chapter 17

Finally it was Wednesday, the first day of practice with Hunter, my anxiety had gotten the best of me and I was currently sitting on my bathroom floor reminding myself how to breathe and convincing myself he is just a boy. 

But it didn't stop the hammering of my heart or the fumbling of my fingers, the assumption that Hunter would even feel something for me was something I thought  would have brought me happiness . But on the contrary, it raised so much doubt and confusion. 

What if I am thinking deep into it?

What if his intentions are purely friendly? 

I can't point out a single time he showed interest in me except that night at the club, and he was drunk. 

He might not even like me at all, but Monday..... 

I pulled at my hair, visibly frustrated by my own brain. I can't do this to myself, he hasn't said anything so I should not assume anything as well , if I do I'll get hurt.

But what about my own feelings, what about the fact that I really like him. 

*************************

"LJ come downstairs now, Hunter is here," 

I wanted to feign sickness, act like I was dying but even I knew that was a weak move. He was just a boy, I can't hide forever. 

I collected myself and went downstairs dressed in sweatpants and a tank top. 

Hunter stood at the entrance of the door next to an irritated JJ, dressed in what I am guessing are his running clothes, he looked sexy and fresh like he had just had a shower. 

I could just stare at this man for the rest of my life and never complain. 

"Come on, LJ we're late," JJ complained, dragging both of us to the house gym. 

"By two minutes?" I rolled my eyes and laughed at him, completely ignoring Hunter. My idea was to ignore my feelings for him and be as casual as I can be, it wasn't going to be hard considering the man barely speaks. 

"Okay we are here, this will be our training spot, LJ, phone.... I want to show you guys the routine," JJ asked, speaking like a mean middle school teacher, he really takes these things a little too seriously. 

I hand him my phone and stand very tensely next to Hunter. 

"Hi," he whispers and my head jerks in his direction, shocked that he was talking to me, it's not that I didn't think he would, I just didn't expect him to be this casual with it and smiling at that.

"Hey, are you okay?" He asked again and I realised I hadn't replied. 

"Uhmm yeah, yeah I am great.. am fine ... how....how are you?" He simply smiled back, well this is awkward.

Good awkward, I feel fuzzy inside. I turned my head and blushed silly. 

"This is it," JJ brings back the phone showing us a video of a trio doing a very beautiful compilation of Brazil and Latin dances. I am quite familiar with it. It's a complicated piece but it's beautiful.Dad and I loved it. 

My heart kind of dropped, I hadn't thought of dad in a while, I have been so caught up in my own little world, his face hadn't come to me at all. 

Guilt started closing in, I tried to push those negative feelings away but I couldn't really push them, so I fake smiled and hoped this would end sooner. 

Jj was shouting and complaining for two hours straight. At some point it became both comical and horrific to watch, especially when Hunter kept going left instead of right two minutes after he had corrected him. 

"That's it, the both of you are terrible, I can't watch you two embarrass yourselves anymore, am going to my room to google magical potions that turn people into great dancers for a day, please dont disturb me," he complained and started to walk away. 

"Come on JJ, we'll try harder," 

"Yeah I've marked my right hand to help me differentiate left from right," we both shouted at his disappearing form and laughed when he didn't turn back at all. 

"He's a handful," Hunter commented and I laughed. 

"He's just very competitive and a perfectionist," I stared on thinking of how similar he was to dad. Dad would be fired up by something as small as a game of cards. If only he was here to watch us. 

I shook my head not wanting those thoughts to arise right now. 

"We should go upstairs," I suggested and we walked quietly out of the gym which was located in the basement.

"I didn't realise it was raining," I said,  walking towards the floor to ceiling window in the living room. 

The sky was dark outside, void of any stars and the sound of the heavy downpour was melodic, almost hypnotic urging my whole body to relax, I drew in a deep breath and felt my body let go of the tension within as I exhaled. 

"Shit," Hunter sounded from behind me. A little too close for my breathing  to stay normal. 

"What's wrong?" I asked 

"Ash dropped me off, I don't think he'll be able to pick me up in this rain, it looks heavy out there," 

"It is, you should stay for dinner, am gonna start cooking right now and if the rain hasn't calm down by the time we are done with the meal you could just sleep over in one of the guest rooms," 

"Are you sure? I don't want to impose," I laugh at that. 

"I've slept at yours more than twice, its honestly not a big deal plus no one's home except the three of us so it really okay," 

"Am gonna go start on the pasta you can sit wherever you want, watch some tv or I could show you to JJ' s room and you guys could hung out," 

" Can I help you in the kitchen?" He asked, shocking the panties right off me, okay not exactly but I was nearly that shocked. I sent him a small  smile, not sure how to feel about that, it was a cute gesture. He was being friendly.

"Can you cook?" I asked

"Nope," 

"Can you cut vegetables?" I asked again

"Nope" I smirked

"So what can you help me with exactly," 

"I could salt check, I am pretty good at it," I laughed out loud, who knew

 Hunter could be funny. 

"You say that like it's a special skill," 

"It is, am an amazing critic," I shook my head and walked to the kitchen which he followed me into. 

"Or, I could just teach you how to cook a sick Pasta and pork stew and tomato paste" 

"Sounds like a plan," 

**********************************

"Hunter put the onions in the pan or am going to choke you with my kitchen curtains," I yell at him 

"Am going too, jeez, it's not as easy as you think, stop being so verbally aggressive with me," he yelled back, actually looking scared of the simple task I had assigned to him. throwing the onions he cut in a pot with oil. 

"Hunter what's so hard about  throwing onions in a pot, just throw them in, my oil is fucking burning," 

"I could get burnt Lia, am not trying to die," 

I sighed exasperated by his childishness and walked towards him collecting all the onions on the chopping board he was holding and putting them in the pan. 

My eyes never left him the entire time. 

"Well, I am not dead." I added.

"How about you sit on the counter and wait for me to finish," I suggest

"Agreed" he replied and hopped onto the counter opposite the fridge, watching me cook. 

I learned two things from the last 40 minutes I had spent with Hunter. 

1. I should never pursue a career in teaching because I have zero tolerance for repeating myself and no  patience whatsoever.

2. Hunter is actually a really  sweet person and quite normal, he puts on the "quiet brooding guy that's hot and  unapproachable" font as a way of really being sure he should let someone into his circle and am not sure which one, but definitely one of our past encounters had painted me fit  for the role of friend. 

And I am pretty sure I like him ten times more now. 

"Wanna play a game?" He asked from where he was seated.

"What game?" I asked, curious. 

"21 questions, I want to know you," he spoke and my head twisted so that my eyes could meet his, my mouth was a little ajar, I was trying not to think deep into it but it was hard not to when he was staring directly into my soul. 

"Uhm sure," I replied weirdly, going back to stirring my stew.

"Favourite color?" He asked

"Lilac,you?"

"Sea green." 

"Favourite food?" I asked

"Pizza," 

"Same." 

"First kiss, age and place," he asked and I laughed. 

"He was called Rodney, I was 15 at the movies, yours?" I asked

"She was called Delilah, we met at a wedding in London when I was 10. " 

"And you kissed her the same day you met," my eyes widened and he laughed. 

"Well she didn't push me away so i'm guessing she wanted it to happen," he said and I smirked 

"Celebrity crush?" 

"Morgan Freeman ." I replied 

"Lia he's like a hundred," he said trying not to laugh loudly 

"Love knows no age," I defended

"Ever fought for a girl?" He stopped and thought for a while and for a second I thought I had crossed a line and went to apologise but he replied. 

"I can't say for a girl, but I've fought because of one," he replied and I nodded not wanting to push it 

"First time having sex?" He asked and I choked on my saliva. Well this is embarrassing.

"Are you okay?" He asked looking worried

"Am good am good," i said looking down and silently thanking God who sent JJ back whining about being hungry. 

"It's ready," I announce.