Page 29

Me: No!

Me: I mean, I’ll be right down.

“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Peyton caught me just as I was about to escape our apartment, completely ruining my plan of slipping out unnoticed, so I didn’t have to answer any questions.

When she asked if I’d finally read the letter from my brother a few nights after receiving it, I told her I read it and shrugged it off as if it was no big deal.

Peyton and Avery were family to me, and it should be normal to spill every detail going on in my life to them. But the last thing I wanted to do was get caught up in the emotions of it all. There was too much to unpack between me hanging out with Hunter and family trauma. Plus, I had every intention of visiting my brother this weekend, but it wouldn’t surprise me if I backed out the moment I arrived. So, why tell them beforehand if there was a possibility of me not even going forward with it?

“I’m uh … going to some guy’s house?” My lie came off as more of a question, and by the look on Peyton’s face, she was sniffing out my bullshit from a mile away.

To be fair, it wasn’t a total lie. I was going to be spending time with Hunter … who is a guy.

“Some guy, huh?” She narrowed her eyes in my direction, and suddenly, it felt awfully hot in here.

“Yeah. Just a little overnight stay.” My eyes fell to my emergency overnight bag.

“Who is the guy?” Peyton folded her arms over her chest.

Okay, sassy queen.

“That’s irrelevant. Just some rich guy I picked up at work. He wants to wine and dine me, and then we’ll probably have an explosive night back at his place. Then it’s on to the next. You know me, babe!” I wiggled my eyebrows, hoping my little made-up story of how my night was going to go down was at least a little bit believable.

“Okay, well, you have fun. I’ll want all the dirty details when you get back home!” Spinning on her heel, she waved over her shoulder and gave me a look only a best friend could. Like she knew me better than anyone on this planet and that I was still without a doubt bullshitting her.

At least this little road trip would give me time to sort out if I wanted to share all the details when I got home, or if I’d stick to my little lie and pretend I didn’t ask Hunter to keep me company on the way to the Nevada State Prison.

As I made my way down to the parking garage, it wasn’t hard to spot Hunter’s souped-up G-Wagon in a sea full of economy vehicles. And what made it even more obvious was the tall, too-handsome-for-his-own-good retired athlete holding my door open.

“Oh my God, Hunter. Get in the car before someone sees you!” I jogged toward the open door, dove inside, and pulled the door closed before he could shut it for me. My reaction may have been a bit over the top the moment I realized he was out in the open and Peyton could spot us together—if she decided to follow me down here for whatever reason—but either way, it was warranted.

I wouldn’t put it past her, that sneaky little devil.

After climbing into the driver’s side, Hunter turned toward me and teased, “Are you trying to hide me?”

“I—No. Yes. I mean … Peyton doesn’t know I’m going to visit my brother, and she definitely doesn’t know that I’m taking this little trip with you by my side.”

“So, you are hiding me then.” He raised his eyebrows. “I must say, Trouble, there’s something kind of hot about being your dirty little secret.”

“I should have known you’d be a cocky little shit.” I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out.

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s that hockey player in you, makes you a little cocky.”

“Retired hockey player.” Hunter cleared his throat.

“Sounds to me like you’re agreeing with me then.” I couldn’t help the smug grin that lifted on my lips. “I knew when I told you I was open to getting to know you that you’d puff your chest and get all big dick energy with me.”

“At least we’re on the same page now.”

Fuck, he wore a cocky little grin that made my knees weak. Because if there was one thing I already had figured out, it was that he did have a big dick to match the energy he was giving off, and that definitely did not help the situation.

“Another dick joke? Really?” I smirked, matching his energy.

We hadn’t even left the parking garage and hit the road, yet this man unexpectedly had me feeling lighter on what I imagined was going to be a somewhat dreadful drive.

Breathe, Andi. Focus on what the point of this trip is about. Drive to visit brother, visit said brother, stuff down the emotions that will in fact creep their way in when you see him for the first time in forever, then drive back home. That’s it.