Page 20 of His Curvy Woman

Chapter 9

Whitley

It’sa few minutes after five on Friday afternoon, and I’m waiting for Hunter to pick me up from work. I can’t stop smiling, and Tina has noticed. I told her about my date on Monday night with Hunter, and she was absolutely giddy. I didn’t give her all the good details, but she knows I spent the night with him. Every morning when I come in, she wants the details from the night before. I always tell her there isn’t much to say to which she rolls her eyes and won’t stop bugging me until I give her more than that. Tina knows about Hunter and me because she and I were together at the coffee shop, but I haven’t told Andi. At first, I wasn’t sure what to tell her. Would there be anything to tell? As my oldest friend, someone who knew Hunter back then, she should have been the first person I shared this with. Instead, I feel like that fourteen-year-old girl with a secret crush. I don’t want her to be upset that I didn’t tell her from the beginning. The longer I keep my relationship with Hunter from her, the more awkward it feels to share.

Hunter and I have plans to make dinner and watch something new on Netflix tonight. This is just what I need after the long week I’ve had. I’m not complaining, but I’m not getting as much sleep this week as I normally do and I’m exhausted. Ever since our date Monday night, Hunter and I have spent every night together at his house. I got smart and brought a change of clothes with me on Tuesday, so I didn’t have to go home early Wednesday morning. Hunter met me at my place on Wednesday afternoon, and I picked up some more clothes and haven’t been back to my place since. He even suggested that I leave my car at home since he could just drive us into work since my job is on the way to his. I know we should probably give it a rest. Spending this much time together at the beginning of a relationship is only going to end in disaster. Listening to my brain is a lot harder than one might think when my heart is doing all of the decision making.

The last few nights with Hunter have been spent talking and getting to know each other again while we eat and watch meaningless television. We will order in or pick something up to go since he doesn’t have anything to cook with yet. We’re taking care of that problem tomorrow by doing some major shopping. Last night after we ate, we made a list of everything he doesn’t have. We probably won’t be able to get it all done tomorrow, so it’s a good thing we have Sunday too. Hunter starts his ABC schedule Monday at the firehouse. He’ll work twenty-four hours, then be off twenty-four hours. He’ll do this a total of three times and then be off for five days, then he’ll start the rotation over again. I’m used to this from my brother and my dad since they’ve been working this schedule for years, but I’m having mixed feelings about Hunter not being here at night. I know it’s selfish and it’s part of his job, but it’s still going to suck.

Just as I’m wondering why Hunter hasn’t texted me to let me know he’s on his way, a text comes through letting me know he’s running about fifteen minutes late. I’m feeling the effects of leaving my car at my place. It wasn’t the best idea, now that I’m stuck at work. While I love riding with him, I know this can’t last. Especially with his new schedule. This week-long sleepover won’t be happening after Sunday either. My stomach twists and feelings of doubt start to invade. I believed Hunter when he told me how he felt for me, and he’s done nothing but prove over and over again that he’s genuine, but how will this new schedule work with our budding relationship?

I’m waiting outside when I spot Hunter drive into the parking lot. When he pulls up to the curb, I hurry and jump in, ready to get back to his place and relax. I’m tired of all the thinking I’m doing and would rather just snuggle up to him.

Hunter leans over and gives me a quick kiss. “Sorry about that baby, Ramsey stopped me in the parking lot just as I was getting in my truck and was asking about how things were going with us.”

I give him the side-eye and smirk. “Oh, did he now? And what did you tell my nosey brother?”

“That he had nothing to worry about, so he could mind his own fucking business.”

I raise my hand up for a high five, and Hunter doesn’t disappoint. He smacks my hand then pulls it up to his mouth and drops a kiss on the top of it. “He did ask if we’d like to go to dinner tonight with him and Julia.”

I give him a face making him laugh. “I’m sorry, Hunter. I know Ramsey really likes her and that I should give her a chance, but there was something about her the other night that rubbed me the wrong way.”

“Do you want me to tell him no?” He asks.

“No. Don’t do that. Maybe it was because it was the first time that we met, who knows.” I shrug. “What time are we supposed to meet them, and where?” I’m already starting to feel dread sink into the pit of my stomach.

“Baby, we don’t have to go tonight. I told him I would talk to you first then let him know.”

I smile over at Hunter and know that with him by my side, it will be a good night no matter what. “No, let’s go. This will be fun. I don’t get to see much of Ramsey these days anyway.”

“That’s my girl.” He gives me that smile that has me melting inside.

“Could you drop me off at my place though? The stuff I need to get ready for tonight is at home, and it will just be easier for me to get ready at home, rather than taking it all over to your place.”

Hunter gets a weird look on his face and doesn’t say anything.

“Is that okay?”

He looks over at me and smiles, but I can tell something I said bothered him. “Of course, it is.”

I was so excited for tonight a half-hour ago, and now things are getting all messed up. I try and not let it bother me, but I can’t help it. I really don’t want to spend our first Friday night together with Ramsey’s self-absorbed girlfriend. Instead of whining about it though, I put my big girl panties on and just deal, then tell myself it can’t be that bad with only the four of us.

Hunter drops me off and promises to be back in two hours to pick me up for dinner at one of the restaurants downtown. I take a peek in my closet and decide on an off the shoulder dress that cinches at the waist. I choose this one because I love the white and baby blue vertical striped material and how it makes my red hair pop. Once I’m out of the shower, I blow dry and straighten my hair, so it’s hanging loose against my shoulders. I put on more makeup than I usually do, really playing up my blue eyes with a smoky eye and mascara. By the time Hunter arrives, I’m already in my white strappy tie-up wedges, that match perfectly to my dress and give me a few extra inches.

“Whitley, damn baby, you look stunning.” He says as soon as I open the door for him.

“Thank you. You look pretty good yourself, Mr. Stone.” He’s wearing a pair of dark wash jeans that are snug around his tight ass, and a black button-up short-sleeved shirt that is tight around his biceps. Over the past week, I’ve studied his tattoos at length and still can’t look away. I love the art he chose to cover his skin with, and I can’t picture him any other way now.

He places his hand behind my back and pulls me to him and kisses me deeply. When I pull away, I’m dazed and hoping that tonight ends a little differently than the previous nights have. We’ve talked about the fact that I’m a virgin and that I’ve been waiting for the right time and the right person. There’s no need to wait when I’ve got the right person here in my arms.

“You ready to get going, beautiful?”

I rub the pink lip gloss off of his lips and nod my head. “Yeah, let’s go.”

After I lock up, I put my keys in my small purse. Hunter guides us back to his truck with his hand at my back. When we arrive at the restaurant, Ramsey and Julia are already sitting there at a booth. Julia smiles at me and waves. Maybe this won’t be so bad. Hunter guides me into the booth first and then slides in beside me. I don’t miss the appreciative glance Julia gives Hunter, but I shrug it off knowing he’s a good-looking man.

We end up having a good night, Ramsey and Hunter carrying most of the conversation as they catch up on what’s been going on since Hunter left. It’s good to see those two together again and the worry I felt earlier about our relationship weathering his new schedule seems silly now.

---