Page 61 of The Spider Queen
“The more I learn about you, the more I like.”
He beamed.
“When do you leave?”
“This Wednesday. And I’m not coming back until the following Sunday.”
“So you’ll be gone Spring Break and then some.”
He smiled, looped an arm around my shoulders, and brought me into his side. “Gonna miss me?”
I looked up at him and said honestly, “Yes.”
Hunter’s eyes darkened with intensity and longing. Leaning down, he placed his lips on mine. It wasn’t until the girl behind the counter cleared her throat that he pulled away.
“Sorry,” he said to the girl with a wink.
“Uh huh,” she drawled. “What can I get you?”
We shared a strawberry milkshake like two teenagers from the sock hop era. It was over the top ridiculous, and even though I knew we were making the counter girl sick to her stomach, I didn’t care.
“Are you going to have cell reception at this soccer camp?” I asked when we headed back to the car.
“Yeah, Poppy. I’ll get cell reception.” He smirked. “Don’t you worry.”
“I’m not worried,” I said. It was a lie. I was terrified. How would I handle sleeping alone again—what if I sleepwalked? What if I scared the hell out of Anita or hurt myself?
Hunter dropped me off at home, but not before giving me a steamy farewell kiss that had me stumbling up the porch steps. Maybe everything would be okay the time we were apart.
“Where the hell have you been?” Anita demanded the moment I walked in.
“Out—with Hunter. What’s bugging you?”
“Nothing, I just wanted to tell you the good news! Jonah asked me to go to Connecticut with him on Spring Break to meet his parents!” She bounced around the living room looking like a blonde fairy tale princess about to burst into song.
“That’s exciting,” I said with a grin. I was genuinely happy for her, but that meant I would be alone in the apartment for a week. Maybe it was better that way, and then I wouldn’t have to outright lie to my cousin about my weird as hell behavior.
I’d have to rely on the sleeping pills, and I hoped like hell they worked.
“This is unbelievable!” she gushed, not at all paying attention to my silent struggle.
“You nervous?”
“Why would I be nervous? Moms love me.”
“At least you’re humble,” I teased. Growing up, Anita had tons of boyfriends, and she spoke the truth about their mothers.
I wondered what Hunter’s mother would say about me. Nice girl. Spider girl.
Crazy girl.
“What’s Hunter doing for Spring Break?” she asked, flopping down onto the couch.
I told her.
“And you’re just gonna stay here?”
“Yeah. I kind of have to. I have so many papers due right after the break, it’s bullshit.” I lied, hoping like hell Anita didn’t suspect the truth.
