Trying Not to Love You

"That was a shitty thing that happened to you." Bentley said from the kitchen table.

"Yeah." Don't people understand that you normally don't want to talk about a break up? I did not want to be rude to him but I did not want to get into the details of what happened either, so I got up and walked out on the deck to get some fresh air.

I heard the sliding glass door open a few minutes after I walked out. "You ok?" Hunter asked, coming up next to me to lean on the banister.

"I'm fine."

"So I assume you told Dom no last night?"

Really? Did he think for a second I would tell him yes? "Definitely no."

Hunter reached out and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. He moved closer so that we were shoulder to shoulder. He grabbed my hand and we stayed like that until Mason came out and said, "What the f**k Hunter?"

I quickly swung around, wondering what I missed.

"What?" Hunter asked, looking around, trying to figure out what was going on.

"You know what. Stay the f**k away from her; she doesn't need to deal with anymore bullshit."

What the hell?

"Mase, what the hell is going on?"

"Nothing, come on let's go." He turned around and stormed off into the house.

I looked over at Hunter and he just shook his head and walked in behind Mason. What the hell was going on? I did not feel like dealing with anything else, so if this was how today was going to be, I would just go home.

"Hey, you ready?" Hailey asked me, peaking out the door.

"I guess, but what the hell happened last night? Mase damn near bit off Hunter's head."

"Don't worry about it. It's nothing they can't work out themselves."

I shook my head and followed Hailey out to Mason's car. During most of the drive to the park, Hunter and Cooper talked about the upcoming baseball season, but Mason and Hunter said nothing to each other. There was so much tension that I could not stand it; it was doing nothing to help my mood. I only felt slightly calmer when Hunter would brush my knee when he saw me glaring at the back of Mason's head, or when Cooper would make stupid jokes and we would all laugh. The only person Mason was talking to was Hailey.

We finally made it to the park, but when I tried to pay for the tickets using my emergency money, Hunter stopped me. "I got it." He took my card and put it in his back pocket.

"No, I got it. Give me my card back." I held my hand out.

"Just let him pay Kenzie." Cooper said from behind us.

I gave Cooper a dirty look but followed behind Hunter and walked into the park. I will find a way to get the money back to him whether he likes it or not.

We all had a great time at the park; that was exactly what I needed. I did not think about anything but the next roller coaster or the person who was going to jump out and scare me since we went on Halloween weekend.

There was still tension between Mason and Hunter but I just ignored it. I did not want our time here to end, I did not want to go back to the dorms to remember Dominic and I definitely did not want to run into him either.

Hailey must have read my mind, because she suggested we go back to Hunter's house, sleep over and watch movies until we pass out like we used to at home.

"Sounds good, Hailey, your bed is like sleeping on a cinder block. My shoulders are stiff as hell." Hunter complained.

"My bed is not. I love it. I sleep like a princess." Hailey said beaming.

"Maybe it had to do with the fact that you slept half the night in the chair." I added.

"Dude, I told you I would have stayed with her." Cooper commented.

"And I told you that it wasn't a good idea to stay with her Hunter." Mason said, walking up to us from the bathroom.

No one said anything after that; Hailey pulled Mason in front of us to make our way back to the car. I followed behind with Cooper and Hunter.

"Will someone please tell me what happened between you two?" I asked Hunter and Cooper.

Cooper looked down at the ground, but spoke up first. "Mason doesn't want you with Hunter."

I stopped walking but Cooper kept walking until he realized I had stopped. Hunter just kept on walking. Either he did not realize I had stopped, or he did not want to hear anymore.

"Wait a second, what are you even talking about? Hunter doesn't want me." I really must have missed something last night.

Cooper nodded his head. "Yeah he does. He told us last night." Coop glanced over to see my reaction.

Taken back by this, I said, "It doesn't matter if he does or not. There will never be a Hunter and me. He would not do that to you guys."

He told them he wanted me after he told me last summer there could not ever be an us? Why now, after Dominic broke my heart?

"You're right, it doesn't if he does or not. Mason still hates the idea. I don't have a problem with it as much as he does, but I still don't like it. I know he has always been there for you when we couldn't but you are our sister and it's just not right."

"Yeah well, you guys have nothing to worry about." I said as I stormed past Cooper.

When I caught up to Mason I nudged his shoulder and whispered, "You don't have anything to worry about," then glanced in Hunter's direction. Mason just nodded. I don't even want to think about being in a relationship with anyone at this point, even if the one person I wanted the most finally wanted me.

Arriving back at Hunter's house, Bentley was there with a few of his friends. They were going out for the night so he told us to make ourselves at home. Hailey pulled out the vodka that she had the last time we were here and poured me a shot. I looked over at her and gave her a small smile. She knew I was still a little upset and when I needed her, she was always there.

I went into the freezer and much to my surprise; Hunter had replenished my ice cream supply. I shut the freezer door and Hunter was standing there.

"Damn it, you scared me."

He smirked at me; they all loved it when they snuck up on me.

"You hanging in there?" He asked.

"Yeah. No tears today right?" I was trying my damnedest all day not to think of what I would have to deal with when I got back home.

He grabbed the ice cream from me and scooped some out for us. Cooper came in and wanted popcorn, so Hunter threw him the box to make while I went into the living room.

After everyone settled, we started the movie, but I didn't last long. I was exhausted from not getting much sleep and being at the park all day. I was awakened by someone running a finger from my temple down my neck and back again.

When I opened my eyes, Hunter was looking at me. I glanced around the room. Everyone was gone except Cooper who was asleep on the couch across from us.