Dare Me Forever (2 page)

I hadn’t been to his
place since a few months before we’d broken up. I hated to think of
that time. I wondered if the house would look the same, if it would
bring me back to what my life was like before everything changed,
again. I shook the thoughts from my mind. Hunter cleared his throat,
averting my gaze as he added, “And bring whoever you want, of
course.”

The cashier rang up my
purchases. I grabbed my bags, putting them back into the cart.
“Tomorrow, right,” I said, even though there was no way in hell I
would go to Hunter Morgan’s house. I could barely talk to him for
five minutes in the market, without being totally overwhelmed by a
million different emotions. Summoning all my strength and trying to
sound cool, I said “Really great to see you again Hunter.” I
hurried out the automatic doors to my old VW Bug.

As I was pulling out of
the parking lot, my phone rang. Jamie. I pushed speaker. The cops are
notorious for ticketing anyone and everyone they find holding their
cell phone while driving, especially on the busier streets of Solana
Beach.

“Hey Ames, want to go
out tonight?” Jamie asked in a singsong voice. She was always up
for a party, and was expressly against my carbo load, especially
since she thought this new period without so much responsibility was
the beginning of good things for me. She was right—it was time for
me to get a little wild. I didn’t want to admit it though…well
not just yet.

“Jamie, I just ran
into Hunter. Morgan. From high school.” I could hear how excited my
voice sounded. I hated that. I sounded like a teenager who’d ran
into a rock star.

“I know who Hunter
is, Amy. Where are you?”

“Sitting in my car
leaving the Ralph’s parking lot, wearing sweatpants and a running
shirt.”

“Not the green one,”
Jamie groaned, “the I’m-super-upset-and-only-wash-it-once-a-month,
gross tee?”

I made a left turn
towards home. “Whatever. Not like he was checking me out anyway.
Although he did invite me to a barbeque tomorrow afternoon. Not that
I’m going.”

“Well, good. Cause I
can’t wait to come with you,” she squealed, clearly ignoring what
I’d just said. “They always had the best barbeques. Remember how
we used to go in high school? Hey maybe there will be some cute guys
there. I’m sick of all the men we know.” Jamie took a breath.
“Um, Amy, hello? Are you still there?”

I bit my lip. If I
admitted to Jamie that seeing Hunter again had made thrilled me and
turned me into a total girly girl, she would never stop teasing me.
And I deserved it. He’d been a total tool and I shouldn’t feel
anything towards him. But I wasn’t gonna go to the party. I’d
probably just devolve into a puddle of hormones, or get really angry
at how he’d ended things.

“I can’t go. I have
too much work to do at the store,” I said convincingly. Or so I
thought.

“Whatever Amy. You
still have to eat. We’re going. See you tomorrow afternoon. I’ll
swing by and pick you up.”

“We’ll see,” I
whispered. But Jamie had already hung up as I pulled into my
driveway. I lived in the same cute house I’d grown up in, but now I
had it all to myself. The fruit trees that we had since I was little
bore delicious tangerines and apples and I’d added a flower garden
down the path leading from the front door, and a small vegetable
garden to the side yard. I loved the house, but I didn’t love
living alone.

My little brother was
growing up, and had just moved into the dorms with some friends from
school. I was happy for him, but a little hesitant about this new
part of my life. I’d never lived alone. After our father died and
our mother left because she needed to “find herself” (her words,
not mine), I’d had no time really to think of myself. I just wanted
to make a home for Luke. I wanted him to have all the stability I
lacked in my childhood. So I’d gone to college nearby, worked all
year at a cute boutique on the local shopping street, and made sure
that we had at least one meal a day together, usually dinner.

I unlocked the front
door and put my purse down on the small table next to it. I’d miss
spending time with Luke and, if I was really honest with myself, I’d
miss the responsibility of taking care of someone else. At least then
I didn’t have to think about what I wanted. I didn’t have the
time.

Speak of the devil. I
heard a car drive up and saw Luke’s Pontiac at the curb. Only a
week, but he missed me too…or missed a home-cooked dinner. When
things had been good at our house, before we lost both parents, the
four of us had eaten together every night. Luke and I had missed that
after Dad died and Mom stopped trying. Finally one day I realized
Luke and I could still have that, and I started really learning how
to cook. Good thing too, as my mom left us soon after.

Perfect timing, Luke
would totally take my mind off of my run-in with Hunter. It had been
a week of indulging myself in frozen foods and self-pity—tonight
I’d make us both a hearty dinner and catch up on his life.

I was so happy he was
getting a chance to be eighteen and really live it up. I wanted
details.

Amy

“Don’t make me do
it.” I gripped the door handle hard. Lines of cars parked along the
street in front of Hunter’s parent’s house. We’d finally found
a spot down a small side street. But after circling the block too
many times to count, I still wasn’t ready to leave the safety of
Jamie’s car.

Jamie finished braiding
her long blond hair, swiping her bangs behind one ear. “Ames, we’re
going,” she got out of the car, pulling her vintage floral dress
down, smoothing the hip hugging fabric. She smacked her lips
together. “You look amazing, and Hunter won’t know what hit him.”

I took a deep breath,
gathering my purse from the floor of the car and smiled. “Hunter?
Who’s Hunter?” I asked, tilting my face sideways.

Walking up the rose
lined front steps, I couldn’t help but be transported back in time
to high school. Hunter had always thrown the best parties. His
parents loved having lots of people always running around, stopping
by. They always made me feel welcome, and especially given my home
life, it really mattered to have good people and a healthy family in
my life, even if only for the almost two years Hunter and I were
together.
Well, here goes nothing,
I thought, quickly ringing
the doorbell before I lost the nerve. I hoped it wouldn’t be
awkward with Hunter’s mother. I hadn’t seen her in ages.

Mrs. Morgan opened the
door wide. She looked lovely in an all white linen dress. “Amy!”
she exclaimed. “Hunter said he ran into you at the super market.
I’m so happy you came.” She lowered her voice. “And with
everything that’s going on, he needs a friend right now.” I had
no idea what she was referring to, but I smiled at her. “You look
just the same as when you were in high school.” I was so happy to
see her, and relieved that she’d welcomed me so warmly.

I laughed. “I don’t
know about that—remember my friend Jamie Merino?”

“Of course I do, come
in. It’s wonderful to see you both. Everyone’s outside in the
back.”

Jamie and I walked
through the foyer to the French doors leading out into the spacious
back yard. I could hear the low murmur of people chatting and
enjoying the beautiful February weather. In any other part of the
country, it would be freezing cold. We were lucky we lived so near
the ocean—the sea air cooled everything down, otherwise it would
actually be too hot.

We made our way to the
self-serve bar. All sorts of beer, wine, and soda sat glistening in
metal ice baths. Mrs. Morgan had arranged it on a scalloped patterned
tablecloth, right out of “Better Homes and Garden.” I’d learned
from the Morgans, if you have a fully stocked bar, the party will
always be great, no matter anything else.

I felt a presence
behind me and turned around, a coy smiling playing at the corners of
my lips. I was determined to play it cool.

“Can I get you
anything?”

“Hunter, hi.” He
looked amazing in a navy polo shirt and jeans. The shirt was tight
enough to show off his muscular shoulders and strong abs. His blond
hair was disheveled, in a kind of sporty way. And he smelled like
fresh laundry mixed with something really masculine. Just being near
him brought back so many sensual memories. I used to love the way
he’d kiss the back of my neck, while feeling him pressed behind me.
He was the first guy who ever seriously turned me on. So many hot
incidences came into my mind. The delicious thrill of those firsts. I
needed to snap out of it and speak.

“I’d love a—”
But before I could finish my sentence, Hunter interrupted.

“Wine Spritzer?”
Hunter laughed when I lifted my eyebrow. You drink what my mom likes.
Do you still like that?” He seemed so proud that he’d remembered.

“Actually, I’ve
moved on to less fruity drinks. A glass of white would be great.”
See, I’d changed.

As he poured me my
drink, Jamie sidled up beside him. “Hunter, long time no see! Is
your sister here?” She grabbed a Heineken off the table and popped
off the top.

Before he could answer
her, we heard his name called. “Hunter!” A girl I didn’t
recognize ran up to the table. She grabbed Hunter around the waist
and smiled at Jamie and me. She was clearly trying to show us he was
her man.

“Hunter, aren’t you
going to introduce me to your friends?” she asked, her golden
ponytail swishing behind her.

“Oh, yeah, sorry,”
he said, smiling sheepishly. “Jennifer, this is Amy and Jamie. We
went to high school together. Ladies, this is Jennifer.”

Jennifer gave me a limp
handshake before turning towards Hunter and whining, “Honey, help
me with the guacamole. You promised.” She pouted and tugged on his
arm. He didn’t move. “Jamie, Amy,” Jennifer went on, her voice
higher with obvious frustration, “good to meet you. Now come on
Hunter.” Hunter looked up briefly at me and half-smiled.

“See you later,” he
said.

“That kitten’s got
claws,” Jamie whispered into my ear as soon as they’d left. I
nodded and tried to ignore the sensation of icy disappointment in my
stomach, instead pulling Jamie towards the appetizers. I piled my
plate with breaded crab cakes—hey, my week of binging may have
ended, but I can’t be blamed for taking advantage of the gourmet
hors d’oeurves. Guiltily, I reached for a couple of celery sticks,
but before I could get them to my plate, Jamie grabbed my arm. She
wanted to mingle and see if anyone we knew had come.

I was surprised how
much fun I had socializing with people from high school and friends
of Hunter’s from work. It was comfortable and easy catching up–okay
maybe the wine helped too. And whenever I glimpsed Hunter, it looked
like Jennifer was keeping him busy. I didn’t remember him taking so
well to being bossed around, but a long time had passed since high
school. Maybe he’d changed.

I slowly wandered away
from the hub of the party, still holding my drink. I’d had a few
more glasses of light bubbly champagne and could feel my head
spinning. I hadn’t had anything to drink in a few months because of
all the work securing enough commissions to support the launch of the
store. I needed a minute to myself.

I always liked to take
a moment away from the crowd, just to savor the experience. The
beautiful party, the sweet air, and finally feeling happy and
relaxed. I rambled towards the back of the property. The last few
weeks had been so hard with getting everything ready for the store’s
grand opening and with helping Luke move out into his dorm. I hadn’t
really taken a break and enjoyed the simple things. I knew that if I
kept walking on the cobbled path, I would find a small guesthouse—the
perfect place to take a breather. Hunter and I had snuck down here on
Friday nights all the time in high school.

So I kept going, down
the stone path to the cottage. Sitting on a bench alongside the small
house, just where I had wanted to sit, was an incredible looking man:
dark hair, and tall even sitting, well built. His back was perfectly
broad across the shoulders, tapering down creating a classic V-shaped
torso. He was a bit overdressed for the barbeque, in blue chinos, a
white button down work shirt, and a fitted dark blazer. He looked
like he was deep in thought, looking away from the party, towards the
ocean.

“Penny for your
thoughts,” I said, surprising myself. I never say things like that,
but he looked so serious, sitting there in the midst of the party,
pensive and alone. I was determined to lighten his mood, though maybe
the drinks had something to do with it. I smiled and moved closer to
the bench “I’m Amy. And you are?”

“I’m busy and don’t
have time for this now,” his said tersely in a British accent. I
couldn’t believe my ears. How rude. And if he was so busy, why did
he bother coming to the party anyway? He turned towards me, and right
after being taken aback by his perfect green eyes, I noticed an
iPhone pressed up against his ear.

All at once I realized
how foolish I was--he hadn’t been talking to me at all. He’d been
so quiet earlier, and through the noise of the party, I hadn’t
noticed that he was obviously in a deep conversation. How many
glasses of wine had I had? Who knew, but it must have been a lot more
than usual. I had better be careful as I was coming to realize that
maybe, just maybe I was a little bit trashed.

He looked up at me
slowly and held one finger to keep me at bay, the way you would
gesture to an errant assistant when interrupted. Ew. No thank you.
“What am I, one of your subjects?” I murmured.

He turned toward me,
obviously hearing the snarky remark I’d just made.

“Hang on Jason,” he
put his hand over the phone. “No, you’re not, but you could be,”
he said, an incorrigible grin on his face. What a condescending ass.