“What about Ryder? I have to see him; she can’t keep him from me.” His head fell back against the wall.

“She wouldn’t do that to you. Yeah she’s pissed, but she’s not spiteful.” Mason’s door opened and he stepped out.

Hunter attempted to stand but stumbled, practically landing on me. “How’d you get here?”

“Drove.”

“Son of a bitch, Hunter! Just because your world has gone to shit doesn’t mean you get to be reckless!” I raised my voice slightly.

“It doesn’t matter Hailey, my girl doesn’t want me,” he said as he lay back on the carpet and threw his arm over his face.

“What the f**k man? Come on, get up.” I helped Hunter to his feet and shoved him into the bathroom. “Take a shower.” I left the door open so I could run back to my room and grab a pair of sweat pants and a T-shirt for him.

Hunter looked like he was going to be sick; I turned the shower on and pushed the clothes to his chest. That seemed to have brought him out of his thoughts.

“I’ll make you some coffee, come down when you’re done.” I told him.

I shut the door and leaned against it; Hailey came over and wrapped her arms around me. “I don’t want you to ever keep anything from me, Mase. Nothing, I don’t care what it is, always talk to me.”

I hugged her tightly to my chest, “I promise, Boo.”

After I heard some movement in the bathroom, Hailey and I went downstairs to make some coffee. Mom and Dad were already down there sitting at the kitchen table.

“Good Morning.” Mom said.

I grunted. There was nothing good about this morning.

“Is that Hunter we heard upstairs?” Dad asked.

“Yeah,” Hailey piped up.

“He’s a f**king mess.” I stated.

“Watch your mouth.” Dad demanded. I hadn’t even noticed I’d cursed.

About a half hour later Hunter came downstairs. He noticed Mom and Dad, but instead of walking into the kitchen he went out to his truck.

I jumped out of my seat and went after him, “Where are you going?”

“Home,” Hunter tossed his clothes onto the passenger seat and started climbing in.

“You can’t drive. Give me a minute. I’ll have Hailey follow me to your house.” I started walking back towards the house when Hunter started the truck and quickly backed out of the driveway.

Shit! This was bad and he was being dangerous.

After CC kicked me out I went to the closest bar I could find, needing something to fill the pit in my stomach. I knew it was the wrong decision the second I walked in and sat down.

The bartender came over and took my order. He set it down in front of me, and I looked up waiting for him to tell me how much, but he nodded his head towards a blonde who had her head turned.

I didn’t recognize her at first, that is until she turned and looked my way. Lily. Damn, of all the times to run into her, it had to be tonight. Haven’t I been dealt enough shit lately?

She smiled, jumped off the stool and made her way over to me. She sat in the only other seat available at the bar which just happened to be right next to me.

Lily had turned into the town slut after the party where she’d basically opened her legs to every Tom, Dick and Harry. It was my junior year in high school. Mason, Cooper and I were on the baseball team which meant we were just expected to show up at any party. The three of us got really wasted that night while playing flip cup and beer pong. Lily had been flirting with all of us, going from one lap to the next all night. Mason, Cooper and I were out back bullshitting with some of the guys from the team, when they started on the twins, asking if they’d ever had a threesome. Cooper and Mason wouldn’t come flat out and say no, but they didn’t really need to when Lily walked by and grabbed the twins by their collars and kissed them both. The other guys began whistling cat calls, hooting and hollering; that only fueled them on. Next thing we knew she was leading them away from the group. Lily called my name and said ‘let’s go’. All the guys started shoving me in their direction. What was I supposed to do? Not go? That wasn’t about to happen. So I went. And I can’t say I’m completely happy with myself after that night. I stood in the corner of the room while Lily had her way with Mason and Cooper. I was getting called every name in the book from Mason and Cooper, so I caved. Or at least that’s what they thought. Those two passed out and left me alone with Lily. How that girl was still functioning was beyond me. She tried her damnedest but it wasn’t happening. I told her she was better than that and walked out.

At practice the next morning the twins bragged about it to all the guys on the team, and we were all pretty much legends at school after that. I never denied it and they never asked what happened, so I let them think what they wanted.

So, when she jumped on the stool with her daisy duke shorts and barely-there shirt and said, “Hey handsome.” I cringed.

I knew what she was up to the second she’d looked my way across the bar. I was her next conquest.

I tipped my beer in her direction, “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” She scooted her stool closer. I rolled my eyes. “So what brought you here?”

“Just needed a drink,” I wasn’t about to tell her my life story.

“I take it things aren’t going good with Princess?” Lily asked all innocently.

Lily had never liked CC. She was jealous of her and she had every right to be. CC was incredible compared to this trash next to me. “It’s none of your business.” I answered her.

“Jim!” she yelled at the bartender. Nice, she knew the bartender. That says a lot about her. “Four shots of tequila.”

“I’m not drinking that shit.” I stated. Tequila and I didn’t mix well.

The bartender eyed me, “You need it buddy.” Just f**king great! I came here to forget about my problems and here these two were throwing it back in my face.

“Whatever.” Maybe that’s what I needed. I just needed to forget everything for a little while.

Jim the bartender placed four shot glasses in front of us, poured the tequila and said, “Cheers,” then walked away to wait on another customer.

I shouldn’t have come here. I should just get up and leave while I’m ahead.

Lily twisted a piece of her brown hair around her finger, “Well, come on.” She reached for her shot, picked it up and held it out waiting for me to do the same.