The Secrets That Free Us

Chapter 16

I don't know who's more in shock right now. Hunter because I'm here or me because I'm here, and he's shirtless and I might still be pissed at him but good lord he is hot.

"Grace? What are you doing here?" Clearly he doesn't care that he's basically naked, just the fact that I'm here.

"Oh my god I'm sorry, your Mom said I could come up" I squeak out and force myself to hold my hand over my eyes, even though I don't want to.

Hunter knows the effect he's having on me judging by the way he's just standing there, leaning against his door frame, naked except a towel, smirking like the bell-end he is.

"Why you being weird? You've seen more of me than this" he points out, amusement clear in his face.

I can feel the blush tinting my cheeks, "Just put some clothes on, please" I choke out. The air in the room feels very thick and it's very warm. Although that could be my flaming embarrassment.

He shakes his head and walks over to his chest of drawers while I'm still peaking through my fingers. He pulls out a pair of black basketball ball shorts.

I turn away as he drops his towel and hear him laugh at my reaction. "You can turn around now" he says.

"Are you decent?" I ask, my back still turned.

"Not even a little bit. But I am clothed."

I turn back around and though he's telling the truth, his shorts hanging loosely from his waist aren't helping clear the fog in my mind. I can see where his defined abs trail into a V and disappear into the waistband. The slight trail of dark hair from underneath his bellybutton does the same thing.

"Hellooo, earth to Gracie" Hunter dramatically yells. "Not that I mind you ogling me, seriously knock yourself out I don't mind, I mean I don't blame you" I roll my eyes and his playful look drops into a one of sincerity and concern, "seriously though, are you okay?" He asks me grabbing both of my wrists in his hands and looking me in the eyes.

The soft gesture and intensity of his gaze has me squirming but I can't bring myself to look away or tell him to get off of me. His touch makes my skin feel like it's flaming beneath his fingertips and I'm not ready for that feeling to end yet.

I remember he asked me a question and shake my head, "Yeah um, I'm fine. Just hiding I guess."

He looks at me skeptically with a raised brow but doesn't push it any further.

"Okay then." He doesn't say anything else as he pulls some extra blankets out from his wardrobe and throws them on his bed. He hands me the TV remote and leaves the room like the man of not-so many words that he is.

I plan to make myself comfortable on Hunter's bed, I mean I used to stay here all the time and if he wanted me to go he would have said so right? But what if he's just being polite. Maybe I should just go home. But then again Hunter doesn't exactly beat around the bush, I'm sure if he wanted me to go he would just come out and say it. But then he is trying to be nice to me so what if he just doesn't want to be rude?

Fuck me, it's exhausting being inside my head.

I'm sitting on the end of Hunter's bed, still arguing with myself when he comes back into his room with a big bowl of popcorn and two bottles of Dr. Pepper.

He gives me a scrunched brow look as he walks around the other side of his bed to where I'm uncomfortably perched. "Are you going to sit on the end of the bed all night you nerd?" He asks and throws a piece of popcorn at my head. Ass.

"I can go if you want, I mean if you have plans or-" I begin and he throws another piece of popcorn at my head. "Shut up and pick a movie or we're watching something of my choosing and I really had my heart set on either Star Whores or Lord of the G-strings tonight" he tells me a serious look on his face.

I scrunch my nose up in disgust, "You're gross" He just shrugs and I let out a laugh, "Star whores, really?"

He joins in laughing with me, "Hey, I didn't name them, I'm way more original than that. I would come up with something good like, sperminator or something."

That makes me laugh even harder and Hunter joins in. I love the way he laughs, his full smile instead of his usual smirk, the way his eyes crinkle slightly at the corners the way his whole face lights up. And I love more the fact that every time I've seen him laughing it's always been with me. I don't get the scowls or the "fuck offs" that everyone else gets from him, and I've always loved that.

I scroll through Netflix for a while and stop when I notice his continued watching list, "You watch Desperate Housewives?" I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.

I see a very slight shade of pink lightly shade his cheeks he clears his throat, "Hey, don't judge me. There's always mad drama going on in Westira Lane" I shake my head and turn back to the TV, "Plus, have you seen Eva Longoria's ass" he lets out a low whistle and I let out a laugh, that's the Hunter I know and love. Well, not love-love but still.

We settle on watching the Big Bang Theory since it's funny, easy to watch and everything else I suggested Hunter had no interest in the characters. Mainly because they didn't have a rack like his beloved housewives.

Hunter passes me one of the blankets he got out of the cupboard and we take it in turns picking at the popcorn and occasionally throwing pieces off of each other.