Chapter 36 - KMCF

"No, no, no. I fell asleep!" I frantically began to search for my phone right after I woke up. "You couldn't have just kept your eyes open for a few more minutes?"

Well, he offered to talk later, but you-

I shook my head, hoping my thoughts would be quiet. I knew exactly what Hunter said, but I didn't want to because we promised we'd talk last night.

Stubborn. You were being stubborn.

Yes, I admit it, I was being stubborn. I wanted to talk to him then, not later. So yeah, I was being stubborn. But, now I had to find my phone and apologize. "Hah!" I shouted in glee when I found my phone underneath my throw pillows.

I let out a very audible sigh as I fell back onto my bed. Now that I found it, I didn't know what to do. I thought it'd be best to call him and apologize, but I also thought not making a big deal about last night would help with dealing with it. At the same time, I wanted to hear his voice and slowly confirm that this whole thing was real. That I wato s dating Hunter, it's not something that just happens. In the end, I went with calling, but the moment I tried doing so, I realized my phone was dead.

"Just great," groaning loudly, I looked at the ticking clock by my side, knowing it was probably the time to start getting dressed. "Shi-" the curse hung onto the tip of my tongue when I noticed I was going to be an hour late. I darted towards my bathroom, almost tripping over my comforter and jumping over sleeping Ozzy. I made sure to take a quick shower, five minutes at the most while trying to brush my teeth as well. The quick shower didn't make up for the minutes I spent trying to find something to wear. Unexpectedly, I threw on a pair of jeans, a plain white shirt, and slipped on a pair of glimmering sandals. I grabbed my bag, keys, and my phone as I was leaving my place.

"Bye, Ozzy! I'm leaving!" I yelled on my way out.

** **

Her face said everything, it was the face she gave me whenever I wasn't on time for something. It was one of the very few things she and Grace had in common, the face that told me I could've done better. However, today's was softer, a little bit of sincerity mixed into it.

"You look like trash," said Miranda as I walked past her. Ironic enough, her words didn't match the sincerity on her face.

"I know," I dug my hand inside my bag to get out my charger.

A pause later, she said something else, "and you're late."

I sighed, "I know." It didn't take a genius to point out every obvious thing about me today, and the fact that she did just made me more frustrated than I already was; I mean having to dig into my bag to find my charger and all. "It's not my fault this time, it's yours."

"Mine?" She faked a laugh, showing the 'ridiculousness' of my accusation.

"Don't act so surprised, you kept me up all night and you messed up my living roo-" I stopped midway into my sentence when I found my charger, but noticed that it was broken. There was a thin, green wire keeping the entire thing together. I must've broken it when I stuffed it not-so gently into my bag. "Great," I sighed loudly and buried my face into my hands. "Today's just going great," I mumbled sarcastically to myself.

"Uh, what's wrong?" Miranda asked.

Slowly, my hands fell by my sides and I sighed again. I didn't want to tell Miranda because reciting my embarrassing night and unlucky morning would only make me more upset about them than I already was. "I fell asleep while I was talking to Hunter and I was planning on calling him today, but I woke up late and forgot to charge my phone and now I just found out my charger's broken. And all I want to do is---I just want to talk to him, Miranda."

Again, Miranda laughed, she laughed as though she had just figured out an easy puzzle. "Jen, you're stressing over nothing. We have a phone here, just call him on that."

Her idea was great, I just felt terrible for not living up to its requirements. I didn't know Hunter's number. "I don't know his number. I don't know anyone's number from the top of my head, only my parents' and Grace's."

"So, call Grace and ask for Hunter's number," the sound of her voice inferred that she thought the answer was very obvious.

"Or, you can call Grace and ask for Hunter's number," I smiled awkwardly.

"Seriously, Jen?" Miranda's eyebrows perked up. "It's more suspicious coming from me. By the time I get through with hello, she'll know something's up."

I sighed, "and if I ask her, she'll ask way too many questions."

Miranda stared at me with her head tilted to the side, "what do you want to do? Call Grace or wait for a new charger?"

God, an ultimatum.

** **

Unfortunately, I decided to call Grace because as much as I hated her interrogations, I wanted to talk to Hunter more.

There was a lot of shrieking on her side than there were actual questions. I started off by getting to the point, asking for Hunter's number, but Grace was more interested in something else. She spent most of the time laughing about all the possible reasons her imagination came up with for why I needed his number. I sat there soaking up all of the comments she managed to make while laughing and all of her snorting until she croaked out the number.

In about a few seconds, I was already calling Hunter. He picked up right after the third ring and that's when my breathing got a little unsteady.

"Hello?" Hunter said with a slightly puzzled tone.

"Hunter," a smile began to form just from saying his name, "uh, it's Jen. I--I'm calling from Anders since my phone's kind of dead. Um, I just wanted to apologize for falling asleep on you last night."

"Jen," he chuckled for a bit, "It's fine, I told you you were going to fall asleep," he chuckled again.

I smiled again just from hearing him laugh so comfortably and carefree. "It wouldn't have happened if you didn't try to make me fall asleep."

"I was only telling you about my day," he said, and we both began to laugh. "So, did you only call to apologize?" Hunter asked after the laughing had died down.

I blushed a bit while looking around the empty storage room. "I, um, I wanted to hear your voice and I'm now realizing it's not enough," to distract myself, I started playing with the tears in my jeans. "I want to see you," I said, a little hesitant.

There was a short pause, and I started to think I said something wrong. "God, Jen, do you enjoy making my heart skip?" His voice suddenly turning rough and husky.

I was left speechless while my face grew hotter and hotter. I made his heart skip, yet he was making mine beat loud and fast.

"Come over," he announced. "After work, come over. I want to see you too. We can hang out and do anything you want."

"O-Okay" I shut my eyes tightly, hating the way I stuttered. "Then, I'll see you tonight?"

"I'll see you tonight."

"Yeah," I stayed on the line, waiting for him to end the call, but he didn't and neither did I. We both waited, listening to the other's breathing. I guess we were savoring the conversation and the short minutes we had with each other, just like yesterday.

** **

For the rest of the day, it was almost like I had a little bounce in my steps. I was way more friendlier to my customers and a little more forgiving towards Rocxy's mistakes. I was very happy and excited and it showed in everything I did. I only wished work would end sooner, so I could go see Hunter, my boyfriend.

Boyfriend. The word still felt like a foreign language and probably will for a while.

My wish came sooner than expected because I soon found myself closing up the store and waving goodbye to Miranda and surprisingly, Rocxy.
I opened my car only to sit and stare at the lights moving through the darkness.

We can hang out and do anything you want.

The only thing I could think of was baking. I thought it would be nice if we baked together. I drove to the nearest grocery store and picked up ingredients for my chocolate chip cookie recipe.

I then drove to Hunter's apartment building where I once again met the very lovely receptionist, who always seemed to be working every time I came by. She sat at her desk with an air of superiority and confidence, though she was only a receptionist whose only view was pedestrians. She wore her eyeshadow thick, but today it looked even thicker.

I hugged the paper bags filled with my newly bought grocery items close to chest while I flashed her a warm smile. She responded, as usual with a look of disgust and discomfort. At least I tried, right? I walked straight into the elevator, taking a deep breath as I tapped the number fifteen.
What if Laura's there?

I shook my thoughts away and got off the elevator in a hurry. I walked towards Hunter's door and knocked.

It's possible. She may even answer the door.

The door opened, thankfully it wasn't Laura standing in front of me, but Hunter. He wore dark colored dress pants and and a partially buttoned dress shirt, exposing his chiseled chest. A loose blue tie hung over his shoulders and I assumed he was in the middle of undressing.

"Hey," I said, smiling, as I stepped in. I placed the paper bags and my purse on the kitchen counter.

He stared at me for a few seconds, looking a little dazed. He quickly flashed me a breathtaking grin, "hey."

I sucked my breath in before talking. "You look great," hinting at how he was dressed.

He looked down and laughed for a bit, "yeah, I was in the middle of undressing. Give me a sec." He disappeared into the room I woke up in last time.

I took the time to take everything out of the paper bags and set them all accordingly. Hunter walked out, wearing a pair of jeans and a black short sleeve shirt.

"So, what're we doing today?" Hunter asked as he examined the items on the counter.

"I thought we could bake some cookies," I replied. He moved a little closer with his arm brushing against mine.

"What do we do first?" He brought out a big red bowl, setting it between the two of us.

"Uh," a little distracted by how close we were, "we mix the butter and sugars together." I measured in the butter while Hunter poured in the white and brown sugar. I started to mix the mixture as Hunter stared. I wasn't sure if he was staring at me or the bowl, but my face was feeling hot and I could feel myself getting conscious. Conscious of my messy hair and terrible outfit choice.

"Your place isn't messy anymore," I said quickly, hoping I could switch the attention. I looked up just as his smile was forming.

"It was a few hours ago, but Laura and I pulled it together and cleaned up," he said, chuckling to himself.

"Oh," a frown began to settle on my face on its own. The thought of Hunter with Laura made my stomach sink. I was a jealousy monster. "That's great."

"Jen," his voice drenched in concern. There was a long pause and I figured he was trying to figure out what to say. I was wrong because he smirked, "you're jealous of Laura."

"I'm not," my cheeks and ears were red. I couldn't deny something that was so obvious.

"You are," he turned my hips towards him, so now he could get a good view of my red face. "That's why you left upset when she first came by and why you just frowned."

He caught me, him and his perfect green eyes. "She--" I paused, a little hesitant of what I was revealing. "She has it all. She's beautiful; she understands hotels and corporate finances; and she's been with you when I couldn't."

"Jen," he grabbed my waist and hoisted me up onto the counter. We were now on the same level and a few  inches apart. "You don't need to understand corporate things. And hell, if she's beautiful then you're gorgeous. You have it all. Everything I could ever want, you have it."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug. It didn't take him a while for him to wrap his arms around my waist and hug me back. I didn't know what to say, but I knew that I wanted to hold him and him to hold me.

** **

I bursted out laughing, tears swelling up as I continued to laugh. "I hate you," I said in between laughter.

Hunter grinned, a little taken back from my statement, but also amused by it. "No you don't."

We had just taken the cookies out of the fridge from cooling and were nesting on the couch with a plate of cookies on the table. Hunter and I were munching on cookies while we talked about anything and everything.

I stopped laughing as I examined the way his eyes focused on me, "you're right."

He had a tiny twinkle in his eyes, like he was satisfied knowing that I was far from hating him. I liked the twinkle, what it meant and what it was. They made his green eyes even more mesmerizing.

"It's been a while since I've seen you wear casual clothes," I said, enjoying the way his shirt made him even more masculine.

"I thought girls like guys who wear suits and ties," Hunter replied.

"I'm not complaining. It's attractive," I said as I brushed a few strands of hair behind my ear.

"Well, looks like I won't be wearing casual clothes any time soon," he joked and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh, God, you'd turn into Marcos. I don't think I've ever seen him dress casually," I smiled just from thinking about Marcos and his extravagant suits.

"You two are close."

"Well, we were close friends in college; him, Miranda and I," I looked at Hunter, but his eyebrows were a bit furrowed.

He shifted a bit closer, "I'm not going to lie. It's only fair that I tell you the truth, since you were honest with me."

I cocked my head to the side before asking, "lie about what?"

He took a deep breath before continuing any further, "I'm jealous."

 I was surprised, I couldn't imagine anyone being jealous of Marcos, especially Hunter. "Of Marcos?"

He nodded. "Remember when he introduced you to me at his party?" I nodded, he continued, "he had his hand on your waist and I hated that it was there. What made it even worse was that I had already seen the news about the two of you, I was a jealous mess." When he had finished, his face was a very light red. You'd have to squint to see it.

I smirked, "you were jealous?" I leaned forward, hoping to tease him.
I was loving this side of Hunter, because I found it very adorable and reassuring.

He glared at me playfully, "you're loving this, aren't you?" He tugged on my shirt, pulling me even closer to him.

I grinned, "quite a lot actually."

"You're so mean," Hunter teased, only a few inches from my lips.

"Am I?" Slightly biting my lips. I closed my eyes, waiting for a kiss to fall upon my lips.

** **

•What will happen next? Take a guess.

•I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I did writing it. I believe it's been about a year since I last updated, I'm very sorry for that. I don't really have much time to myself anymore, but hopefully time will work on my side.

•P L E A S E  V O T E  & C O M M E N T.