Living with the Bad Boy

Let Me Give You An Idea

I’ve been avoiding Hunter like the plague. We haven’t seen each other face-to-face in five whole days, and that’s a pretty hard thing to do, considering we live in the same apartment.

It’s an effort coming from both ends. He’s avoiding me, too, I can tell.

It kind of hurts to know that. No, not kind of. It does hurt. A lot. I know it must hurt him, too, to know that I don’t want to see him. Because, why else would he not want to see me?

I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I used to be tough, a girl that you’d never see cry. Especially not over a stupid boy.

But I’m wrong there. Hunter is definitely not a boy. He is a grown man. He can take care of himself. He’s been doing it before I moved in and screwed everything up for him.

And I have cried. It’s stupid, I know. But I’m over it now. I sucked my feelings up and got my stuff together, and said screw him. Screw him for making me cry. He doesn’t know what he’s missing.

When I hear keys shuffling from outside, my head snaps up and I stare at the door knob, frozen in shock. He’s not supposed to be home for another four hours. Why the hell is he so early?

I’m dangerously alert now. My heart pounds as I bolt from the couch and sprint to my room.

I slam the door the same time he does and lean against it, huffing a breath of air.

My body slides against the door and I lean against it, sitting on the cold floor. Listening for anything that’ll give away exactly what he’s doing, I have no luck, and all I hear if muffled shuffling.

Heavy footsteps make their way across the apartment. But what I wasn’t expecting, were for them to stop at my door. My eyes widen.

Oh, shit.

I hear absolutely no movement. Is he really right outside? There’s no sound, it’s completely silent, and I’m panicking. I wasn’t ready for this at all. I thought he didn’t want to see me. I squint my eyes and press my ear harder against the door.

Three sharp knocks startle me. I flinch and jump away from the door.

“Haiden?” There is the voice I’ve been missing.

Sweet mother, it is him.

Should I ignore it? Maybe I should. I’m asleep.

No, stop it! Man up, Haiden.

I silently clear my throat before speaking. “Yeah?” My voice betrays me, coming out shakily instead. I clench my eyes shut and hold my breath.

“Um… I know you probably don’t want to see me right now, but I really want to talk to you. Is that okay?” His tone is hopeful, like he actually means it. I can’t help it, I grin.