she will be loved -- ashton irwin

vii.

hunter felt as if she were going to vomit.

she and ashton skipped out early, as hunter told him she was getting tired and her parents would surely be upset if she arrived home too late. ashton, being the gentlemen he'd learned to be, agreed to take her home whenever she wanted.

hunter tried to remain calm on the ride home, but she couldn't dare think of anything but her father's reaction to the announcement.

her parents didn't realize she was out with ashton irwin, but she was sure that photographs of the two of them would make their way to the public, somehow. like her father said, everyone loves a scandal involving the precious youngest daughter of the jonathon sutton.

it wasn't even a big deal, but in a week, stories would surface about how hunter sutton was rebelling against her father and campaigning for anne marie irwin in the election. these would evolve into rumors about hunter moving out once she heard the news about her pregnancy, even though she and ashton did nothing but hold hands the entire night.

ashton pulled up in front of hunter's house, and hunter felt her heart racing. she could not bear to face her father.

"hunter?"

ashton's calming voice snapped her back into reality.

"what? i'm sorry."

"are you okay?"

she nodded and forced a smile. "of course. i had a really great time. thank you, ashton." she reached for the handle, but ashton laid a hand on her forearm gently to stop her.

"can i walk you to your door?"

hunter checked to make sure the foyer light was turned out before agreeing. she couldn't risk her parents seeing the two together right now.

ashton walked around and opened the door for her before resting his hand on the small of her back to lead her up her stairs.

"thank you, hunter, for a wonderful time. it probably wasn't the best date for you, but for me, i had a really good night."

"ashton, really, i had a lovely time."

"can i take you out again soon?"

hunter took her bottom lip between her teeth. she was almost afraid to say yes, but at the same time, she wanted nothing more than to be able to go out with ashton again. so, she nodded, without thinking much more about it. "yeah, i'd really like that."

ashton grinned. "good. i'll call you?"

again, she nodded.

ashton leaned in as if he were going to kiss her, but instead, he attached his lips softly to her cheek. "goodnight, hunter sutton."

she felt her cheeks get warm and she couldn't contain her smile. she turned her head slightly and did the same to ashton, leaving a small lipstick stain to his cheek. "goodnight."

she watched as ashton headed back to his car, a goofy smile on his face, before she opened her door and entered her house.

her father was sitting up in the den, his eyes glued to the television. the local news was on, and much to hunter's horror, images of anne marie irwin's announcement were flashing across the screen.

hunter stood around the corner, far enough so her more than likely still intoxicated father hopefully would not see her or hear if she made any noises, but still close enough so she could see the television.

clips of different people at the event were being played.

"irwin's eldest son, ashton, was also in attendence for his mother's announcement, but tonight, he had a plus one! we have these images of irwin's opponent's daughter, hunter sutton, walking side by side with the teen, holding hands. could this be the blossoming of a forbidden romance? is jonathon sutton's own daughter supporting someone else in this election? we will keep following this story as we get new information."

hunter heard the voice of the anchorwoman, and again, she felt sick to her stomach. she tried to turn around to run away and get to the safety of her room, but she was so lightheaded, that she nearly tripped. her heels clicked loudly against the wooden floor, snapping her father out of his daze.

"who is that?" jonathon got up from the couch, and when his eyes landed on his daughter, he clenched his fists tightly. "get up." he demanded.

"hi, daddy," hunter said sweetly as she attempted to stand. apparently, she was not moving fast enough, because jonathon took hold of her tiny forearm and jerked her to a standing position. she felt her eyes watering up, but she tried to supress her cries.

"what the hell did i just see on that television?" he slurred angrily.

"what are you talking about?"

jonathon squeezed his daughter's arm tighter, this time, bringing out whimpers she could not fight.

"don't play stupid with me, girl. i said what the hell did i just see?"

hunter bit her lip tightly to contain herself and choke back sobs. "it was just a date, daddy, i swear i didn't know his mom was running. i'm so sorry."

jonathon's open palm hit the cheek that ashton's lips had previously made feel so sweet and pure. "if you ever pull a stunt like that again and you ruin this election for me, there will be absolute hell to pay. do you understand me?"

"yes, sir."

jonathon pushed her out of his grip, into the wall behind her.

"go to bed."

"yes, sir," she said again. "goodnight, daddy."

jonathon ignored her as he went to pick up a half-empty bottle of whiskey from the coffee table. hunter took her shoes off of her feet and scurried up the staircase to her room. she collapsed on her bed, not even bothering to take off her dress.

***

this is getting depressing as shit but eventually it will get better maybe