Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98652 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“Did you buy extra parts in case you needed them?”
“Nope. Got a flathead screwdriver?”
“Sure.” I went to the junk drawer and pulled one out as Hunter emptied the contents of the other bag. Inside was a Baldwin lock and key set.
“Changing the lock on your front door while I’m at it, so that asshole can’t help himself inside while you’re in the shower one day.”
I’d never thought of that. But now that he’d said it, I was glad he was doing it, because I wouldn’t sleep tonight with that idea planted in my head.
“Wow. Yeah. Thank you. That’s great.”
* * *
“I should get going.” Hunter polished off the beer I’d given him after he’d finished fixing my sink and changing my door lock. Since Izzy had texted that she was going over to her friend’s after the boys’ basketball game, I didn’t have anything I needed to do for the rest of the afternoon or evening.
“Do you want to stay and watch a movie or something? I could make you a late dinner since we ate a late lunch?”
Hunter crossed to where I was standing to toss out the beer bottle, then brushed a lock of hair from my face. “I should go.”
His hand lingered on my cheek, his thumb stroking my skin as our eyes locked. God, I wanted him so badly I ached. I longed for his other hand to cup my face the way he had during the kisses we’d shared. It was so intimate, so passionate. But as always, fear kept me from telling him that or acting on my feelings.
Hunter saw it in my eyes and nodded with a sad smile. “I definitely should go.”
We walked to the door in silence. When he opened it, a sense of panic washed over me. “You’re going to Mom’s for dinner tomorrow night, right? She invited you?”
“She did. But I’m going to tell her I can’t make it. You should take your date, instead.”
My date. I had zero desire to take Marcus to Mom’s. In fact, I had zero desire for Marcus. Unlike the man who stood in front of me.
“Will I see you again?”
“I’m here for two months. If you need anything, give me a call. Plus, I’ll check in on how Izzy’s stats improve.” He held out his hand for the first time, instead of kissing me like he’d done every other time we’d said goodbye. “I won’t push anymore. How about friends, not fucking?”
“I guess my indecision became my decision, huh?”
“As much as I would’ve loved for it to go the other way, I’d never push you to do something you weren’t comfortable with. Your eyes said it all.”
I nodded. “I’m sorry. I just don’t think I’m ready to get hurt again. I like you too much, and I’m afraid I might not be able to keep things to just sex.”
Hunter smiled sadly. “Friends, not fucking it is.”
It wasn’t exactly as enticing as sex, not love, but it was what I could handle right now. I finally put my hand in his. “Friends, not fucking.”
Chapter 17
— Natalia —
“You really look incredible. I can’t keep my eyes off of you. My buddy is going to be insulted that I’m not looking at his paintings.”
I’d gone all out getting ready for my date with Marcus. After a night of feeling melancholy after Hunter left, I decided maybe if I made myself look good, I might feel better about my date. Unfortunately, it wasn’t working.
“Thank you.” I forced a smile.
Marcus and I moved to the next piece of art, and my first genuine smile of the day appeared. His friend was a talented painter. Most of his pieces were surrealist, with the focus on one exaggerated object that he’d pulled from a classic movie. The box for the movie that inspired each painting sat on a shelf underneath each work. This particular painting was from the cult horror film The Birds. The movie box had a swarm of birds flying around the head of a terrified woman. But the painting showed a swarm of birdhouses that were falling apart with bent nails hanging out all over, and instead of a woman looking terrified, there was a scared man with nail scratches all over his face.
“I have a friend who would get a kick out of this one. Do you think the artist would mind if I snapped a picture?”
“No, not at all. There’s a sign near the door that says the artist appreciates sharing, but not reproductions.”
I dug my cell from my purse and took a few pictures, intending to send them to Hunter later. I hadn’t realized I’d been smiling the entire time until Marcus brought me back to reality.
“Your smile is contagious. What does that one remind you of?”
“My friend H…” I stopped short of saying Hunter’s name in the nick of time, remembering that Marcus had pointed out my talking about him the last two times we were together. “… my friend had a bad experience with a birdhouse,” I said instead.