I can feel my heart speed up as I think about it and the panic is setting in. I carefully move Payton off me. Trying to be careful so I don’t wake her up. I slide out from under her and watch as she curls up. I want to kiss her, but I stop myself. I pull up the blankets and cover her up and grab my clothes. I head into her bathroom and get dressed. It really is all a blur at this point. I know I am going to hurt her. Come morning she will be pissed that I left her after we had sex. Sex is not the word to use to describe what we did. I made love to her. I poured my heart into her. I feel the tightness hit my gut, I am going to be sick. What the hell did I do? What was I thinking?
I rush and put my clothes on, trying to turn my thoughts off. Trying to get out of her apartment as fast as I can, needing time to think.
I walk out of the bathroom, grab my belt that was discarded in the living room, and walk out of her apartment. I make sure to use the extra key that I have and lock her door. I jog to my car and get in. Driving off as I repeat to myself how big of an ass I am for leaving her.
I drive around for a few hours. Lost in thought, it feels like I am just lost. I turn my radio down and just think.
My cell phone chimes and I am almost too scared to look at it. I look down at the name that is on the screen and feel a relief when I see it's Kelly and not Payton. But that relief is washed away when I read the text.
I think someone broke into my house. I went home and my front door was open. I did not go in. I got in my car and left. I am at your place where are you? Don said you were off work already. I need you, I am scared.
I throw my phone down onto the passenger seat and turn around and head for my house. Kelly is not one to cry wolf. Even though we broke up, I still care and want her to be safe.
After about ten minutes, I pull into my driveway and watch as Kelly gets out of her car. She looks frightened as she walks over to me, hugging herself tight.
“Sorry, I didn’t know who to call. I didn’t want to go in and I didn’t want to wait for the police to show up.”
I grab her arm lightly and walk with her into my house. “It’s okay Kelly. I am glad you didn’t go in, that would have been dumb. You said Don told you I was done with work? Did you call him and tell him?”
She stutters for the answer then says yes almost like she wasn't sure. She walks into my living room and sits on the couch. Pulling her feet up, tucking them under her and sitting on them, making herself at home.
“I need to jump in the shower. You can stay here tonight. I will call Don tomorrow to see if anything was found at your place. You know where I keep my shirts and shorts, you can use a pair.” Her work clothes are so tight they show off every curve she has. Sleeping in them wouldn’t be comfortable.
I walk into my room and jump in the shower. Trying to get the smell of Payton off me. Her warm vanilla scent is only reminding me of how much of a fuck-up I am.
I finish showering and get some shorts on and walk out of my room. I head into the living room and see Kelly took my offer and put on the same shirt and pants Payton had borrowed when she stayed here. When I saw her, I felt instant anger. I wanted to yell at her and tell her to put some different clothes on. I hold that thought in not wanting to explain why she needs to change. This night is just going from great too bad to worse. I look past the clothes and sit on the couch next to her, my weight causes her to dip closer to me. I try to lean away not wanting to be touched by her right now.
“Where were you, I thought you would have been home. Don said you left like 3 hours ago.”
I sigh and sit back. “I was at a friend’s house.”
The way she looks at me I can see she is trying to puzzle what friend’s house I was at this time of the night. Not that I owed her an explanation. We were not dating anymore.
“I was with Payton. She is having troubles with Keegan so I was helping her out.”
She rolls her eyes, clearly annoyed with the fact. “She is a big girl and can handle her own problems. Or you know, she does have two older brothers to help her also.”
“She is a friend and you have no right getting upset with me. You and I,” I say pointing between us. “Are nothing anymore.” I stand up to get away from her. She watches me with a hurt look, then looks away.
“You can stay on the couch tonight.” I storm off to my room just wanting this night of fuck ups to end. The bright light that is shining in my eyes is what wakes me up in the morning. Telling me that I have I slept later than I normally do because of it. I roll over and look at my phone, to check on the time and see that its 9am and that I have three text messages from Payton. I put my phone down, not sure what I want to say to her. I should be on my knees apologizing for leaving. It was such a douche move and now I want to kick my own ass.
Tearing myself from my self-pity I get up and head into the kitchen to make some coffee. I hear Kelly in the bathroom so I decide to pour her a cup also. I just want to get this done and over with. Just as I go to sit down my door bells rings. Before I can get up to answer it, a familiar voice rings through the house as my front door opens.
“Hunter are you here?” Payton says loudly.
Shit. I put my coffee on the table just as she walks into the kitchen, causing me to stop in my tracks. She is so fucking beautiful. I need to come up with something and fast.
“Where did you go last night?”
I can see a little hurt in her eyes and hope. I bet that hope is for me to give her a damn good reason for bailing on her.
Thinking back to Kelly, I look up at Payton and grab her arm lightly.
“I had an emergency come up, I didn’t want to wake you up.” I am not really lying my emergency was me wanting to panic and run away. Now I can see the hope come back bright in her eyes. And in the two seconds of it coming back, it dies again just as Kelly comes walking out of the bathroom with a shit-eating grin on her face. Payton went from relieved to hurt and then a look of pissed, all in a matter of seconds. The look terrified me. It made me want crawl in a hole and hide. Or slap myself for being so fucking stupid.
“Oh, Hi Payton,” Kelly says, looking at her then back to me. Walking over to the side of me. As Kelly came closer, Payton’s body stiffened.
I was prepared for an attack at any moment. Payton looked like she wanted to end Kelly, and I could not blame her.
Kelly turns to me with that fake ass smile.
“Thank you for last night,” she touches my chest in a seductive way. I look down at her hand feeling my skin want to crawl from her touch.
Payton doesn't give me any chance to explain. Before I know it her hand connects with my face and she storms out of my kitchen as I stand there stunned. The slap was hard and made my teeth hurt. I reach up and touch where she hit me. I look at Kelly, not giving her a chance to say anything. I grab her elbow and pull her out of my house. The bitch has some nerve. I can’t believe she said that. I know what her game is and it’s ending now.
Chapter 10
Payton
The pain was there as soon as I saw Kelly walk out of the bathroom holding pajamas. I felt betrayed and used. I’d rather take one of Keegan's punches than look at Kelly in Hunter’s house. Just last night Hunter and I were together and then he left for an “emergency”. A fucking emergency? What, having whore ass Kelly was an emergency?
Slapping Hunter felt good at the time but by the time I got to the door I felt horrible about it. I felt like Keegan. I don't ever want to have that feeling again. It doesn't stop me, I still leave his house, letting him and his emergency be alone.
All I want to do is escape and to go back home and hide. Before I get to my car, Hunter’s front door opens up. He has Kelly by the elbow yelling at her. The look of shock is written all over her face.
“You had no right to act like that” Hunter screams at her. “Nothing happened last night. I helped you out because someone broke into your house, that’s it. Get it through your head, we are over we have been over.” He lets go of her arm once they get to her car. S
he looks at me and gives me a look of pure hatred. I look away and get into my car.
Hunter leaves Kelly’s side and jogs over to my car, leaning into the open window. “Payton please don't leave. Let me explain what happened.”
I look up at him, into his gorgeous eyes. “Explain what Hunter? How we had sex last night after I confessed my love to you and then you left me in the middle of the night. You somehow ended up back here with Kelly.” He looks at the ground, gripping the side of the door harder. I am starting to get the feeling that I have over reacted.
I can see the panic in his eyes as he looks back at me. It’s the look people get when they are about to lose someone important. I know because I have had that look on my face plenty of times. I decided to get out of the car. I push the door open and step out. Standing by him as I shut the car door so I can hear what he has to say. Hunter grabs onto my wrist as a way to anchor me in place, stopping me from leaving.
“You don't owe me anything Hunter. We are not dating, we just had sex. I over reacted. I am sorry.” I look down, wanting to cry but then wanting to hold it back. I am sick of crying and being weak.
He grabs my chin. Like he has done so many times before and tilts it up, making my eyes meet his again. He holds me in place lightly.
“Payton, I was a coward last night. I freaked out.” He pulls his lower lip into his mouth, biting it before he continues on. “I get uncomfortable when thinking about love and what I feel for you is pretty close to it. I should have stayed.” He drops my chin and drops his head, looking at the ground in defeat.
I don’t know what to say to him. So I reach my hand to the cheek I slapped and lightly stroke it. “I’m sorry I slapped you. I should know better than to hit a person.” He leans his face into my hand. I can feel the stubble on his cheeks. He hasn't shaved yet. I can feel it prickle my hand.
“I deserved it.” He looks back up at me. “Please forgive me Payton. I promise nothing happened with Kelly. Someone broke into her house and she needed a place to stay.” He leans his forehead against mine. I close my eyes and soak in the feeling of him being so close.
“I forgive you. You don't have to be scared with me Hunter. I can understand why you are because I am scared too. I don’t want to get hurt and this morning I was hurt when you were not there. I felt used and then I saw Kelly I was hurt even more.”
He doesn't say anything, he pulls me into a hug holding me tight. I watch as Kelly finally pulls away. Thinking it’s weird she stayed so long. After a few minutes, Hunter lets go of me and steps back.
“Payton I am going to make mistakes. I don't like getting close to people. I have never done the love thing. Yes, I have cared about Kelly but I never loved her. I don't want to be my dad and I am scared that I will be. So please, I am begging you, just put up with me and my douche bagginess.”
I smile at him and bring him close to me.
“We can take this slow Payton, I don't want to rush it. I want to see where things take us. I want there to be an us.”
I let out a snicker and smile up at him. “It’s a little late for slow don’t you think?”
He kisses my lips lightly, then looks back at me. “I don't regret last night. Last night was the best night of my life. But until we figure us out, and what we want, there will be no more nights like last night.”
I must have pouted because Hunter busted out laughing. I won’t lie, as Hunter said, it was the best night of my life too. He treated me like I was glass and made love to me. He took his time and explored my body like it was a great treasure and there was gold hidden some place on me. He showed me that I am special. That was up until I woke up alone.
“I understand why you want to wait.” I shy away from him, looking at the ground. “But it doesn't mean I will be happy about it.” I give him a sassy smile, biting my lower lip.
“You are a brat.” He picks me up and tosses me over his shoulder. I squeal and kick lightly as he walks his way back to his house. “Put me down Hunter!” I slap his butt to get him to release me.
We finally get into the kitchen where he sets me on the counter, sitting up. He fits in between my legs and places his arms on both sides of me. Leaning in and kisses me, biting my lower lip as he does. I reach to pull him closer, but he breaks away, smiling at me shaking his head no.
“Look, who the brat is now?” I cross my legs and watch him.
“I know, I never said I wasn't.” He grabs some eggs and bacon and starts to cook us breakfast.
After breakfast, I help him clean up the kitchen. Thank him for making me something to eat and I head home. I have another long shift at the diner and need to get a few things done.
Some people who I didn’t work with last night were at work tonight. I could see they wanted to ask what happened. The rumors were already running all over the diner. I swear it’s like being back in high school. Last night was not as bad because I had the late shift. Barb and Ron were with me all night. They knew better than to bring it up while I was at work. But tonight I felt like I was walking into the lion’s den.
I did get a few questions and hugs, along with coworkers offering to help me if I needed it. I just smiled and told them I am fine and went on with my shift. That’s one reason why I love this place, the people I work with are great. They will ask you what’s going on and then drop it, while whispering behind your back about what is going on in your life.
A few hours into my shift Kelly and some of her friends come in. I smile at her and walk over to take their drink orders. After the show she put on this morning at Hunter’s, she is not the person I wanted to see today.
“Hi guys,” I don't bother telling them my name because we all went to school together and they all know who I am. “What can I get you to drink?”
They all respond with water. “I will be right back with it,” I tell them and walk away.
As I walk away, I hear Kelly snicker to her friends. I mentally eye roll. Muttering to myself, telling them to grow up. Barb is behind the counter and hears me. “Don't let them get to you Payton. Kelly has been a bitch since Hunter dumped her.”
I smile at that. “Doesn’t help she was over there this morning. Hunter sent her packing and she saw us hugging and kiss today.”
Barb smiles at me. She is like your typical grandma, very sweet and always looking out for you. “That boy is something good Payton. Hook him and keep him. He is so much better than that asshole you were dating.”
“I will try to keep him.” She pulls me into a side hug and then moves down the counter to help the next customer. I grab the waters and head back over to Kelly’s table. I hand them out and take their order. Not too shocked that they all order a house salad. Fake ass girls, too scared to eat a little meat.
I serve them their salads and leave them be for a few minutes. I go and do some of my side work and cater to other costumers. I go back to Kelly's table to see how everything is going. Kelly gives me a disgusted look and flings her salad at me. “It has hair in it. I don't want it. I won’t pay for it either. That’s disgusting.” The bowl goes flying, tossing salad everywhere, all over me and the floor. I suck in the nasty comments I want to say to her and apologize. The other girls are looking at me like they’re sorry, not knowing what to say or do. Kelly gets up and pushes me out of the way. “Come on girls, we are out of here.” They all get up and walk out.
I am just standing there, not sure what the hell just happened. Rob comes over to see if I am alright.
“What a bitch,” I say and turn to face him.
He snickers and helps me pick up the lettuce that landed on the floor and table, while I try and clean as much as I can off me. “Rob I will pay for these salads. I'm sorry.”
“Don't worry about it Payton. It was taken care of. Barb paid for it.”
I smile at him, feeling the family warmth in this place.
“I can finish this. Why don't you go home for the night? You have dressing everywhere.”
I do what he tells me to do. I go
home and take a hot bath and drink a huge glass of wine. I need all the drama of Keegan and Kelly to be done.
***
Hunter
Two weeks have gone by since the Kelly incident and I have not seen her since then. I have heard rumors that she and Keegan are hanging out with each other. That’s fine. For all, I care they can have each other. Maybe Keegan will leave Payton alone if he has Kelly. I do get a bad feeling when I think of them together though. Not the jealous feeling I would get when I thought of Keegan and Payton together, but the ‘oh shit something is not right with this’ feeling, they are both sneaky. I guess they have been together a lot in the past week. It doesn't make sense because they hate each other, they always have. After what Kelly did at my house, making Payton think something happened, I would not put it past her to plan something with Keegan. Keegan is not the type to give up on something, and Payton is the one thing he wants to get his hands on. This just means I have to watch her closely and never leave her side, which I am okay with. They need to leave Payton and me alone.
Everlasting Page 9
