?WINGLESS AND BEAUTIFUL?
?EPISODE 5 ?
His face turned sober. Then he took a deep breath andkissed my forehead. “I was not in a good mood. You werelooking cozy with Anderson. I sat with Winston and hisfriends because they asked me to.
I overheard them talking about you and how Winston poured ketchup all over you,which made you lose your job. He bragged about sayingsomething… scandalous to you, that’s why you lost your
calm and slapped him on the face.
But he was able to turn
that against you and you got the wrong end of the dealinstead.
I couldn’t help it. He deserved more than one punchif you ask me.”
“You… did that for me?”
“No one could hurt you and get away with it,” he said.
“Not under my watch.”
I was touched with his revelation. I didn’t know, thateven when he thought I was with somebody else, he still protected me and defended me from those who wanted to hurt me.
“I’m a magnet for trouble, Hunter,” I said wearily. “Youcan’t get into a fight every time because of me.”
“What’s the point of having a boyfriend, if he can’tprotect you? Avenge your honor?” he asked with a grin.
“But having a helpless girlfriend is toxic for you. Youcan’t always take that risk for me.”
“Why not?” he asked evenly. “And you’re not helpless. I bet your power slap left an impression on Winston’s cheek.”
“But that’s not enough. I hope I could do something more.”
“Okay. If you really want to learn to kick some ass, I canteach you.”
“That’s a great idea,” I said. “I have to learn how to defend myself. At the end of the day, words and pranks are nothing.
Sticks and stones won’t break me. But losing youwould. So slow down on always risking your head for me.”
He smiled at me and kissed my forehead again. “I’m notas fragile as you think I am, angel.”
“I know.” I shook my head. “But please… stop temptingfate just because of me. You can pick me up and drive me home every day, but please… no more fights.
Now that youcould see again… let’s not push your luck, okay?”
He looked at me for a moment and then reluctantly, henodded.
I smiled and then I reached up to kiss his lips. ThenI leaned my head on his shoulder and we both watched the fireflies dancing around us.
“Hunter, what’s the deal with Tania?” I asked. “I saw youfighting that night of the concert.”
“Tania is not our problem anymore. That night, I told herfrankly to stop hoping there will ever be a future for us. Itold her about you.”
“She must be pissed, huh.”
“Yeah, she was. She left town and went straight to myfather.”
My eyes widened as I stared back at him, in panic.
The last thing I wanted was to cause problems between Hunterand his father.
Hunter gave me a reassuring smile. He reached forwardand pinched my nose lightly. “Don’t worry about that.
Myfather and I are starting to mend our broken relationship.And he felt indebted to you.”
“To me?”
He nodded. “Because of you, I found the will to gothrough with the transplant. My father was thankful forthat.”
I smiled back at him. “That’s why you should take iteasy okay?”
“I’ll try,” he promised.
“Try really hard,” I said. “If not for you, then for me.”He nodded then he pulled me towards him, placing akiss on my forehead again.
“Okay. For you.”
“Did you hear me at the concert?” I asked.
His arms tightened around me. “Of course, I did,” hereplied. “I was so proud. You played that song really well.”
“I played for you, you know. I was tired of gettingignored by you. I thought when you heard me, you wouldremember me from a time in your past.”
He inhaled through my hair again. I felt him heave a sigh.
“I never forgot. I punched a tree after I left the concertgrounds.”
“Why?”
“Anderson. It should have been me walking beside you. It should have been me giving you a rose on that stage. I should have been there beside you.”
“I don’t know if I could ever forgive him,” I whispered.
“I don’t think I ever will,” he muttered. “Not for
endangering you like that.”
I leaned back against Hunter’s chest.
The more I savored the feeling of my body molding against his in a comfortable cuddle, the angrier I got with Chaise, thinking, Hunter and I could have been doing this all along.
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