Tangled Up Like Night and Day

Chapter 13: Oh My My My

Author's Note: Oop, just two chapters left after this one pals! But I already have been brainstorming for another book with Hunter so lmao. Thanks for reading! I can't believe this story has been at #1 for so long, I really appreciate it!!

My mother avoided the subject of Hunter the next couple days. After a lot of self reflection, I finally decided to bring it up over dinner. I quickly refreshed her on my most recent conversation with him, watching her reaction closely. She didn't seem to react at all. "So..." I sighed. "I guess I'm just stuck. I don't know what I want besides to not hurt him."

She paused, taking a bite of food, chewing thoughtfully. "You've certainly found yourself in a big mess. But I think what's hurting both of you more than anything is being apart. You two have never been able to handle that kinda thing."

I looked back at her, confusion apparent on my face. "What do you mean?"

She rolled her eyes playfully, smiling. "You two have always been attached at the hip. When you were little, you used to tell family that you were going to marry Hunter someday. Then every time you'd play house with him, you'd have your own little wedding ceremony and it was just the cutest."

I blinked back in surprise, almost dropping my fork. "What? I don't remember any of that."

"You guys were pretty little," she laughed. "But even when you kids got older, in junior high and high school, if one of you got a boyfriend or girlfriend, the other would be depressed. The Hayes' and I always thought the two of you loved each other more than you thought. More than just friends."

I paused, mind racing at her words. Was I just oblivious? How could this have been happening for years and neither of us had noticed, or acted on it? "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

Another eye roll. "You never would've listened. Besides, both of you were so awkward in high school. You would've turned redder than crawfish. By the time you graduated, I thought maybe you moved past it, that we had been wrong, but...maybe we were right all along. And maybe this is the push you two finally needed."

I sat back in my chair, dumbstruck as I tried to process this. As surprised as I was, it almost made everything make sense. My break up with Trevor never felt like a real loss, no break up had. All they really did was drive me back to Hunter. Everything that had gone down the last few weeks hurt more than any break up. And it had always been like that. Every fight with Hunter, no matter how big or small, was more crushing than any rejection or romantic heartache.

I had always been in love with Hunter. My mother had made it seem like he felt the same way, but I couldn't say for sure. I still felt she was biased towards me, but maybe she was right. And maybe it was time to act on it, after all this time and tension. "I...I need to go. I need to see him."

I quickly scarfed down a few bites of food, kissing my mom on the cheek and grabbing the rest of my things before rushing out of the house. I had an agonizingly long drive ahead of me.

***

By the time I got back to Hunter's, I was antsy and eager to see him. My cat started meowing loudly before I could even approach the door, alerting the whole neighborhood of my presence. Hunter came rushing out to see me, and I gently set the cat carrier down as he wrapped me tightly in his arms. For once, I felt light, happily returning his embrace. We stood there like that for a moment, the only sound being my cat screaming to be let out. We both laughed before heading inside with her in tow.

Once the cat was free, we sat down in the living room, neither of us knowing what to say. Taking a deep breath, I finally found the words. "Listen, I dunno what exactly your mom said, but I'm going to tell you what mine said...she seems to think you and I have never been totally honest with each other. That what's been going on has been brewing since we were kids..." another deep breath. "And I think I agree with her."

He seemed to blink back in surprise, with a touch of confusion. "And that means...what, exactly?"

My heart began to beat faster in my chest. I felt like this was the make or break for us, that if I said this wrong, everything would crumble even further. Even after realizing my own feelings, I still wasn't sure of his own, though I used to be able to say I knew what he was thinking at any given moment. But what did I have to lose? "Apparently we've always acted like...more than what we are. Like a couple. And my mom helped me realize that I have always loved you," I swallowed hard, my hands shaking furiously in my lap. "Been in love with you. So whatever we are right now, friends with benefits or whatever you want to call it, I can't do it anymore. I'm not sure exactly what you want, but...I want you around. Forever and always. But we need to define it, clearly, as soon as possible. For both of us."

He listened carefully, his expression not betraying any of his emotions. It made me more nervous. When he could tell I was finished speaking, he seemed to let out a breath, as if he had been holding it. "Genevieve, I..." He reached for me, gently taking one of my hands in his own with a small smile. "I always kinda knew I liked you, I guess. I mean, when your best friend is a pretty girl, how can you not?" he laughed a bit awkwardly, his thumb brushing my skin softly. "But that's why I wanted to practice kissing when we were kids. I wasn't worried about getting the experience so much, just wanted to kiss you. And even though there's been other relationships for both of us in between...you were always the one I came back to. You said the other day that I felt like home and you are my home. Always have been."

I could feel tears prick at my eyes again, but happy ones for once. I pulled him into a hug, my arms wrapping around him as tightly as I could without hurting him. He buried his head in my shoulder, fingers gently rubbing my back through my shirt. We stayed silent for a minute, just relieved to be together and happy again, before I reluctantly pulled away. I entwined my fingers behind his head, looking back at him with a grin. "So...what does this mean for us?"

"Well," he began, smiling as he gently brushed a strand of hair out of my face. "How about I take you on a date? Then you can decide if you can actually stand to date me."

"Oh shut up," I rolled my eyes, playfully slapping his arm. "You think that after over a quarter of a century of knowing you, I can't stand you? I guess you're not wrong."

He gaped at me, pretending to be offended. "I should've let you stay at your mom's," he quickly broke into another grin, unable to stay serious for long. "So...do you want to? Go on a date with me, that is?"

I laughed, kissing the tip of his nose. "I would love to go on a date with you, Hunter Hayes."

I was slightly anxious about entering such uncharted territory with my best friend. After all, if things went wrong, I could lose him forever. Yet, I mostly felt joy, like we had finally caught up to each other. I almost felt...complete. Like some part of me had been missing all this time and I had just now found it. It was a sense of peace I never wanted to lose.