Page 25 of 2204 Hunter Lane
So Payton was his stepmom. That explained why she was so nice and he was literally the devil incarnate. They weren’t actually related, not by blood anyway.
Within twenty-four hours, I’d seen at least three different sides to Hunter. One, being the obvious, he was a fucking douchebag. Two, he was a full grown man child who didn’t know how to control his emotions and three, well, he was a clear spectacle to everyone in the room.
It was no secret that he was easy on the eyes, as much as it pained me to admit. He had this rough bravado about him that evidently shined through his style. Black leather jacket, a white t-shirt and dark jeans paired with brown combat boots. His blonde hair always looked rough up, probably because some girl was pawing her fingers through it all night. That scruff on his face that followed his jawline and those eyes… those crystal blue eyes that seared through me the first time we’d met.God, why couldn’t he have had some sort of defect? Like fins for hands or a zebra striped nose?
“I think Winter is just outside, I’ll go on and get her.”
I can still feel you staring at me, asshat. Good God does he not have anything better to do?
“Marley?”
I shook my head, realizing I’d been zoned out the entire time Cramer had been speaking.
“Huh, Winter?” I posed, turning my attention to the man I’d come here with. “Who’s Winter?”
He lifted his butt off the barstool and adjusted his shirt. He did that a lot.Maybe a nervous twitch.
“A friend from college. I assumed after the events of tonight you’d wan’ to get shit faced with some company.”
“But…” I shook my head in confusion. “You are company.”
He laughed. “Yeah, but nothin’ like a girls night, right? I got a sister. I know the way you’s do it.”
Before I could respond, he passed by me and placed a soft hand on my back. “I’ve only had one drink so I can drive y’all home.”
Then he was gone, leaving me to the nervous anticipation of meeting yet another new person in the span of twenty-four hours.
I’d never been good at meeting people. It wasn’t even my tendency to be quite shy, just, I never knew the right thing to say at the right time. Honestly, I didn’t even understand why Payton took me under her wing all things considered.
But Cramer seemed like a nice guy and after he’d shown me all the sections of P&D’s, we set up my office and workspace together. He even gave me my own personal pen and notepad. I figured it was definitely a product of the store but hey, a welcoming gift nonetheless.
Payton didn’t mind me going out on my first work night. In fact, she encouraged it and drove me to Cid’s knowing I’d be drinking. She even asked me to stay in their basement for as long as I needed but I refused. The woman already gave me a job, afriendship, how could I take more from her?
After many hours of heart to heart conversations, Payton helped me settle in to a residency hotel near The Square.
Surprisingly, it was very posh. Not that Nebraska was entirely rural, but this building looked like a few I’d seen back home in New York.
The Atlas Aurora was a twelve story building, covered by Newcastle brick and glass windows. The doors that led to the lobby were a rich mahogany wood and the front-desk lady might’ve been the sweetest little old woman I’d ever encountered.
I got the cheapest room that I could afford, with only twelve-thousand in my savings left and my space was more than enough. I had a kitchenette with a countertop burner, a queen-sized bed and dresser with an ensuite bathroom.
Because rent was only five-fifty a month, I was on the lower levels of the residency but I still got an amazing view of a gorgeous lake that was freezing over in the cool October climate. On top of that, I had my own underground parking space free of charge. I don’t know how Payton managed to swing that but I guess she was friends with the co-owner of T.A.A.I really owed that woman my life.
I made a mental note that once Spring hit, I would venture off there and have a picnic. Maybe I would’ve made some friends by then. Or maybe I’d be alone. Only time would tell, but I was feeling rather optimistic of my new situation.
Even though I was still in Nebraska, I was hours away from Lincoln where Todd and I lived. I still hadn’t checked my phone; mostly out of fear that he’d somehow track me if I opened his texts. But I didn’t need to, not yet anyway.
I had a ride home, a new friend and a place to stay. Screw anyone that tried to bring down my mood.Especially if that someone was a six-foot Greek God with rage issues.
Cramer returned with a beautiful, Amazonian heartthrob on his arm. She had the silkiest bronzed skin and her curly hair was tied up in a bow, two loose locks framing her face. Her tan dress extenuated her curves, curves I envied on woman for so long and she was no exception to my jealousy.Oh. My. God.
“Winter, this is my friend Marley. Marley, Winter Camden.” Josh pushed the small of her back towards me, buzzing like a bee.
She instantly pulled me in for a hug, her vanilla perfume brushing my senses.
“How are you?” she asked, her tone taking me off guard completely.
“You’reBritish?” I questioned, leaning out of her hug in awe.I love British people. Well, the sound of their voices anyway.
