bChapter /bb68/bb: /bbLa /bbPOV /b

    My admission has made me nervous. But also not. If that makes sense.

    Nervous, because I bwas /bafraid Hunter would reject my request, even though he’s never given me any inkling that he would ever do that.

    Not nervous, because I know I’m safe with him. If I decide to only sleep next to him for the night, he’ll ept my choice without judgment. If I want to take it further, in any way, shape, or form, he’ll guide me through every moment, again without judgment.

    And that’s the beauty of Hunter Brooks ever since the day we met.

    Supportive, dependable, perceptive, and always putting my needs first.

    Driving towards their house, in the front seat of his truck with my handced with his, as it lies on hisp, ba /bcalm, assuredness settles deep in my bval/b.

    Whatever might happen between me and Hunter tonightb, /bI know there will be bno /bregrets by tomorrow bmorning/b.

    Cade and AJ are in the backseat, babbling on about an NFL football game scheduled for tomorrow afternoon while I nce over at Hunter asionally, with a soft smile on my lips.

    There is a slight moment of panic when we pull onto the driveway and I see Xavier’s silhouette moving past one of the front windows. After earlier’s shitshow, I’m not sure I’m ready yet to speak to him so soon. Confronting him has the potential to ruin the rest of my night after the fantastic time I’ve had with the boys. He tried fucking my mood once tonight, I don’t want to give him the chance bto /btry it again.

    Shutting off the truck, Hunter must sense the shift in my mood, but then turns towards me and sps my hand bbetween /bhis. “I won’t let him near you,” he says earnestly, and I instinctively believe him.

    With a nod and a grateful smile from me to him, he slips from his seat andes around to open my door. Then, we follow AJ and Cade into the house as our hands are linked in a lover’s grip.

    “Is Lab…/bb” /bXavier starts, obviously not having thought bI /bwould being over tonight. But when he sees mee into view, his words dry up immediately. and a look of sorrowb, /bregret, and pain flits across his faceb. /b

    All three guys ignore him as Hunter turns to me and asks, “Do you need anything from the kitchen before bwe /bgo upstairs?”

    “Maybe just some waterb?/bb” /bbI /bask, and he nods, disappearing into the kitchen momentster.

    Cade approaches meb, /bslings his arm over my shoulders, and asks teasingly, b“/bCan AJ and I join you guys for a bit? Maybe we can read you a bedtime story and tuck you in before bwe /bhead to bour /bcold, empty rooms?b” /b

    I giggle at his silliness and decide bto /by along as bI /bsay, b“/bAs long as it’s Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” This has him and Alughing as they guide me up the stairs and to Hunter’s room.

    I’m vaguely baware /bof Xavier silently following bus/bb, /bprobably bunsure /bhow bto /bnavigate his next bstep /bwhen ites to me and his shitty attitude towards me earlierb. /b

    Cade, Al, and I settle around Hunter’s massive bed, my legs crossed underneath me as I lean back against the headboard.

    Xavier hovers in the doorway, hands tucked into his athletic shorts‘ pockets with his head hung, like a naughty child waiting for his parents to scold him.

    Ignoring him, I chat with bthe /bother two about our time at the arcade, their ns for tomorrow, and how their sses had been this past bweek/b. Mundane things, but it helps strengthen bour /bbever/b–growing bonds, because it doesn’t bore us to hear about the others‘ day or week.

    When Hunteres back, he skirts past Xavier, who’s now standing just inside the doorway with his back leaning against the doorframeb. /b“Want to be /bin and join us for a whileb?/b” Hunter asks.

    bI /bbknow /bbwhy /bHunter’s doing bthis/b. bHe /bbwants /bbto /bbshow /bbXavier /bbthat /bbwe /bbare /bthe better people who can still be civil during a btense /bbmoment /bbthat /bXavier was bthe /bbcause /bbof/b. Again, bHunter /bshows me the btype /bof man bhe /bbis/b, band /bmy bheart /bgrows banother /bbsize /bbas /bI look bat /bbhim /bas he approaches me bwhere /bbI’m /bbsitting /bbon /bbhis /bbed.

    He ces the water bottle bon /bbthe /bbedside table bnext /bto bme/bb, /bbthen /bbleans /bbdown /bband /bgives me a lingering kiss, before he stands back up. He points bto /bhis dest chair and says to bXavier /bbwhen /bbhe /bnotices he’s only taken btwo /bbsteps /bbinto /bthe room bsince /bbHunter’s /bfirst boffer/bb, /bb“/bbYou’re /bwee to take bthe /bbchair/bb./bb” /b

    Chapter 68 La POV

    At blying /bwine the fast of the bed like azy house cat, winks at me without avier being able to see fiting on the wat

    he track leaning against the wall, Cade starts fiddling with his phone while waiting to see Xavier’s next move

    Xavier looks vet bat /bme and ask, “Is that OK?*

    i shrug and answer emotionless, “Sure.”

    flumer surprises me when he climbs over me to sit beside me against his headboard, kissing me quickly as his face passes by mine on his way get there. shake my head and smile at him as ihe /isettles himself next to me with his hand casually draped over my thigh that’s closest to him.

    For the next hour or so, we chat andugh, and the guys regale Xavier with my arcade trickery while he smiles at me like he’s proud of me for bone /biupping /ihis friends.

    Hunter shoos the others from the room after about my third yawn, which I try to hide behind my hand every time.

    From his position at the end of the bed, AJ crawls over to me and kisses me good night, slowly and sensually, leaving me breathless by the time ihe /ipulls away with a cocky smile on his face, Cade is next as he gets up from the floor, bends over, tucks a wayward curl behind my ear, and then kisses my bfirhead /bfor a few lingering seconds.

    Xavier stands and leaves, but he turns to look at me as he gets to the door. He opens his mouth as if to say something, then closes it with a click of his teeth. After several seconds, the only word he speaks before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him is “Goodnight.”

    Wordlessly, Hunter goes over to his dresser and pulls out one of his t–shirts before bringing it to me. He points at the only other door in the room with finger and says, “The bathroom’s over there if you want to getfortable for bed.”

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