Speak Now & Surprises [Hunter Hayes fanfic]

Chapter 57

My eyelashes fluttered open to the blemishes speckled across the skylight above mine and Hunter’s heads, only visible in the soft, dancing sunlight of this morning. My mind knotted itself in agony as I recalled the previous night’s events: the flash of the paparazzi cameras searing my corneas, causing my vision to turn double; the forceful, uniform typed letters headed on a hospital paper; black pixels menacingly lit up across a mobile phone screen, tormenting me even in my own home...

“I didn’t realise you were awake,” Hunter whispered softly from next to me, his lips grazing my ear, “Better get up before you dad finds us like this.”

He helped me wash and dress, neither of us broaching the subject of last night. It was as if time was standing still, not to be interrupted by the rush of fabric or the chink of metal as Hunter did up his belt, or the groan of the pipes or the trickle of the drain as the shower emptied the last dregs of water from its tray.

“I didn’t know we had a cake stand,” I frowned as I walked into the kitchen with Hunter, spotting the vintage ornament resting on the floating island, “Or that vase.” I pointed out the antique china vase that had miraculously appeared above the sink.

“That’s because we didn’t – until this morning,” Amelia slouched, spooning cereal into her mouth and nodding in Taylor’s direction – whose guilty look gave it all away.

“Well there was just so much opportunity for decorating, Shelby! I couldn’t pass it up.” She shrugged, grinning at me devilishly. I shook my head and veered over to the hob, frying up some bacon for Hunter.

“Samantha and Andrea are getting very chummy,” Hunter noted in a silly British accent, even attempting some slang as he traced the grain pattern on the work surface with his finger tips.

“I’ve noticed too,” I murmured back, glancing into the conservatory at the two of them relaxing on loungers and sipping on Yakult.

“Morning Loverboy and Darling,” Austin rolled himself into the kitchen, using our nicknames. Amelia snorted into her cereal, splashing milk all over the place. Hunter rolled his eyes at him, sleepily hitting the button on the instant coffee machine.

“Here, clear it up.” I eyed Amelia narrowly, throwing her a J-cloth. She had a nasty habit of leaving a trail of mess after herself, and I didn’t want to be reminded of life on the tour bus.

“Will do mom,” she waggled her eyebrows at me, deliberately trying to wind me up. I added more olive oil to the pan, waiting until it sizzled.

“So Shelby,” Amelia said my name out loud in a tone that made me sigh inside – she was out to annoy me today.

“Where was Hunter sleeping last night?” she raised her eyebrows, indicating her spoon in the direction of mom.

“You wouldn’t tell her.” I mouthed back, jumping forwards and smacking the spoon out of her hand, watching it clatter to the floor.

“Looks like we’ve got a badass over here, Amelia,” Austin stood behind her smirking, firmly crossing his arms. Half of my mind told me to ignore them and carry on making breakfast for Hunter, whereas the other half had something slightly more graphic. I chose to obey the first half.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t tell mom that Hunter was in your room last night?” Amelia continued to taunt, having picked up her spoon and rinsed it beneath the tap. All she wanted was one good reason? I was sure I could muster one.

“Because Grant mentioned that Austin didn’t appear to be in his bed this morning,” I spun around one hand on my hip, the other holding the frying pan – Amelia’s face looked as if I’d just whacked her with it.