by Cat Mason
“I’m fine, honey. Have to get used to it sometime I guess.” I whisper, giving him a smile. I realize now that he hasn’t let go of me since the terminal. It’s so new for Hunter to be this way, tender. We usually spend our time heating the sheets and tossing playful banter, not holding hands. Something to get used to, but yet it’s familiar somehow. These little things he is giving me without even thinking, and I don’t even think he realizes how much they mean to me. That is something I plan to work very hard on, if needed, for him to see.
After nearly an hour of ducking into neighborhoods, or jumping from one highway to another; Henry finally tells Mack to head toward the rental. “This wouldn’t have taken so long if I were driving.” Henry complains, looking in the mirrors to make sure we aren’t being followed. “You drive like you’re drivin’ an ice cream truck.”
“Hunter, call that piece of tail of his to meet us at the rental. I’ll gladly pick her up if she will fuck the ‘tude from Big Man.” Mack rants, exiting the highway. “He’s moodier than preggers back there. Oh, and will someone please tell me what I was being congratulated on back there?”
“I’m only moody with you, precious.” Daisy replies, snuggling closer to Gray. Mack gets a few chuckles from everyone but Henry, who takes his sunglasses off long enough to deliver a stare that has me cringing for Mack’s happy parts if he falls asleep before Big Man tonight.
“She’s not mean to me, she loves me.” Hunter teases and blows her a kiss. “Mack, we’re all so proud of your post on the fan page earlier. It takes real pride to admit you’re only attracted to the silver haired crowd.”
“Hang on,” Mack shouts in confusion. “I what?”
“I may love you a little bit, Hunter.” Rolling her eyes dramatically, Daisy just grins while Mack bitches from the driver seat about revenge. “You know you gotta handle your shit right?” Daisy adds.
Hunter nods, no doubt reflecting on the last twenty four hours. “Yeah, I know.” Looking around the cab of the vehicle, Hunter blows out a breath. “I fucked up. I’m admitting that and I hope y’all forgive me. Last night was not the time or place for me to lose it. I’ve got shit to sort through, but that doesn’t mean y’all gotta walk on eggshells. Call me on my shit, don’t let me coast. This is my band too, my life. I should have more to do with it than manning the stage and shit.”
“Nothin’ to forgive man.” Gray says clapping him on the shoulder. “Family, bro.”
I want to say something to encourage him to go on, but I don’t. That was Hunter saying he is tired of not contributing more to the band and I don’t think anyone caught on to it. If they did, they aren’t saying anything. I’m unbelievably proud of Hunter for putting himself out there. For him, this was a huge step. Finally, he is speaking up about wanting to be seen differently. I know this isn’t easy for him to put himself out there like this. Talking about how he feels is more intimate than rocking a stage or fucking a groupie to Hunter. He will gladly tell a concert arena about the shades of lipstick rings on his dick, but letting anyone know he doesn’t think he is pulling his weight has been a no-go.
“It’s Shaft against the world, bro.” Aiden says in agreement, bumping Hunter’s fist just as we pull up to a big set of black iron gates with a keypad.
Do You Have A Puppy?
Hunter
The rental house that the record company booked for us is massive. Since we are going to be in Nashville for a while recording and then after as a home base, it was just easier than hotels. It will be weird as hell to have a house for the first time in years. For us, it was the Big Bitch or a hotel, if we were lucky. This, however is not a house, the fucker is a mansion. Three bedrooms upstairs with full en-suite bathrooms, three more nearly identical on the first floor, and what looks like an entire two bedroom apartment in the basement.
Once everyone runs around the house looking at all the rooms, I make my play. Tossing Chase over my shoulder, I turn to everyone, “We’re takin’ the basement. I’d hate for all our forkin’ to upset the spooner balance upstairs.”
“Can we lock him there?” Henry asks. “I vote Hunter gets the basement on that reason alone.”
“I think locking Hunter in the basement is a good thing.” Daisy chimes in. “Take the basement.”
“Whoa wait a minute. Life’s not nearly as entertaining with me locked up.” I snap out. “You spooners love me long time.” Gray and Aiden chuckle, but Cam scowls at me.
“There’s not any time for forkin’, asshole.” Cam says, looking at her phone. “Apparently, your baby momma couldn’t wait until tomorrow. She and the little bundle should be here anytime now, to meet us. Ironsound Records’s legal department has arranged for a private company to do the test today as well. Gotta swab your cheek. Since we want your D.N.A., not Chase’s, you’ve gotta keep it clean for now.”
“I don’t know the meaning of the word clean, Camaron.” I huff, slapping Chase’s jean clad ass, making her yelp. “It’s like you don’t even know me.” Turning on my heel, I stomp to the basement door. “Fine, I’m going to put our shit downstairs, Madame Cockblocker.”
Chase grabs my ass, holding on for dear life as I snatch up one bag and thump down the steps. “What’re you doin’? You don’t even have all our stuff!” She shrieks. I shove through the door to one of the bedrooms, tossing her to the bed.
“I don’t have time to unpack my shit, Tiger Lily.” I say with a wink. “There’s more important things to do right now.”
Chase’s brow shoots up, “Does it involve taking off your pants?” She grins. The moment her eyes heat my dick starts his countdown to launch preparations. Stand down, there’s plenty of time to prepare our flight plan.
“Wow, and they call me a pervert.” I reply, sitting down beside her on the bed. I would be more than happy to spend my entire night naked with her, only sober this time. Later though. That will come later and so will she. “Just wanted some time before all this shit starts, you know?” Lying back on the bed, I fling my arms over my face and blow out a breath. “I don’t know what to do here, Tiger Lily.” I blurt honestly. “Upstairs there’s gonna be a little girl that I may be responsible for and I’ve got no idea what I’m doing. How did this happen?”
“Honey, life happens and you can’t run from it.” Chase says, running her fingers along my cheek, soothing me more than anything ever has in my life. Moving my arms, I find her staring at me. Those eyes of hers so full of love, that it’s making it hard to breathe. “It’s always a step ahead, waiting for us to catch up.”
“I don’t know what it is about you, babe. You seem to see me differently than everyone else does.” I murmur, running my thumb along her bottom lip. “You don’t judge me for all the shit I’ve done, or do. Which is a good thing because, let’s face it babe, I’m not taming anytime soon.”
“Too many people on this Earth think it’s their job to go around judgin’ everybody else. If people judge you, the pieces they’re disgusted with are the ones of you they see in themselves.” She shrugs. “Either that, or the fuckers are just jealous.”
“I don’t know about that.” Thoughts of the conversation in the ‘Burban on the way here play through my head. My comments about playing more of a role in everything were avoided completely.
As if reading my mind, Chase glances toward the staircase and back to me again, those hazel eyes softening. “No one upstairs is placing any labels on you, Hunter. You’re hard enough on yourself. So what, you want to take more responsibility in Shaft, do it.” She says, sounding so sure. “Stop hiding behind the frontman persona. By doing that you’re only keepin’ all the best parts of you locked up because it’s better than the pain of getting hurt.”
“Were you in the damn ‘Burban babe? I spoke up, they didn’t even blink.” I ground out in exasperation. What will it take for them to see that I can be more than the guy who sings the songs and makes the groupie bitches throw bras and panties on stage?
“So, you walk into the recording session an
d put it out there. Hell, Hunter, go upstairs and deal with the paternity thing, then call a meeting. I hate to say it, but you have to make them see you and not Cunter.” She explains. “If you believe in it that much, if you want it that much, fucking fight for it.”
“So you’re sayin’ you don’t like Cunter, huh?” I ask playfully, my lips closing in on hers.
“I saw through him, almost immediately.” Chase answers, pressing her lips to mine.
Instantly, my fingers fist in her hair. Chase nips my bottom lip, before diving hungrily into my mouth. Grabbing her hips, I pull her on top of me, desperate to deepen the kiss. Those soft fingertips of hers run up my jaw, into my hair. “Babe, you’re makin’ it really hard to remember I’ve got shit to handle upstairs.” I growl, ripping my mouth from hers. “Nothin’ I want more than to dive between those legs and give us both what we want until you can’t walk tomorrow.”
“Me?” She gasps, innocently. “I have no control over you and that unquenchable need to fuck me stupid.”
“You carry all the power baby, right between your thighs.” I mumble running my tongue along the hollow in her throat. “Later tonight, One Erection will be performing for your pleasure and if you’re really good babe, there will be several curtain calls.”
She giggles, as the door opens at the top of the stairs. “Hunter, I just opened the gates for your company.” Henry yells from the steps.
“Alright, on my way, Big Man.” Rolling us over, I nuzzle into Chase’s neck, kissing down to her collarbone. “Time to face this.” Before I can climb from the bed, Chase stands and kisses me softly.
“Whatever comes, from here on out, we face together.” She says, taking my hand in hers. “If we’re really gonna do this Hunter, that’s how it has to be. No secrets, no lies, and no hiding behind ‘Cunter’ when you’re with me.”
Right here, is the moment when I should say it. I should tell Chase that I love her. What do I do? I squeeze her hand, giving her a nod before we walk up the steps. Although the words are somewhere lodged in my chest, I think.
“Tell him to knock the groupie off his dick so we can get on with this!”
The screeching of a woman echoes through the house, making me wince when Chase and I get upstairs. “In the dining room, Hunter.” Henry says, with an eye roll.
“Is the kid here?” I ask nervously.
Henry nods, “Test is really a formality, bro. Looks just like you, ‘cept she’s a lot cuter.”
Chase and I walk into the dining room and see Camaron. Sitting on the other side of the long oak table, is her. The supposed mother of my child; bottle fuckin’ blonde, classic ‘Groupie Frisbee’ as I like to call them, and here she is tethering me to her with a child we made. The problem is; I don’t even remember her name.
“Hunter, it’s nice to see you again.” Blondie says, rising from her chair. “This must be Chase; the internet sure has latched on to you two and your good time.” She smiles, but sarcasm drips from those bright red lips.
Chase looks shaken, but recovers quickly. “Nice to meet you, um you are?”
The shock Blondie’s face is priceless, “I’m Xandra. Hunter can fill you in on everything after we catch up.” She replies, dismissing Chase.
I slip my hand from Chase’s only long enough to pull her against my side. “Chase stays. This includes her too.”
“Whatever you want, sweetie.” Xandra tosses out, sitting back in her chair. “Let’s get on with it then. I’d like for you to deal with the paperwork as quickly as possible. You’ve already missed out on too much.”
I sit on the opposite side of the table, Chase taking the chair beside me. “That’s an interesting point, Ms. Marshall. Why are you just now coming forward with this information?” Camaron says, scribbling something on a notepad. “Obviously, Hunter isn’t very hard for you to find if you’re keeping up with his love life online.” Cam sizes Xandra up, watching her reaction carefully. “This wouldn’t be an attempt to extort funds from Mr. Chesterfield or Ironsound Records would it, Ms. Marshall?”
Xandra glares at Cam, “Of course it isn’t!” She shouts, jumping to her feet. “I was married when Hunter and I had, um, slept together. Up until a few months ago my ex-husband had every reason to believe that Jasmine was his. Ever since Patrick and I had gotten married, he was mostly stationed out of the country. So, I lied about my due date and was able to make it work. When he was home on leave, he found some paperwork proving she couldn’t be his. Well, let’s just say he wasn’t very happy about it.”
“I assume he wasn’t happy about being lied to.” I huff. “What makes you think we should believe you now? Obviously, you knew she was mine all along but never once bothered to contact anyone.”
Xandra turns to face Chase and me, “Swab the kid so we can get on with it. Yeah, I could’ve contacted you, but at the time you didn’t seem like you were ready to be saddled with a kid.” She growls, making my blood boil. “You tend to come across irresponsible.”
“A couple of hours and a quick fuck doesn’t give you shit to judge me with.” I argue. “We’ll see where things lie, but I’ll tell you this lady.” I stand, walking over to Cam. “I’ll take care of my child, no matter what. I don’t want to miss more of her life. But get this one thing straight, my life is none of your business.” I say carefully.
“Whatever you want, sweetie.” She replies again, my comment not fazing her at all.
“How soon can we get the test done?” I ask, eager to get rid of this bitch.
“We can have that done now. There’s a man waiting in the front room with Henry and Mack. I should have the results back in the next day or so if we rush it along.”
“Perfect.” I reply before looking to Xandra, who is completely glued to her phone.
“She’s in the kitchen with Grayson and Daisy. They went looking for a snack.” Cam chimes in, when Xandra doesn’t even acknowledge me.
“Wait a minute.” I say, trying to wrap my head around this. “You just walk in here, trusting your kid with complete strangers? Do you not even care if she’s scared? Hell, she doesn’t know any of us. I probably should wait until the test comes back before I even meet her, just to spare her confusion just in case she isn’t mine. Hell Xandra, has she even been swabbed yet?”
“That’s nothing but a fucking formality. She’s yours Hunter, I’m not a complete whore.” Xandra bites out, still not meeting my eyes. “Besides, they’re your family so they shouldn’t be strangers to your daughter. Should they?”
“Says the groupie who boned the rock star, while married.” I huff out a sarcastic laugh. “You’re a wealth of trust and virtue, Xandra.”
“What do you want from me, Hunter? Take the test, then we can all move on.” She bites back at me, finally meeting my eyes. Cam and Chase both hiss out a breath.
“I don’t want to be just more shit for a four year old to deal with.” I say throwing my hands up in frustration. “Just sayin’ it’s a sensitive topic, that’s all. This shouldn’t be about you or me; this should be all about her. I’m glad that the irresponsible one of us is watchin’ out for the bigger picture here.”
Without another word, I take Chase’s hand and walk from the dining room, heading straight into the kitchen. “Yummy.” The little voice stops me in my tracks the minute I enter the room.
Sitting on the counter with a tray of cookies, is a little girl in a frilly pink tu-tu with zebra print Converses. Long brown hair is pulled up in pigtails with pink ribbons, her face covered in icing. “Hi, Hunter.” Daisy says, with a sweet smile, a frosting covered apron now covering her blue sundress. “We arranged for groceries to be delivered earlier, so Jasmine and I were fixing a snack. Gray’s just eating.” Gray rolls his eyes, but the asshole is grinning. He is loving this shit.
Jasmine’s eyes fly up from the tray, deep brown like mine, and they knock the wind out of me. Chase squeezes my hand, encouraging me, silently, to get closer. “Hi Jasmine, my name’s Chase. I love your outfit.” Chase
coos to her. “You look just like a princess.”
“I am a princess.” Jasmine replies, matter of fact. I can’t help chuckling at her smart ass. Looking up, she cocks her head studying me carefully. “Hi.” Is all I manage to get from her while she continues to figure me out.
“Hi, I’m Hunter.” I say nervously. “Did your mom tell you about me?” Still staring at me, Jasmine nods her answer.
“She’s so fuckin’ adorable it’s hard to believe she’s yours isn’t it?” Mack teases from behind me.
Both Chase and Daisy eyes go sinister at his comment, making me thankful I hadn’t said anything other than what I did. “Watch the language around the kid, man.” Gray grumbles angrily. “I’ve already been hit with the d-a-m-n frosting spoon.”
Daisy turns, smacking him with it again in the chest. “Spelling them is still saying them.”
“This is bullshit, I’m fucking leaving!” Xandra’s voice echoes from the next room.
“I guess somebody didn’t get the memo.” Gray shrugs, earning him another slap from Daisy. She looks at me, her eyes filling with concern.
“Why don’t we go see what’s goin’ on with mommy?” I ask, releasing Chase’s hand and hold out my arms for Jasmine. Thinking that, maybe, Xandra will calm down if maybe we go back in there.
Instead of taking my hands, she leaps into my arms, successfully covering the front of my shirt in pink frosting. “Do you have a puppy?” She asks, wrapping her legs around my waist before licking the rest of the frosting from her fingers.
“Nope, we just have Mack. He’s worse than a dog.” I deadpan, walking around the over six foot tall poutin’ puss. Chase follows us out, patting Mack’s shoulder while everyone else laughs.
“I’ve taken care of that kid for over four years with no help from him. Now, you expect me to drop everything I have planned to wait on shit? This is not my problem!” Xandra roars again. “Jasmine, we’re leaving. Now!”
“You better calm the hell down.” Aiden’s voice is stone cold.
