𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉

[Chapter 26] No Words

When I wake up the next morning, I feel drained. Lake left shortly after the movie ended. He didn't seem upset but it was definitely awkward after our little...make out session.
Speaking of...
I can't keep my jaw from dropping when I finally look in the bathroom mirror.
I don't cuss. But shit.
I'm screwed.
I tilt my head back to view the full extent of Lake's doings last night and groan as I examine the intense level of bruising covering my neck.
"No, no, no..." I mutter, clapping a hand against my forehead and trying to think. No way this happening to me and I have school tomorrow.
It's fine, you have time—you'll go to the store, you'll get makeup—no one will ever know.
I lean forward to get a better look and huff in irritation at the discoloration on my lower lip as well.
"I can't believe this." I run my hands through my hair, trying to collect myself. "I can't—"
"Kellyyy!"
My eyes widen in the mirror as I recognize Hunter's voice.
No. Way.
No way this is freaking happening to me right now.
I don't answer, hoping he'll think maybe I'm not home.
"I know you're here. Your car is still in the driveway."
His tone sounds irritated but thankfully far enough away, I decide to make a break for my bedroom.
What does even he want? Of course he would only show up wanting to see me at the worst possible time.
Once I shut and lock the door behind me, I frantically search for a solution.
It comes to me in the form of a balled up hoodie abandoned in the corner of my bedroom.
Is it clean? I don't know. Is it mine? I also don't know.
My guess is it was left behind at the party and the cleaners missed it.
"Couldn't have just been my jacket," I grumble as I turn it right side out and roll my eyes at the Westwood High logo.
Oh awesome.
This isn't suspicious at all.
Even so, I pull it over my head—making sure to leave the hood up in order to keep my hair in place, disguising my neck.
I also make a mental note to keep my chin turned downwards some without hopefully making it obvious.
Oh well.
Hopefully this works.
I open my bedroom door with a heavy sigh before I tentatively walk down the staircase.
Voices reach my ears and I raise a curious eyebrow, knowing Mom left for Portland last night.
Who the—
My thoughts come to a screeching halt as I reach the living room and I see Trey sitting on one of the arm chairs, hands casually clasped around her crossed legs.
Hunter is standing, talking to her with his back towards me before turning around to face me, revealing a teeny, tiny little baby in his arms.
"OH MY GOSH!" My hands fly to my mouth as I take a few more rushed steps forward. "Stop, you're lying. Is this him?!"
A little hand flies up to playfully swat the air and I feel my heart swell, just watching.
"Kel, this is Kaiden."
The one word I can use to describe Hunter's entire aura right now is proud.
He's smiling, genuinely smiling and all I can do is stare, baby to brother, back and forth.
Hunter, my older brother. My delinquent brother is in fact a father.
"Well, do you want to hold him or not?"
"Can I?" I gasp and Hunter rolls his eyes. "Here."
He offers Kaiden out to me and my lower lip pouts, seeing his little pajama footed feet dangling.
I hesitantly take him, unsure how to even really hold a baby and Hunter surprisingly assists before kissing the top of Kaiden's head and backing away.
"I was not expecting this—hi!" I coo to the baby in my arms and he babbles up at me around his  little fist he's currently gnawing on.
"Yeah...thought I'd surprise you. I was gonna call but I figured after last night you'd probably sleep over here."
I freeze at the mention of last night, keeping my gaze glued to the adorable button nose of my nephew.
Don't incriminate yourself, Kelly.
Remembering what all transpired between me and Mom, I slowly nod with a hesitant glance up. "Yeah...totally..."
Hunter creases his eyebrows. "Why are you being fucking weird?"
I scramble to defend myself as I gently bounce Kaiden in my arms. "Um, maybe because I'm holding your secret son?"
I'm given a mocking echo and a flat look in return but I hear Trey laugh from behind Hunter.
Hunter rolls his eyes before turning and gesturing towards Trey. "Oh yeah, this is Trey, by the way. Trey, you remember Kelly, right?"
"Yeah, a little bit." She tosses up a wave and and I do the the same as well as I can without dropping her child.
"Anyway, I just thought you might want to meet the kid." Hunter shrugs his shoulders as if it's no big deal and I scoff. "Might? This is the best day of my life."
"Cringe. Also why are you wearing your hood up like that? You're so weird." He flips it off my head—I guess to be funny but as soon as it's gone, I know it's not funny anymore.
Trey gasps even before Hunter has a reaction and I scramble to pull the hood back on, knowing it's already too late.