Page 72 of The Spider Queen
“Just been walking around, enjoying my town. It’s weird, Hunter. It’s like I’m seeing it for the first time.”
“When I get back, let’s do some Lowcountry exploring.”
“Whatever that means. But yeah, I’m down. Anything to spend time with you.”
“So maybe, you miss me a little bit too?”
“I thought that was obvious. I miss sleeping next to you,” I admitted.
“Me too. Have you had any…ah…problems?”
“No.”
“Good,” he said in relief. “That’s good.” I heard someone call his name and Hunter replied, “Be right there. Talking to my girl.”
That made me smile.
“Poppy, I have to get going.”
“Okay.”
Neither one of us made a move to hang up, just content to listen to each other breathe.
“Thought you were going to hang up,” I said.
“I thought you were.”
“On three,” I said. “One, two—”
On three neither one of us hung up.
“Okay, we have to stop. We’re those gross people,” I told him.
“Yeah, I know. I kind of like it, though.”
“Me too. Okay, bye for real. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Poppy.”
We hung up with each other right as I got to the house. I held the phone to my chest for a moment and sat on the porch steps, just thinking about Hunter and my budding feelings for him. I’d almost told him I loved him.
But it was too soon for that…right?
A wave of bitter resentment came through my mental connection with Thane.
What?I demanded.
You have a boyfriend,he accused.
So?
A cloud passed overhead and I looked up at the sky. The day had started off sunny with a clear, blue sky, but now storm clouds were rolling in. I was glad I’d made it home. Getting caught in cold, winter rain would’ve killed my good mood, though Thane’s silent brooding was doing that anyway..
Wind blew across the porch, carrying with it a few cool raindrops. I hopped up and fished my keys out of my backpack.
Thunder growled in the distance.
Are you sulking?I asked Thane, opening the front door.
