Page 44 of Hot Shot
“Locos Tacos. It’s a tiny hole-in-the-wall about ten minutes from my place. Have you been?”
“Nope.” I step out the door Hunter’s holding open for me.
“You’re in for a real treat. Their tacos are the best,” he says as he opens the passenger’s-side door of his truck and helps me in.
I peel my sweatshirt off the minute I’m inside. It might technically be fall but apparently Florida doesn’t know what that is, evidenced by the sweat clinging to my back.
“What’s with that look?” Hunter asks as he climbs into the truck and cranks on the air conditioner.
“Wishing I’d thought to bring shorts to change into.” I pull my shirt away from my body, leaning forward to adjust the air vents so they’re blowing on me.
“Want to swing by your place before lunch?”
“No, it’s fine.” Before Hunter can say anything, my phone rings. “I need to take this. It’s the mechanic.”
Hunter nods and starts driving. “What’d he say?” he asks once I’ve hung up the phone.
“The alternator died. He should have it done by the end of the day.”
“That’s great. I mean, it’s not great that it’s the alternator but that he can get it done so quickly. I can drive you over there when it’s ready.” As he’s speaking, he places one hand on my thigh and even through my jeans, I can feel the heat from his touch.
I should move his hand, but I don’t. I like it being there.
“I’m sure you’ve got something to do this evening. I can get my aunt to take me,” I mumble, staring down at his hand, wondering what it would feel like if he put it on other parts of my body. I shift in my seat, trying to dull the ache that’s building as I think about his hands on me.
“Madison. I offered.” Hunter gently strokes my leg with his thumb as he drives.
Does he know what he’s doing to me?
That he’s slowly pushing me toward the edge of the cliff that is our friendship and I’m about ready to dive off and say the hell with it.
I clear my throat. “If you’re sure.”
“I am.” Hunter puts on his blinker and turns onto the highway.
Before I can answer, my phone dings with a text message. I glance down quickly and my stomach bottoms out when I see who’s texting me.
EJ:Mads, I need to talk to you. I’m an idiot. Is that what you want me to say? I hate how we left things.
I clench my jaw. This isn’t the first time that EJ has said something like this. Acted like he was apologizing except it wasn’t a genuine apology. In the past, I’d accept it and ignore how the delivery made me feel.
But not now. Now I’m done with his shit.
He needs to give me more than this half-assed apology for what he said, how he treated me. I lock my phone and shove it back into my purse.
“You said you’re from Minnesota? What’s that like?”I ask, turning my attention back to Hunter.
“Cold. Snowy. Pretty.”
“This must be a shock to your system. That it’s November and still hot.”
He chuckles. “It is but I definitely won’t miss having to shovel or scrape ice off my car. Or getting up earlier so I can run out to start my car so it warms up in time.” He removes his hand from my leg as he pulls the truck into a parking spot, and I immediately miss the feeling of it.
Get a hold of yourself.I give myself a mental shake as I get out of the truck.
“This is it?” I ask when I’m standing next to him.
“Yeah, the entrance is on the other side. Through that alleyway there,” he says pointing.
