Page 98 of 2204 Hunter Lane
“I tried to tune it out as much as I could, but are you stayin’, baby?” He piped, the dimples in his cheeks deepening.
My lips slapped against his as I kissed and kissed and squeezed him tighter with a python’s grip.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He sat on the bed, gripping my thigh as he maneuvered me into a straddling position.
My eyes zipped away from his as he continued planting soft kisses down my neck, nibbling my skin.
“If I’m staying, that means I have to get to work in five minutes.” I teased, allowing him to grip me in whichever way he pleased.
With one swift movement, he had my back pinned against the bed and his torso pressed against my chest.
“Spread your legs for me darlin’ and I’ll get you there in two.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Hunter
As promised, I got Bambi to work three minutes earlier than expected.
When I kissed her goodbye, Cramer and Payton practically shit their pants but I didn’t care. That was one of the best nights of my fuckin’ life, and half the weight I was carrying fell off my back.
Damn, it really is true when they say it’s harder to hate someone than it is to show heart. For a long time, I’d been living by the opposite philosophy, but the second I let my walls down I’d never felt more free.
It was nothing like I’d ever experienced before; that ecstasy just being encompassed in her presence. Definitely a weird feeling, I’ll tell ya that. But a good one nonetheless.
After parking my truck in the driveway, I found my dad in the barn starting up the tractor when he saw me.
“Need help?” I asked.
He pulled down his cap. “I assumed that’s why you came here.”
“Yep, just doin’ my civil duty as a son.”
I hopped onto the combine but he slapped me off. “I can handle the corn harvest. There’s some tool kits that need preparin’ on the table there. Get started on that will ya?”
Before I headed off, I took in the sight of my dad. His eyes were covered by the front of his hat, but I could see an evident puffiness in his face that was usually covered by a strong visage.
“You alright?” I posed, eyeing his sluggish movements.
Again, he waved me off and grunted. “Go do your shit, Hunter.”
Nah, not now.“Dad, I can do the harvest it’s no problem –”
“I told you what to do, damnit, now go do it!”
My face felt like it’d been slapped. I know the past little bit was tense, but he was acting outta spite for something. Man, did I ever catch a break of peace?Fuck, I missed Bambi even more now comin’ home to this shit.
It was in that moment that the arm sleeve of his flannel rose up, and I noticed the white beaded bracelet around his wrist… the one he’d gotten himself and Mom for their last anniversary together.
I almost crumbled on the spot, completely forgetting that today was the day she died now five years ago.How the fuck… How the fuck did that slip my mind? How the fuck could I have forgotten this day? I mean, every year since she passed, I’d gotten drunk from morning to night so I wouldn’t have to live in the memory but… I was dead sober. Completely coherent. And I… I forgot.
My jaw locked as tears sprung to my eyes, gluing me to the ground.
“You saw Marley last night.” My dad looked to the floor as he spoke.
There was the answer. The answer to why I spaced out on this day of all fucking days. I’d been so caught up in the high of what happened between us, soaking in the one shed of light I had in years that I neglected my own mother’s death.I’m going to fuckin’ hell.
“I didn’t remember, Dad.” I admitted, shaking my head in a state of shock. “I didn’t fuckin’ remember.”
