Before You

Chapter Eighteen.

Sneaking out again had been easy.

Well, easy to do, not so much easy on my conscience though. I couldn't even look at Jessica asleep on my couch as I'd passed by, opening the door as quietly as possible before running for my car and hitting the highway.

The drive was easy. I didn't even have to think about what I was doing, the turns coming mechanically. When Hunter had called I didn't want to admit to myself how badly I was hoping that he'd want to see me sooner than next week. As I drove I had let myself think about it, and I know I do need to tell Jes that Hunter and I are friends. I don't want to let a guy drive a wedge between us, but all I can do it pray that she'll be understanding about it. He and I really haven't done anything wrong...Well, other than sneak around behind her back, but it has always been innocent. I settled to make a deal with myself. When I parked my car I sent her a message, hoping that it wouldn't wake her up, but I didn't want to chicken out either.

Jess: Hey girl, let's do breakfast in the morning, just the two of us. I need to talk to you about something.

After I'd hit send, I felt like a weight was lifted a little. Tomorrow I will lay it all out for her, one hundred percent honesty, and I'll let the chips fall where they may. I know she'll probably be pissed at first, but I truly hope she'll get over it fast and see that I wasn't trying to hurt her.

I left my phone in the car and walked over to the breezeway, finding Hunter still sitting outside on the stairs.

"Damn, Kit." He laughed, standing and pulling me into a quick hug. "You got here fast."

"Did I?" I asked, honestly unsure. "I guess I kind of did just leave after you called." I shrugged.

A lazy smile spilt into his cheeks. "Excited to see me, huh?"

I elbowed him in the side as I past. "You wish."

He hung back for a second before jogging over to open the door for me. "Prepare yourself for the crazy." He sighed.

I could already here the commotion on the other side of the door before he even opened it. I stepped into his apartment and nearly rammed into someone after taking two steps. It was hot, and loud. There were at least twenty people slam packed into the living room and the kitchen was a mess of beer cans and plastic cups.

"Oh hey, Tayler." I heard a high pitched voice call from the other side of the room and Hunter led me through the crowd, holding my hand to tug me behind him in the path that cleared for him. I wanted to groan when I saw Chloe and Micha sitting in the recliner together. Her fake smile was so convincing it even threw me off a little until I replayed the things she'd said to me the other night in my head. "Good to see you again." She lied.

"You too." I called over the blaring heavy metal music. I absently thought that they must have some kind of agreement with their neighbors for them to be having a party like this. "Hey, Micha." I greeted him too.

He raised a glass to me. "What happened to the two of you the other night?" He asked.

I felt Hunter tense beside me and that's when I realized he hadn't let go of my hand, his fingers still intertwined with mine. I looked up at caught Chloe eying it too. I slowly slid my hand away and tucked it into the pocket on the front of my hoodie.

Hunter didn't seem fazed by it. "Man, I think I had a bad hotdog or something. I felt sick." Hunter's lie was smooth, he was clearly practiced at coming up with believable excuses. "Kit drove me home."

"Really?" Chloe asked, raising one perfect eyebrow. "We came by here after dinner to check on you but Josh said you weren't in." She called his bluff. "You two must have snuck off for some alone time." She laughed like a teasing friend, not a jealous bitch like I'm pretty sure she is. "Did you finally get yourself a girlfriend?" She asked, staring up at Hunter.