“Yeah, you could say that.”
“Well then, what's the problem?” she said as the waitress came to take our order.
We paused the conversation. I ordered nachos with extra guac, and Tawny went for the steak quesadillas. I tried to think about my answer to Tawny's question.
“You know what the problem is.”
“Kid, that was so long ago. I got over it.”
“You never get over something like that,” I said softly.
“No, you're right, you don't. But you learn to live with it. Like a scar. You need to stop hating everyone.”
“I don't hate everyone,” I said.
“Close, Tay, close.”
I changed the subject, and Tawny let me. We didn't come back to Hunter until we were sharing our fried ice cream, which was ice cream covered in a crunchy topping, with honey drizzled on one side and chocolate on the other. I had the chocolate side.
“What's the worst that could happen?”
“You know what the worst is,” I said.
“You can't let one bad apple ruin the whole barrel. There were a lot of signs that I chose to ignore. Does Hunter make you feel unsafe? Is he controlling?”
“No,” I said. Hunter had never made me feel like he was going to hurt me physically. Kiss me, yes. But those were two different kinds of fear.
“You know the signs. You know the red flags. Have you seen any of them?”
“No.”
“Then why not stop being so hostile?”
“He likes me hostile, I think.”
“Okay, I've gotta meet this guy. I also want to see your new place.”
I hadn't planned on taking Tawny to the apartment. In fact, it hadn't even occurred to me to do so.
“I guess. I can't promise he's going to be there.”
“Text him. I didn't come all the way up here from Belfast and bring your clothes to not see this guy.”
I sighed and pulled out my phone.
U home?
Maybe. Y?
Bringing my sister by.
If she looks like you, she's welcome.
And if not?
I'll vacate the premises.
U ass.
He didn't answer, so I shut my phone.
“He said he'll be there as long as I said you looked like me.”
She laughed.
“Yeah, that guy totally wants you, Kid.”
“He's just pushing my buttons.”
“That's not all he wants to push,” she said, pointing her fork at me. Ugh. Maybe Hunter and Tawny would get along. That would be the worst.
We left Tawny's car downtown and took mine back to campus.
“Stop freaking out.”
“I'm not freaking out,” I snapped.
I was freaking out and I couldn't exactly say why. Maybe it was because Tawny's was the opinion I trusted the most. I trusted her judgment more than my own. If she didn't like Hunter, really didn't like him, that was it.
“Aw, this is so cute,” she said when I opened the door. “Not nearly as scuzzy as I was expecting.”
I glanced around, but didn't see Hunter. Guess he'd decided not to be home after all. I heaved a sigh of relief, and then the bathroom door opened and he emerged in a cloud of steam wearing only a small towel around his hips.
He saw us and his face spread into a grin.
“Hello there, you must be Tawny. I'm glad I stuck around. I figured if you shared the same genes you would be just as hot.”
I glanced at Tawny to see her reaction.
“And you must be Hunter,” Tawny said, her eyes raking him up and down. I had a hard time not doing the same thing, even though I'd seen him shirtless before. “Yup, you were right,” she said to me.
“Right about what?” Hunter said, shifting the towel so it didn't fall. Sweet Christ.
“You think?” I said. It was fun having a secret that Hunter didn't know. How do you like me now?
“Yup,” she said, walking closer to Hunter and slowly circling him and taking him in. “Just as you said.”
I nodded.
“Red flags?” I asked.
“Not yet,” she said, making another circle. In all fairness, Hunter stood still and let her assess him.
“You look like you're enjoying yourself,” I said, because he did.
“I have two beautiful women undressing me with their eyes. What's not to enjoy?”
Tawny tipped her head to the side and squinted. I saw his eyes flick down to her forearm, which was covered in a peacock feather tattoo she’d gotten as soon as she turned eighteen.
“So, what are you intentions toward my sister?”
Hunter's met her eyes without blinking.
“Well, at first I wanted her for the best one-night-stand of my life.”
“And now?”
“I don't just want her for a one-night-stand,” he said, his eyes lasering into me. My skin went cold and then hot in waves.
“Are you aware that I am in the position to grab your dick and break it off if I wanted to?”
“Very aware,” he said, tearing his eyes away from me. Was it getting hot in here? I needed to open the window.
“Good,” she said, patting him on the shoulder and sitting on the couch and grabbing the remote. “Why don't you put some clothes on before you and my sister eye f**k each other to death?”
Hunter laughed and shook his head.
“You're not single, are you?” he said.
“In your dreams, towel boy. Run along and put some clothes on,” she said, motioning with her hands.
“Yes, ma’am.” He winked at me before shutting our bedroom door. It must have been my imagination that I heard a hint of a southern accent when he said it.
“Well?” I said.
Tawny grabbed the remote and clicked the television on.
“He's one of those guys. But there's something about him I like. I can't really put my finger on it. If I was a few years younger, I would have totally gone for him.”
“Really?”
“Hell, yeah. What girl doesn't want a guy who isn't ashamed to say he wants her? Everyone wants to be wanted.” I sat down next to her, and she put her arm around me. “Just be careful. A boy like that can be the greatest thing to happen to you, or the worst.”
“What do you think Hunter will be?”
“That's up to you. You've got him totally whipped already. Despite what he says, if you told him to jump off a bridge, he'd do it.”
“Yeah, right.” I put my head on her shoulder and pulled my feet up on the couch.
“Just wait, Kid.” Tawny didn't mess around and she called things like she saw them. But I couldn't believe that about Hunter. To him, I was just another conquest. A shiny toy that was out of reach. While he didn't know I was a virgin, I was sure he suspected. Guys like that had virgin radar.
“Just wrap it before you tap it, Kid.”
“Tap what?” Hunter came around the corner wearing a Radiohead t-shirt and black workout pants. Even that made me stare at him. He was really good-looking. How had I not seen that? He really did have a fabulous jawline. He’d shaved, but I preferred the non-shaved look on him.
“Wouldn't you like to know?” Tawny said, grinning at him.
“I think I do,” he said, taking the crappy chair because Tawny and I had taken over the couch.
“God, it's hot in here,” she said, fanning herself.
“You want some water?” I said.
“I'll get it,” Hunter said, before I could get up.
“With ice,” Tawny called as Hunter went to the kitchen. What the what?
“Told you so,” she whispered in my ear.
“You're crazy.”
“No, I'm right,” she said as Hunter came back with a sweating glass, complete with ice.
“Thank you, towel boy. Now fetch me a piece of cheesecake.” I nudged her with my shoulder. “So, what's your story? Did you win the room assignment lottery?”
“Looks like it. I was supposed to live with my cousin, but that fell through. I contacted housing, and they sent me an email and I showed up. Your sister answered the door and that was it.”
“I also heard she punched you in the face.”
He rubbed his jaw, which was now bruise-free.
“And kicked me in the balls, yes.” Hunter looked down and smiled, as if it was a fond memory.
“What did you do to deserve that?”
I was staying quiet through Tawny's interrogation. I wanted to watch Hunter flounder under her scrutiny.
“I may or may not have offered her a proposition,” he said.
“I heard, and that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, that my sister would agree to something like that. And YOU,” she said, pointing at Hunter, “you are an ass, plain and simple.”
“I am aware of that fact,” he said, calmly. “I thought it would give her a way out.”
“Yeah, but only when you decide. That's an a**hole move, and you know it. How dare you take advantage of my sweet baby sister.”
“Tawny,” I said. “I think I can take care of myself.” This had been a bad idea. I’d thought she’d simmered down about the bet, but apparently not.
“No, don't you do that thing. I'm your sister and I get to be pissed if someone is taking advantage of you.”
“He's not taking advantage of me.” Hunter sat back and watched, but I could tell he was taking everything in. “Maybe he is, but I'm not unaware, and he knows that if he does anything I don't like, I'll punch him again. I'm not a damsel in distress. I'm not a baby, and you can't fight my battles for me.” I stopped talking, embarrassed that Hunter had seen that.
“She takes good care of herself,” he said.
“Don't you dare tell me about my sister. You've known her for five seconds. You probably don't even know her middle name.”
“Elizabeth,” he said. How did he know that? I couldn't recall ever telling him. “It was listed on your Mainecard. You left it on the table one day.”
“Oh,” I said. That was way less creepy than I thought it would be.
“Prove to me that I can trust you with her. I'm not leaving until you do.” Tawny pulled me closer and angled her body so she was in front of me. Oh, please. Now it was going to turn into a pissing contest.
Hunter stood up.
“Hit me,” he said, looking at me.
“What?” I said.
“Go ahead, hit me. I know you want to. You always want to hit me, so get it out of your system. It’s been almost a week since the last time.”
“I'm not going to hit you.” Given other circumstances, I'd love to, but I didn't want to do it just because he told me to.
“Come on, Missy. Go ahead,” he said, putting his hands behind his back and looking at the ceiling.
I glanced at Tawny, who was studying Hunter.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Give him a good one.”
Tawny tried to pull me upright. What the hell was she doing?
“I am not going to hit him just for the hell of it. You're both crazy.”
“Why not?” Tawny said. Hunter started whistling the Jeopardy tune. That was it; they were both psychotic.
“Yeah, I'm going to go the bathroom. Don't kill each other until I get back.”
I got up and blew past them, not breathing until I'd shut the bathroom door and locked it. It was still filled with steam from Hunter's shower.