I still have one question I need to be answered, so I turn my face and resting my cheek against her hair, I ask, “Did you ever stop caring for me?”
“Never.” Pulling a little back, she looks up at me. “That’s why I was so angry. It felt like I was betraying Brady by still loving you.”
I know she means the words as a friend, but they still stir something in my chest. “So, you still love me?” I ask, milking this moment for all it’s worth.
Jade breaks free from my arms and quickly pulls her phone from her pocket, then she rambles, “Hold that thought. I have a song for you.”
She brings up a playlist, and after pressing play, she holds the phone out for me to take. I look at the screen as she comes to stand next to me, and together we listen to Sad Song by We The Kings.
The song is so damn cute, and it makes a broad smile form around my lips. I go to place the device on the bed, then turn back to Jade. Taking hold of her waist, I pull her close to me, and when I begin to sway with her, I say, “I owe you a dance.”
She lets out a burst of laughter and grins happily up at me. Halfway through the song, she whispers, “Thank you, Hunter.”
Giving her a warm smile, I pull her closer, and we dance until the song comes to an end.
Before I pull away from her, she gives me another hug, then teases, “I owe you seven hundred and thirty hugs. I figure if I give you a couple a day, I can pay off my debt faster.”
I let out a burst of laughter, and our eyes lock. There’s still heartache to work through, but at least we’ve waved the white flag.
“It’s a start,” I say to her.
Nodding, she agrees, “It can only get better from here on out.”
God, I hope so. More than anything in the world, I want my Jade back.
Chapter 16
JADE
Even though we’ve made peace, things still feel awkward between us.
You can’t expect things to magically go back to the way they were, Jade.
Together we walk out of my room, only to see our friends scatter toward the living room.
“Seeing as you all listened in on our conversation, we don’t have to tell you anything,” Hunter jokes with them. He makes a beeline for Jase, and slumping down on the couch next to him, he punches Jase’s shoulder. “Fucker.”
“Oww.” Jase rubs his arm. “I wasn’t the only one eavesdropping.” He lets out a disgruntled huff. “Besides, we couldn’t hear shit.”
I first go to get myself a bottle of water and take a drink from it. Fallon, Hana, and Mila’s eyes keep darting between Hunter and me, and not having the heart to make them suffer any longer, I say, “We’ve talked things out.”
Hana’s face instantly lights up. “So, things are good between you again?”
“Yeah.” I chuckle when she jumps up, and fist bumps the air.
“Thank God,” Jase mutters. “Now, I can focus on my own drama.”
Mila’s head snaps toward him. “What drama?”
With a heavy sigh, he states, “You giving me a constant case of blue balls.”
Mila chokes on air, and the rest of us explode in laughter. When she finally catches her breath, she gives Jase a death glare. “Haha. Always so damn funny.”
Jase’s face sets into a super serious look. “There’s nothing funny about having blue balls. I’m pretty sure it’s dangerous. In fact, you could at least give me a handjob and save my life.”
Mila drops her forehead into the palm of her hand, shaking her head. “I’m not going to win.”
“Nope.” Jase lets the P pop. “When you’re ready to surrender, just say the word, and we can go to my bedroom.”
“Holy shit,” she exclaims. “Someone, help me.”
“Jase is just fucking with you,” Noah says, his shoulders shaking from all the laughing.
“No, I’m not fucking with her,” Jase corrects him. “If I were fucking with her, we’d both be in a state of bliss right now.” He climbs to his feet and adjusts his crotch as he walks away, looking like he just rode a horse for hours.
We all crack up again, and there’s even a smile on Mila’s face.
When the fun fades, Fallon says, “Let’s order in and watch a movie tonight. I’m too tired to do anything else.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Hunter agrees.
After thirty minutes of arguing, we end up placing five different orders because we can’t decide on just one place to get food from.
“If it was that difficult to order the food, I dread picking the movie,” Hana mumbles as she lies down on the couch with her head on Noah’s thigh and her legs hanging off the side.
There’s a knock at the door, and we all look at it in surprise.
“The food can’t possibly be here already,” Mila says as she gets up. When she opens the door, she lets out a squeak of surprise. “Oh my gosh! Tristan!” She hugs him before dragging him inside.
Hana’s head pops up, and then she falls off the couch in her hurry to get up. “Shit, I’m wearing sweats.”
I chuckle as she runs for her room, yelling, “Don’t look at me.”
Tristan laughs. “You always look beautiful.” Then he calls out, “Come back.”
“Not a chance in hell. I’ll be out in five minutes,” she shouts back.
I go to give Tristan a hug. “What’s with the surprise visit?”
“I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop by the campus.” His eyes keep darting to Hana’s closed door.
“So, you and Hana?” I ask, more nosy than anything else.
“Yeah,” he takes a deep breath, then asks, “How are things here?”
“Good,” I say then catching Hunter’s gaze on me, I correct myself, “Actually things are great.”
Hunter gives me a warm smile that has my insides doing cartwheels.
It’s because you’re happy that things are better between you.
Lies, all lies, but I’m not about to admit the truth to myself.
HUNTER
Getting my cardio session in on the treadmill, my eyes scan over the lower floor. Yeah, I’m secretly hoping Jade will start working out in the mornings again.
Just as I slow my pace to cool down, Jade walks into the gym. I watch her look around before she makes her way to the punching bags.
Stepping off the treadmill, I grab my towel and wipe over my face and behind my neck. Pulling my water bottle from the holder, I take a deep drink as I walk toward the stairs.
“Hey, Hunter,” some girl greets me on my way down. I just nod my head, my eyes on Jade. She’s pulling on a pair of gloves.
Today she’s wearing black and purple tight-fitting pants, with a matching top. I still don’t like the tight as fuck outfits, but it’s gym clothes, so I just have to deal.
Coming up behind her as she jabs at the bag, I can’t resist the urge and slap her ass.
“Oh, my God!” she snaps, and spinning around, her arm is already in swinging mode. My hand shoots up, and I block her punch inches from my face. When Jade’s eyes focus on me and recognition sets in, she begins to ramble, “Hunter! I’m so sorry. I thought you were some jerk looking for a beating. I didn’t mean to almost hit you.”