I felt like the world literally stopped spinning. The place went quiet except for the music that was playing. Apart from that, I felt like almost everybody inside stopped talking and just stared at us.
I was right. More than half of the diners were from our school. I should know. I used to work here and it was a favorite hangout during Friday nights.
When I looked up at Hunter, he had a proud grin on his face that he couldn’t seem to wipe off. He looked mischievous and carefree as he led me to an empty table in the corner.
I looked up into his eyes. They were dancing, and he was obviously fighting the urge to laugh.
I looked around us and found that many people were looking at us. Some were trying not to make it obvious that they were watching us, others didn’t care if they were caught staring at all. As expected, many girls were staring at me—with wide, furious glares on their faces.
“What the hell?”
“First, Chaise Anderson. Now, Hunter Vaughn?”
They also didn’t care if we overheard them.
I turned to Hunter. “I’m dead. These people are going to peg me as their number one target again on Monday.”
Hunter shook his head. “Let them try. Half of them are dumb anyway, they can’t hurt you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Alone they are harmless. But I’ve been in Leighton High long enough to learn not to underestimate the power of stupid people putting their heads together.”
Hunter laughed. “True. But remember, people can’t pull you down if they weren’t below you in the first place.” He took my hand in his, touching his ring on my finger. “They thought you were with Anderson, that’s why they weren’t scared to try. But now that you’re with me, I doubt any of them would even attempt to touch you.”
“How do you know that?”
“In case you didn’t notice, I’m slightly scarier than the last guy who followed you around, angel.” He pulled my fingers to his lips to give it a kiss. “And unlike Anderson, I walk the talk. No signs. No warnings. And I’m never leaving your side, remember?”
I raised a brow at him. “Are you my boyfriend or my bodyguard?”
He held his ring in front of me, my eyes were magnetized by the intricate carvings on it. “Guardian angel, remember?” He straightened up on his seat, and in a louder than necessary voice, he said, “And unlike the last one you had, I have a sword, not a halo. And my wings are black, not white. It’s time they realized who they will have a problem with the next time they hurt even a single hair in your body!”
My eyes widened at him. He took my hand in his again, and then he bent down to kiss my fingers once again. “I love you, angel.” He didn’t even whisper that. I was sure many people around us heard everything he said.
Four… three… two… one.
I turned around and everybody stopped staring at us. They turned back to their respective tables and started minding their own businesses, as if they were afraid to look at us again.
Hunter took me home just before midnight. He walked me up to the front porch.
“Is Meredith home?” he asked.
“She texted me a while ago. She’s pulling an all-nighter on her job tonight.”
“So, you’ll be here alone?” he asked.
“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time,” I replied.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
I smiled at him. “Don’t worry about me, Hunter. I’m not as fragile as you think I am, you know.”
“I know.”
He leaned forward and kissed me on the forehead. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
He gave a serious smile and then slowly, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine.
I closed my eyes, my heart pounding loudly inside my chest. I kissed him back and wrapped my arms around his neck. I felt his arms around my waist as he pulled me against his body.
When the kiss ended, we were both breathless. He pulled me to him in a hug and I felt him inhale through my hair.
“You smell nice,” he whispered. “As always.”
“I thought I smell like burgers,”
He laughed. “No, you don’t. You smell like strawberries, honeysuckle and freesia. I will never forget your scent, no matter where I go.”
I pulled away from him. “It’s getting late.”
He pushed a lock of stray hair away from my face. “Give me your phone.”
“Why?” I asked, handing it to him.
He punched some numbers on the screen and then clicked save.
“My number,” he said, handing me back my phone.
I smiled when I saw the name he saved on my screen. My boyfriend.
“Are you not going to get my number?”
He grinned at me. “What makes you think I don’t know it already?”
“You do?”
He nodded.
“How?”
He smiled at me mischievously. “Don’t tell her. But Denise doesn’t exactly guard her phone like a hawk. Half the time, she didn’t even know where she left it around the house.”
“She’s gonna kill you if she knew you’re prying around her phone.”
“I had to,” he said. “We don’t get along that well, but it’s my duty to look out for her too. I had to make sure she doesn’t go overboard with her crush with Arthur Buckley.”
My eyes widened. “You knew?”
“Of course.”
“How?”
“I’m observant. And overly suspicious. I trust my instincts and I investigate if I need to. When she was acting weird—I mean, weirder—I had to check out why.” He heaved a worried sigh. “If she doesn’t come to her senses soon, I would have to go up to Buckley, myself. I don’t trust him. Denise can be naïve sometimes. But she’s trust-funded. I don’t want a scumbag like Buckley to take advantage of her.”
I nodded. “I’m sure she’ll come out of her infatuation soon.”
“Anyway, go inside now. I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
“For what?”
He shrugged. “Picnic in the garden?”
“I’d love that. But I have a shift tomorrow at the library in CRC.”
“Good. I’ll take you there and come back after your shift, so we can spend some time in our garden.”
“Can you still go there?”
He nodded. “The grounds are open to anyone. The facilities, though, can be used by anybody who used to go there. CRC doesn’t close their doors for you just because you got better or decided to leave.”
“Wow. That’s really nice.” I tiptoed to kiss him. “Good night, Hunter.”
“Good night, angel.”
I was pretty sure I was smiling like an idiot as I closed the door behind me. I couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off my face even after I took a shower and got dressed in my pajamas.
Before I went to bed, I took a peek at my window, just out of habit. I was shocked to see Hunter’s car still outside the house.
I picked up my phone and called him. He answered in one ring.
“Hunter?”
“Yes, angel. Is something wrong?” he asked.
“What are you doing outside my house?”
“Ahhh… Meredith isn’t home,” he replied. “I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
“Seriously?”
“I can never be too sure. This neighborhood isn’t really well-guarded.”
“And you’re just gonna sit there in your car until morning?”
“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time. Don’t worry about me.”
“Hunter…”
“Angel, I’m okay. Go to bed. Good night.”
“I love you,” was all I could say.
“I love you, too.”
When I hung up the phone, I just didn’t feel right, knowing he was out there, guarding me. It must be so uncomfortable in the car.
So, I wore a robe and got out of the house.
Hunter stepped out of his car as soon as I opened the front door.
I felt the chill of the cold night as I stepped on the front porch. He started walking towards me.
“Do you realize that your car is probably more expensive than the contents of any house in this neighborhood?” I asked.
“The car’s insured, don’t worry,” he replied. “What are you doing out?”
“You’re not going to change your mind about leaving, are you?”
“No. What difference does it make? I’ve done this more than a dozen times. You never complained before.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “That’s because I didn’t know you were doing this before.”
He pulled me to him. “I went through an eye transplant so I could watch over you, remember?”
“I know. So, if you’re going to just stand guard, you better do it inside the house where it’s warm.”
He faked a shocked expression on his face. “Goodness, are you inviting me to your bed?”
I gave him a playful jab on the stomach. “No! The couch is perfectly warm and comfortable.”
“Well, I thought you planned to corrupt my innocence so early in the relationship,” he teased.
I pulled him towards the house. “Don’t get any ideas in your head, Hunter. I’m only after your comfort. Our couch isn’t fancy, but it’ll keep you warm just fine.”
He pushed the remote on his car to lock it and then he went inside the house with me. He double-barred the door behind him.
“Toilet’s over there. Most of the stuff there are mine. Meredith has her own bathroom in her room. There are new toothbrushes on the cabinet. Feel free to take one.” I pointed to a corner of the house where the bathroom was. “I’ll go get you a blanket and pillows.”
He simply nodded.
I took clean sheets, a blanket and pillows from my cabinet. Hunter was in the bathroom when I came back to the living room. I placed the clean sheets over the couch, then I placed the blanket and pillows on it.
I almost jumped when I felt Hunter snake his arms around my waist.
“Jesus, you really do move like a ninja!”
“Ninja?” he echoed, spinning me around so I could face him.
I looked up at him. He had removed his jacket. He was wearing a white shirt, different from what he was wearing during our date.
“Yeah, Denise sometimes say that about you. We don’t even see you coming to class.”
“I take a lot of special classes. It’s necessary if I want to graduate with you. No way, you will go to college without me,” he said.
“Good,” I said smiling up at him. I stared back at his shirt. “This wasn’t the shirt you were wearing before.”
“I changed in the car,” he explained. “I always have extra clothes there, just in case I won’t be able to come home. Like tonight.”
I smiled up at him. My heart felt like it will burst with happiness any minute.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He leaned his forehead against mine. “You didn’t have to thank me. I love you, you know.”
“I know. Now, more than ever.”
“Is it okay with your aunt, if I stayed?”
“As long as you’re not in my bed, she’ll be fine with it.”
He groaned playfully and I laughed, pulling away from him.
“Good night, Hunter.”
He pulled me back to him and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips before releasing me. “Good night, angel.”
I went to my room, closing my bedroom door behind me. I threw myself in bed. And because I couldn’t contain the happiness that I felt inside, I put my pillow over my head and literally screamed on it. I didn’t even care if Hunter heard me.