18
I sighed in relief feeling good after letting all that out. I never got the chance to let Ken know how tossing me away had made me feel but now he knew and it was liberating.
My food was ready so I served myself a good helping and settled down to eat. Living alone got lonely sometimes but I also didn't have to deal with people invading my space and I wouldn't trade that. Maybe one day I would give love another chance but for the moment I was focusing on some personal growth.
It was still early in the night and even if I was tired I decided to practice a couple of songs before bed. I retrieved my violin that I'd hang up on the wall, tuned it and proceeded to play.
Playing the Violin was always relaxing to me so after a couple of songs my mind was settled and when I couldn't stop yawning I decided to call it a night.
As I snuggled into bed after plugging in my phone to charge, one person came to mind. Hunter.
Yes I was still thinking about him and it would probably take a while to wean him out of my system. Hunter was the reason Ken was trying to use me for his own selfish gain but that wasn't completely his fault. I had made a deal with the devil when I agreed to accompany him to the wedding and now I was reaping the consequences. Some were good, like all the new gigs and some were bad like Ken trying to weasel himself back into my life.
But no matter what happened I would never regret meeting Hunter and all the memories we had created together. He would always be my bear and I his baby girl even if our paths never crossed again.
Three weeks passed since the birthday weekend from the movies and my life returned to normal. I had my work at the mall and gigs every other day which kept me happy, busy and well fed.
Due to shift rotations, I finally got to serve my first graveyard shift from seven pm to three am. It had been okay until midnight but then the place completely emptied out and I only got to serve someone once in a while. We were only three cashiers, the cleaners and guards. It was my third day on the shift so I had quite gotten used to the quiet. Our night manager was sleeping in the break room so we had some leeway and I was currently playing a game on my phone. It kept me entertained and from dozing off since unlike my manager I didn't have that luxury.
"Nala can you cover for us, we honestly need a break?"Grace and Farid, the other cashiers I was working with requested.
It was their third break of the night and everyone knew they were sneaking off to the back to have sex. There wasn't a customer in sight so I agreed.
"Yeah sure."I replied trying to hide the knowing grin on my face.
Once they left giggling with each other thinking they had won, I turned to the guards at the door and we burst out laughing. We definitely didn't need to be geniuses to know what their breaks were about.
I went back to my game, shooting birds off the sky with arrows. I was alerted to a new customer by the slamming of a water bottle on my counter. I jumped up scared that I'd been caught and dropped my phone to the floor. I didn't even bother picking it up, just grabbed their water without looking up and immediately rung it up. I looked up as I waited for them to pay up and immediately wished for the ground to open up and swallow me whole when I saw the person looking down at me.
Fuck me.
Of all the places in the world why did it have to be him? I had thought that I was a safe distance away since he resided on the other side of the city but it seemed like I was fooling myself.
"Baby girl."He growled in that deep voice I had missed so much.
"Bear."I choked out meekly knowing he was mad at me.
"Small world huh?"He asked giving me a once over on the part of my body that was visible.
I was wearing a dark hoodie with the Naivas logo provided for us graveyard shifters. I'd changed my hair from the wig to faux locks that I tied up in a bun to keep them professional looking while at work.
I looked tired and worn out while Hunter on the hand looked like he had just walked out of a fashion magazine in an all black outfit. He was wearing dark jeans, a black sweater and a dark trench coat over it. Even dressed casually he still looked expensive and sophisticated.
"Yes extremely."I concurred with him.
"So this is where you ran off to?"He asked his jaw still clenched in anger.
"This is where I work. What are you doing here?"I asked hoping it was all a coincidence and that he wasn't looking for me.
"Don't worry baby girl, you made it abundantly clear that you didn't want anything to do with me so I'm not here to chase you. This is a chance meeting."Hunter reassured me reading the look on my face.
I was glad to hear that but I didn't like the accusatory tone he had on.
"You know why I had to leave so don't talk to me like that."I defended myself.
"No honestly I don't know why. I told you that I wanted you but I woke up the next morning with a tape stuck to my phone and my keys at the reception with all trace of you gone."He admonished.
It was clear that he still harbored some strong feelings towards me and I was not in the right frame of mind to deal with him. I had been working too long, mostly alone because of my horny co-workers and to add to that I was on my period so definitely not the right time to deal with a disgruntled Hunter.
"That will be sixty shillings please."I requested dismissively asking him to pay for the water.
"Seriously?!"He asked exasperated.
"If you're not buying anything else then we have nothing to talk about."I replied.
Hunter looked at me with one long hard stare before he burst out laughing. I didn't know what was so funny so I just sat there impatiently waiting for him to pay.
"I've definitely missed you doll. Here."He said handing me a hundred shillings.
I handed him the change and his receipt.
"I don't carry coins."He replied looking at the money in my hand.
"Yes sir."I grinned sarcastically and dropped it all in the donation container next to my computer.
Hunter smirked at me and picked up his water bottle plus receipt.
"You know I can be petty, walk back in there and pick up enough things to keep you talking for an hour."Hunter said and I immediately panicked.
I knew he was capable of that and rich enough to afford half the supermarket if not all of it.
"But I won't do that because I'm better than that. See you around baby girl."He grinned and walked away.
I didn't like the look on his face or how quickly he was giving up so I turned around to see him toss the receipt at a bin by the door as he talked to one of the guards. I didn't hear what they were saying and they didn't look at me once so I hoped they weren't discussing me but knowing Hunter he definitely had something up his sleeve. Unfortunately for him no one at work knew where I lived or had my phone number so they couldn't help him.
Hunter turned back around smirked at me then disappeared outside into the dark. I wanted to ask the guard what they had talked about but then that would show him that I knew Hunter so I held back. My life was finally getting back to normal after the wedding fiasco and me appearing in the national papers so I honestly didn't need any more Hunter drama.
"What did we miss?"Grace asked as she walked back with messed up hair and crooked clothes with Farid not far behind looking the same.
They could at least try to help each other look descent.
"Nothing just one customer buying water."I replied with a shrug not really bothered by the shenanigans my co-workers were up to.
I had bigger issues like if Hunter had really given up and left or if he had something up his sleeve. Now that he knew where I worked, it would make it easier for him to find me and that was the last thing I wanted.
For the rest of my two hour shift, I was haunted by thoughts of Hunter and what he might do. I was happy when my shift ended and I could finally go home and sleep for the next fifteen hours until my next shift.
I clocked out, said goodbye to Grace and Farid who were leaving together and left. It was too dark to walk home alone so I would walk to the gate and get a motorbike to get me safely home.
As I walked through the parking lot I failed to notice the car parked there until its lights flashed at me suddenly blinding me. They went off almost immediately and I turned to cuss at the owner but couldn't get the words out once I recognized the car. Hunter's grey audi sat majestically at the parking lot looking like a sole king in his lone empire of an empty parking lot.
Hunter got out and approached me with a winning grin knowing he had caught me. So that's what he had been talking to the guard about? When my shift ended.
"You've been waiting for two hours?"I inquired perplexed.
"Three weeks to be more specific."He replied sarcastically.
"What do you want Hunter? I already ran away once, wasn't that hint enough that I don't want this."I asked him with a defeated sigh.
Hunter didn't reply, just stalked towards me and stood toe with me. He cupped my face in his hands warming up my cold skin and tilted my face up. The parking lot was deserted so it was only just us. My skin tingled at the contact and I nearly melted into his arms. There was no denying that I had missed Hunter but I also knew he was bad for me.
"You do want this, you're just scared."Hunter whispered looking into my eyes.
I didn't reply because he was right but I didn't want to confirm it for him and I was too tired to come up with a lie. Hunter looked at my lips and I immediately knew what he was about to do. I tried to move back but I wasn't fast enough and he ended up kissing me. The second his lips met my own I froze in place and closed my eyes. I didn't kiss him back at first, until his tongue shoved it's way past my lips into my mouth devouring me completely. I opened my mouth wider to receive him and kissed him back. He tasted like mint and Hunter, a combination I found myself loving.
"See you did miss me?"Hunter breathed pulling back suddenly laying his forehead on mine as we tried to catch our breath.
"I never denied that."I replied.
"I want to talk. Let me treat you out to a meal."Hunter requested.
I pulled back and my face fell from his hands.
"We did talk, three weeks ago. I can't give you what you want Hunter."I sighed wrapping my arms protectively around myself.
"Please baby girl. I have honestly never said please to anyone before so this is a humble request. I really did try to forget you but I can't and it seems fate wants us together, thus why we met tonight. Come on, you at least owe me a conversation and a meal. If you don't like what I have to say then feel free to chase me off."Hunter proposed.
"I already did that yet here we are three weeks later."I replied with a laugh.
"I know but come on please. A conversation and a meal."He pleaded.
I thought about it and I knew Hunter would keep pestering me until I said yes. There was also no escaping him now since he knew where I worked.
"Yes but I have conditions."I said agreeing.
"Which are?"Hunter asked with a smile trying to contain his excitement.
"One I choose where we go and pay for what we eat. Two after tonight no matter how things go you're not allowed to look for me at work. You're banned from this mall."I demanded.
"You can't ban me from a mall."Hunter retorted.
"Yes I can. Take it or leave it."I asserted.
"Feisty thing aren't you?"He asked with a chuckle.
"You have no idea."I smiled at him.
"Okay fine you win, I'll agree to your conditions."Hunter agreed caving.
"Good, you drive, I'll give you the directions."I said crossing my fingers and hoping I wouldn't get burned by the decision I'd made.
Hunter smiled and opened the passenger side door for me before rounding the car to get behind the wheel.
It felt so surreal being back in his car after so long especially since I ditched him. Memories of what we'd done in that car made my womb clench and I had to remind myself that it wasn't the right time for such thoughts. It's not like anything could happen anyway. I was on my period and it was only the second day so I had a heavy flow.
"Okay where to?"Hunter asked switching on the car.
"My place."I replied as confidently as I could.
All places that were open at three am were either too expensive for me to afford or too shabby to take Hunter to. My next best choice was my place. Maybe he would see the state I lived in and finally accept that since we lived in different worlds we could never actually be together.
"Are you sure you're ready for me to invade your space like that? "Hunter asked considerately.
"I don't have a choice. I just paid my rent and bought a new string for my violin so I can't afford to treat you to some place nice."I confessed.
"I'm okay with paying baby girl."Hunter offered.
"I know but you agreed to my conditions."I reminded him.
He was being so nice and understanding but I didn't want to keep mooching off him.
"Which way then?"Hunter agreed with a defeated sigh.
I smiled and started giving him directions. It was a short drive that included me giving directions and awkward moments of silence. Finally we arrived and when we got to the gate I got out to open it for Hunter and once he drove in I closed it behind him. Everyone was sleeping so no one would see Hunter and ask any questions that I wouldn't be able to answer. He would also be gone before anyone woke up.
Hunter got out of the car and approached me as we walked to my door. I hesitantly opened the door to let us in exposing my whole life to Hunter. He was the first person I was having over at my place since I moved in and it was scary but I had put myself in that situation so I had to accept it.
"You can still change your mind?"Hunter whispered.