Leaning against the doorframe, I watch Story dance. She’s incredibly cute in her black long-sleeved leotard and red sparkling tutu. Her hair is in a tight bun, and the look on her face is serious. The way she bites her bottom lip leaves no doubt that she’s struggling with this new routine. I smile. Memories of Riley dancing fill my mind in an instant.
There were days when I did my homework in the studio, waiting for her class to be over. I wanted her to thrive, to be successful, and she achieved everything I dreamed of for her. She’s the best in her class—prima ballerina, as I often call her. Ms. Martinez always praises her, and now they’re planning a recital, a winter-themed showcase, in which my sister will be a principal. The little sneak refuses to tell me anything else, saying it’ll be a surprise. Everything she does is magical.
“Hey, sis.” A soft voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I turn my head, and my eyes meet Riley’s. She’s smiling, and my chest swells with happiness. I love being in Hunter’s house, love being with Story. But at the same time, I miss my little sister so much it hurts. “I knew I’d find you here.”
I push away from the doorframe and step out of the dance studio. Wrapping my arms around my sister’s shoulders, I hug her as tight as I can, hiding my face in the crook of her neck. She smells like home. Her favorite perfume, Miss Dior, wafts around her, and I can’t help but smile.
“I missed you.”
“I…can…feel…that,” Riley pants, wiggling out of my embrace. I let her go and step back, hiding my hands in my pockets. “If you miss me so much, why don’t you invite me to visit again? Or maybe a better question is, when do you plan to come home? Wade is a freaking God in the kitchen; you have no idea what you’re missing.”
“Hunter has his last game of the regular season on Saturday. Then there will be playoffs, and once they’re over he’ll be on a break. So I’ll have more time to myself in the second half of November, and I’m sure he won’t mind if you come over more. We just need to wait a little bit.”
“That’s nice,” Riley gushes. “Any chance I can go to the game with you?”
“Do you want to?”
“I do, but only if it won’t be a problem. I don’t want to cause any—”
“Stop it,” I say, and Riley’s eyes go round. “Story will be ecstatic when she hears. You’re like an idol to her at this point.”
“She’s the sweetest, I swear,” my sister murmurs, peeking over my shoulder into the studio. “Tiny problem, sis. It’s her father’s game, not her recital.”
“Hunter never says no to Story.”
“And you?” Riley teases me, a lopsided grin playing across her lips.
I roll my eyes and nod. “I don’t say no to her either.”
“I knew it. You were exactly like that with me.”
“I was strict with you when you deserved it. And it’s the same with Story. Trust me. No one is trying to spoil her.”
Riley shakes her head, adjusting her sports bag. “Story is an incredibly kind girl. Everyone loves her…the girls from my class are jealous of me because I’m her favorite.”
I stare at my sister long and hard, but then I break into a smile. “After me. I’m her favorite.”
“The audacity,” she mumbles dramatically, pressing a palm to her chest. “We are both her favorites.”
“Fine. I think I can share her love with you,” I state, and Riley pokes her tongue out at me. Quickly taking my phone out of my pocket, I check the time. I still have twenty minutes before Story’s class is over. “How about a hot chocolate?”
“Pass.” She gives me an apologetic smile. “My class is right after this one, and I hate dancing when my belly’s full. How about we just sit on the bench and talk?”
“Sounds amazing,” I say.
When I step into the house, I know he’s home. I close the front door, and my eyes clash with my boss’s. Hunter stands in the doorway, glancing between Story and me. He’s smiling, but it looks forced. I frown, trying to figure out his mood. Angry? No. Irritated? Definitely. But why? Did something happen at practice?
“Daddy!” Story notices him and rushes into his outstretched arms. Hunter catches her with ease, lifting her and kissing her on her nose. “How was your practice?”
“It was good,” he says calmly. I take a few steps forward, my eyes roaming over his body. I mentally slap myself for my thoughts. I’d love to be in his arms too, but that sounds creepy. He’s not my daddy. Oh my fucking God. “Hey, Piper.”
“Hey.” I wave, shifting a little. Hunter’s green eyes darken, and he narrows them on me. Yeah, my aching clit is the best evidence of how much our lack of contact affects me. There’s a very big chance I’ll give in and sneak into his room one of these days. Or maybe tonight. I don’t think I have it in me to resist him much longer. “How long have you been home?”
“Thirty minutes. How are you two? How was your day?”
“Story had a very eventful day. I’m sure she has things she wants to share with you.”
“I can’t wait to show you what I made in school. It’s so cool,” she exclaims, and Hunter focuses his attention on his daughter. “Can you wait in the living room? I want it to be a surprise.”
“Whatever you wish, princess,” he chuckles, putting Story down. She squeals and dashes to her room. “Piper?”
I hate the way he says my name. It turns my panties into a wet mess. “Yeah?”
“There’s something I need to talk to you about, but only once Story is asleep.” And just by his tone of voice, I know it’s nothing good. The excitement I felt transforms into unease, and my veins turn into strained cords full of ice.
I pinch my brows together and hide my hands in my pockets. “Sure. I’m going to my room. I need to change before I cook dinner.”
“I can order something.”
“That’s okay.” I stroll past him. “Cooking always eases my mind.”
As I walk to my room, I feel his gaze on me, and this time I don’t know what to think. What could’ve possibly happened at practice? I was hoping to talk to him about Riley coming over, but now I’m not so sure I should. Hopefully, whatever he has to tell me won’t be that bad.
“Hade, if you want me to help you…tell me what you need. Easy.” I sigh, pressing my phone to my ear. It’s dark and quiet as I sit at the edge of the pool with my legs in the water. While Hunter put Story to bed, I decided to wait for him outside. It’s been almost twenty-five minutes, so when Hayden called I was happy to talk to him. Until I realized he was in a mood.
“I don’t know what I need. That’s the problem,” he snaps, frustration rising in his voice. “My inspiration these days is nonexistent. I don’t want to write, don’t want to play. I don’t want anything.”
“Is it school? Maybe you’re stressed because of your studies?” But I know perfectly well that’s not it. Hade is a messy mess most of the time…with straight A’s in all of his classes.
Hayden keeps silent, and I close my eyes, listening to the sound of the water as I slowly swing my legs back and forth in the pool. It’s nowhere close to the sound of the ocean, but it’s still relaxing. The thoughts in my head are way too frantic.
“Do I really suffocate you?”
At first, I’m not even sure I hear him right. I open my eyes and stare ahead of me, and my brows knit together. “What?”
“Hunter said something when I stayed the night…and I can’t stop thinking about it.” Hayden’s voice cracks, and he takes a long breath. “Do you feel like I’m suffocating you?”
“Hayden…”
“Pip, you told me the same thing at the club. You said I take away your choices. Is that how I make you feel?”
“Sometimes.”
“Fuck, Pip…I’m so sorry for making you feel like that. It’s not what I want…it’s not what I ever wanted…” He trails off, and I hear him pacing, the loud sound of his feet hitting the floor.
“Hade, stop it. Everything’s fine.”
“No, it’s not,” he whispers harshly. “But I promise you…I promise you I’ll do better. I swear. I don’t want you to feel like I’m suffocating you with my care, with my worries…I’ll be a better friend. One you really deserve.”
“Hade, I love you the way you are. You’re my best friend—my best, best friend in the entire world.”
“Love you too, Pip. You’re the sunshine to my storm, and I’ll be damned if I let your light dim,” he says.
“Do you feel better?” I ask.
“I do. I needed to get that off my chest, so thank you.”
“You’re always welcome. See you on Saturday?”
“See you on Saturday. Night, Pip.”
“Night, Hade.” I end the call and feel someone’s presence. Hunter stands behind me with a faint smile playing on his lips. Taking a deep breath, I let my shoulders slump and put my phone on the tiles surrounding the pool.
“How’s my brother?” Hunter asks, lowering himself beside me.
“He’s fine. I think our talk helped clear his head.”
“Good.”
I decide to keep the details of my conversation with Hayden to myself. This is between my best friend and me, even if my boss got himself involved by giving his little brother unsolicited advice.
“Story just fell asleep ten minutes ago. Sometimes it’s hard to get her to bed when she feels excited.”
“Tell me about it,” I chuckle and glance at him. “Your upcoming game is all she talked about on our way home.”
“She showed me her drawings,” he says, and his smile grows bigger. “I have no idea how we’re going to win four to one, but I’ll do my best. I can’t possibly disappoint my daughter.”
“I’m pretty sure you’ll never disappoint her.”
“Hope so.” Hunter sighs, and all his playfulness is gone. As if he turned off all his emotions with this one simple gesture. “Do you remember when you helped me with Tinder?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the woman and I were an instant match?”
I look away from him, focusing my attention on the myriad of stars illuminating the sky. “You wanted me to take back your swipe, and I did that. I didn’t think the instant match was important because I thought you didn’t want anything to do with her. I’m sorry if I took it all wrong.”
“You took it all right, Piper,” he says softly, taking my chin between his thumb and index finger and forcing me to look at him. “I’m not interested in Autumn Dunn. The problem is her. She doesn’t like to be rejected.”
“Did she…how do you know that?”
“She was waiting for me after practice. She wanted to know why I removed my swipe. In her head, we were a perfect match, and still are. She told me I should take her on a date.”
A green-eyed monster awakes in my chest, the beating of my heart becomes painfully loud and strong. That reporter is exactly his type, at least in looks. She’s established, and she’s his age. After all, she was his instant match. I swallow my nerves, feeling as if I just gobbled a bunch of rocks.
“What did you tell her?”
“That it was a mistake on my part, and I’m not interested.” His long fingers caress my skin, and it feels like a blessing, soothing my ardent nerves. I’ve been yearning for Hunter’s touch since our first time in the shower. “I wanted her to forget about us being together, so I told her I’m seeing someone. And now she wants to know who it is. She’s a reporter, after all.”
“What does that mean? Will she be snooping around, trying to dig up information?”
“That’s what she told me.” He shrugs and drops his hand. “She gave me a choice. If I don’t want her snooping around, I should take her on a date.”
Oh my God. “Isn’t that blackmail?”
Hunter blinks, and then a coy smile crosses his lips. “I love how smart you are, Piper. It makes me admire you even more.” And now my ovaries are in a twist. How can he say something like that to me? “It’s blackmail, you’re right. I know what to do in case she keeps her promise and starts stalking me and my family. I recorded my conversation with her, so I have evidence. I just want you to be careful from now on. If you see someone following you or Story, please tell me. Immediately. I need to know when to act.”
He recorded their conversation? How did he have time to think of doing that? Maybe it’s not the first time someone has tried to pull this trick on him. Has he been blackmailed before?
“Piper?” His voice sends shivers down my spine. “This isn’t your battle to fight; it’s mine. My mistake led me to this, and now it’s for me to fix. I know what to do. I just need you to be careful from now on. Promise me you’ll be careful. Please.”
“I promise,” I say, and he brings his face closer to mine. His hot breath fans over my warm cheeks as he bends his head, and our noses touch. “Can you please…can you please kiss me?”
“With pleasure.” Hunter places his hand on the back of my head and smashes his lips on mine. The second my tongue brushes his, I know we won’t make it to either of our rooms. He’s going to fuck me right here, by the pool in his backyard…and I don’t have anything against it.
