want to bother them. Sucking it up, I make myself close my eyes and fall into a fitful sleep.
“I will be back” I sit up in a panic and in a cold sweat. Grabbing my throat, trying to hold in my scream, telling myself I am the only one here, trying to calm down. I chant it a few times until I have calmed down until I can breathe normally.
I look over at the clock on the TV cable box and see that I slept longer than I thought. I still only got a few hours of sleep and I have to drag myself off the couch. After I fully get up, I pick up my apartment before I get ready for the day. I spend the rest of the afternoon in my house, not wanting to leave. Emily calls me in the afternoon and tells me that I am going over there for dinner. She doesn’t give me much of a choice whether I want to or not. I give myself another hour to relax and get ready for dinner.
Later in the evening I head over to Matt’s house for dinner. Once I get to Matt's place, I just walk in. He always yells at me when I knock, telling me that his house is open to family. But knowing better I call out to let him and Emily know that I am there. I don’t need to be walking in on them. We still tease Hunter because he did just walk in and got an eyeful of Matt’s ass and Emily on the kitchen table. He still says it’s an image he will never be able to forget, no matter how much he tries.
Emily walks out of the bedroom that is to the left of the front door.
“I think I found the most beautiful wedding dress.” She says as she walks over to me. With a huge smile on her face.
I give her hug. “I can’t wait until the wedding. We used to always say we were going to be sisters.”
She smiles. “Matt had to go into work so it will just be us. You look like crap, by the way, did you not sleep last night?”
As if on cue I yawn. I try to stifle it, bring my hand up to my mouth the cover it up. “I got a few hours. I couldn’t sleep. I keep replaying his threat that he will be back. When I close my eyes, he is all I see.”
She looks at me with a sad look, saying nothing, and walks me to the kitchen where she pulls out dinner stuff. I help her chop vegetables. She sighs and turns towards me.
“Matt wants you to stay here with us, so do I. Just until we know Keegan is not a threat anymore.”
I look up at her. Her eyes pleading with me to say yes, and stay with them. She knows I have a hard time with people helping me.
“Look Emily, I understand where you guys are coming from, but I’d rather stay at my place. If I go hiding and taking cover, then Keegan wins.”
“I know what you mean. I told Matt you would not like the idea. He knew it also, but we just want you to know that you are always welcome to stay here.”
I say nothing and go back to helping her. I will not let Keegan win. He has pushed me around for too long now.
We finish dinner and sit in the living room to eat. I turn the TV on and Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King is on. Knowing that Em likes this movie as much as I do, I keep it on. While we eat our dinner and talk about how gorgeous Legolas is. The guy has some awesome hair and killer looks. Ending my night peacefully. These are the nights I missed. Keegan never really let me spend a whole lot of time with my friends. He would get jealous and I would shrug it off as him just wanting to spend time with me. Now I know it was his way of controlling me. I close my eyes for a few minutes, trying to get some rest before I go back home. My cell phone dings. Alerting me that I have a new text message. I dig it out of my pocket and look at it and smile. It’s a text from Hunter.
How are you feeling?
Good, just tired. I didn’t sleep too well last night.
No, why not?
I was alone and felt like Keegan was going to come busting my door down at any moment.
Damn, come over tonight. I am home now.
I put my phone down and look back at the TV. Not knowing if I want to go over there. I always do stupid stuff and starting to like Hunter is stupid. I sigh and pick my phone back up.
OK, I will be there in 10 min.
Emily gives me a knowing smile. “That was Hunter wasn't it?”
“Get the dreamy look off your face Emily. It’s not going to happen with him.”
She smiles bigger. “Hmmm. I think it will. If he wants you to go over there, you better go. I think it would be sweet if you two started dating. I know you only pretend to hate him.”
I laugh and throw the blanket at her. “I am going to head over to his house, so I can get some sleep. That’s all.”
I get up and hug her goodbye. “Call me when you want to go dress shopping again.”
“I will, now you go and sleep,” she says with air quotes.
I smile. “It will just be sleeping,” I yell over my shoulder as I walk out of the house and head over to Hunter’s.
Chapter 6
Payton
Getting to Hunter’s took no time. I was exhausted, and really did just want to sleep. I trust Hunter and know he won’t try anything; not that he wants to. I get out of my car and head up to his door, giving it a light knock, debating if I should just go home. I don't need to be here. Falling for Hunter would be a bad thing. Nothing good would
come out of it but a broken heart.
Before I can talk myself into getting back into my car, Hunter opens the door. I look up at him but can’t get a word to come out of my mouth. He has nothing on but shorts that are low on his hips. He has lickable abs. Where you just want to run your tongue over them and taste him over and over again. Oh god, what is going on with my brain? I need to get these thoughts out of my head. Damn Emily for making me think about Hunter in this way. Knowing I am making an ass out of myself for just staring at him, I force myself to look up at him. Noticing the cocky grin on his face I can feel myself start to blush, as the thoughts of licking him keep running through my mind.
“Like what you see Payton?”
I go to talk but still can’t manage words. I clear my throat and try again.
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