Page 45 of Kiss the Bride

“We went out as a group all the time.”

“Exactly,as a group.“ It’s true. Until our wedding date got moved up and I reached out to Hunter to help me adjust the plans, I rarely saw him outside our circle of friends.

Minutes pass as we sit in silence, and I wait for him to continue. His leg is still hidden under the sheet, but even though he flinches when I tentatively rest my hand on his thigh—for balance—he doesn’t push it away. I need to respect his boundaries, and hopefully, he’ll gradually remove them.

“Talk to me. Tell me.” I ask when the silence becomes too much to take. “Hunter, talk to me.” More silence. “Hunter, talk to me.” I continue to repeat the words in a monotonous strain until finally, he breaks, in a painful groan, throwing his head back in despair.

“Damn you, Liv. I’ve kept my distance because I didn’t want to get drunk one night and blurt out the truth.” His face flushes and I finally see the pain and frustration that he’s kept tightly wound. “I fucked up. In the worst, most unforgivable way. I broke up with the girl I loved, thinking that we’d both move on and get over our childhood crush. You did, but I didn’t.”

“You didn’t, what?” He never got over me? Surely, Hunter Williams got over me before the sun set on our break up? He moved on with Ava within a couple of months of starting college.Then, why was Ava the spitting image of me, and why didn’t it last with her?

“That’s right. I knew it even before the two of you were officially a couple which is why I organized the transfer overseas. I couldn’t stop feeling stuff about you. Emotions. Thoughts. Shit I had no right to feel. It got worse when I came back to Australia. But by then, you were happily engaged to my best friend. I kept my distance precisely because I didn’t want any distance.”

“Then why push me away now?”

“You don’t want this.” Hunter shakes his head and adds mournfully, “You think you do, but you don’t.”

“My mouth wanted to prove otherwise.” I don’t know how to deal with mournful and regretful Hunter, so I try for cute. Fun and flirty laughter always used to lead to tickle fights, which turned into amazing sex. I want it back.I want us back.

“No. You want revenge.” Hunter doesn’t bother to hide his pain. It’s not jealousy or disgust, he is showing me raw pain for the first time in years. “You want that pilot dude to pin you against a wall and fuck you into next week.”

“I was never going to befucked into next weekby a stranger. I wanted your reaction. I want to be with a man who wants me, and you didn’t, and you don’t.“ I hate sounding pitiful and needy, but how else am I going to make Hunter understand—I’ve never stopped loving him.

“It’s not about me not wanting you. It’s about you. I tried to explain, but the words just don’t seem to come out right. I can’t do casual or rebound—not with you.” Hunter’s hand cups mine before cradling it to his lips and I swear his touch leaves burn marks. “We’ve been friends for too long to do something stupid now, just because you’re hurting. Get through this relationship detox and come back to me when you have a clear head.”

“But what if you don’t want me, what if you’re the one who moves on?” I don’t say,like you did before.

“Oh, sweetheart, you are breaking me. Get some sleep and we’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

“But Hunter …”

“Liv, I’m not what you want or need.”

I tried and failed.

Despite what he says, Hunter will never see me as more than his best friend’s ex.

He carefully replaces the pillow wall, and by the time I return from the bathroom, he’s got the top sheet pulled up and lays on his back. At least he’s not turned away from me. I climb into bed and wait for any sign that we can be more than roommates or friends. But his breathing slows and deepens while I struggle not to scream and cry. How can he sleep when this could have been our second chance?

It’s only when the early birds started to chirp that Hunter gives me an inkling of hope. Rolling over to spoon me, his arm falls lazily across my hips, subconsciously lacing our fingers together. Only then do I fall asleep, with dreams ofwhat if—

After all, he’d said,love you baby, Liv.

The Morning After Nothing Happened

Hunter

FUUUUUUUCK.

I mentally scream into the silent room. Hell, I’ll scream it out aloud and scare away all the birds and loved-up couples if it’ll do any good.

But still.

Coming away with Liv had been the worst idea of my life. Bar none. There were drunken and forgettable nights. There had been some pranks with mates that our credit cards shouldn’t have been able to get us out of.

This is worse.

The girl of my dreams in my arms and bed.

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