"Hey." I tilted my head to look up at him.

"You ok? You know, I didn't have a choice in telling Mason. I was avoiding his calls. He knew something was up, that's why he got Coop to call." He was trying to defend himself but there was no need. This was my family, and nothing was ever going to change.

"I know." I looked out over the ocean. "I told Dominic I needed a break."

"I kind of heard. I was coming to give you the phone, but figured you needed a minute." He started massaging my shoulders. God that felt good. "You're so tense CC. Relax."

I tried to relax, and enjoy the feel of his hands on me. As soon as I did, I felt the tears in my eyes. Trying hard not to think about either him or Dominic, I put my hands on his hands and brushed them off. He did not know that he was making this harder on me. I wanted to run into his arms. I wanted him take all the shit Dominic was causing away, but he could not, because he would not.

I walked down to the ocean. The waves crashed around my legs. It was freezing, but I did not care. I was already numb. I kept walking until I could not reach the bottom anymore. Hunter came up behind me and grabbed me, pulling me to him. I wanted this, and I just did not have the energy to push him away anymore tonight. I let him hold me, as the current pushed us around. After a while, I started shivering, and we made our way back to the house. Hailey was still sound asleep in the recliner when we walked into the living room.

"I think we should leave her here. I'll grab a blanket from my room," Hunter said, and walked off towards the stairs.

I decided to follow him up so I could borrow some of his clothes, and get out of these wet ones.

I pushed his door open and walked in. "Can I borrow some of your clothes again?"

"Yeah, help yourself. T-shirts are in the second drawer, boxers are in the first." He said from inside his walk in closet. "I'll be back, so you can change in here." He walked out with a blanket for Hailey.

I grabbed one of his t-shirts and a pair of boxers and quickly changed. I walked over to his closet, and grabbed another pillow and blanket for myself. When I opened the closet door, there were pictures of the two of us together from a few summers taped to the door. As I was standing there staring at them, he walked in.

"Um," He took a deep breath, and then continued, "Do you want to sleep in here, or downstairs with Hailey?"

I turned to look at him, but did not say anything for a long moment. "Why do you have these in here?"

"It's just pictures CC." He said, as walked back towards his dresser.

I did not say anything else. I just shut the closet door.

He reached in one of the drawers, grabbed a pair of boxers and walked into the bathroom. A second later, he came out wearing just boxers and walked to his bed.

"You staying here, or downstairs?" He asked me again.

I didn't answer him. I just walked over to the bed, pulled the covers down and climbed in. Hunter reached over to the side table and turned off the lamp, then climbed into bed. I knew he was uncomfortable because he could not stop moving.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" I asked him, after he started shaking his foot, making the whole bed move.

"No, why?" He asked.

"Because, you are shaking the whole bed with your foot. I don't mind sleeping down stairs."

"No, you are fine." He turned on his side facing me.

I was never going to be able to sleep with him watching me. I turned away from him, but that was not making me any more comfortable. I knew what I wanted, but I only wished he would do it. He must have read my mind because he reached for my hip, and pulled me towards him.

"Is this ok?" He whispered in my ear.

I nodded, and snuggled a little closer. That was exactly what I needed, and within minutes, I was fast asleep.

8

The next morning, I woke up to something tickling my feet. Trying to kick it away so I could go back to sleep, I heard someone say "Shit."

I sat straight up. "Sorry Hails." Looking around, I was very confused for a minute, and then I realized where I was. "What time is it?"

"Six-thirty. I thought I should wake you up so we can get back to the dorm and get ready for class." She said, rubbing her wrist that I kicked.

Groaning, I flopped back down in bed, threw the pillow that was next to me and hit Hunter with it. "Hunter, get up."

"I am up." He said, as he started to sit up against the headboard. He took the pillow I threw at him and put it over his lap.

Hailey started laughing hysterically. I sat up and glared at her. "What the hell is so funny?"

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she pointed to the pillow on Hunter's lap. "That is." Then she turned, and walked away, still laughing.

Hunter moved the pillow to get out of bed, and I saw what Hailey had laughed at. I started laughing. "You know, I can help you with that."

"Laugh it up." Hunter said, as he walked to his dresser to put on a pair of jeans.

I finally calmed down enough to get out of bed. I went into the bathroom to relieve myself and throw some water on my face. Remembering my clothes were soaked and there was no way I could wear them home, I went back into the bedroom and found Hunter leaning up against his dresser.

"My clothes are still soaked. Can I borrow a pair of sweats?"

He shook his head and started laughing, "No. It looks like you are wearing that back."

I just shrugged my shoulders. "Fine by me." Then I walked away, swaying my hips.

I heard Hunter groan, and a minute later, his drawer slammed shut. I sat down at the kitchen island where Hailey was eating cereal.

"So, did you talk to Dominic last night?" She asked, putting a spoonful of cereal in her mouth.

"Yeah, I told him I needed a break. I need time to think."

"Humph," was her response.

I turned to look at the clock on the stove, and then looked back at Hailey. "We need to get going; I need a shower before class starts."

I got up out of my chair to grab my cell phone from my purse. She got up as well, placed her bowl in the sink and went into the living room. Hunter came into the kitchen, threw a bag and a pair of sweat pants at me.

"That's what I thought." I said, laughing at him.

He glared at me. "I'll be in the car."

Hunter dropped us off, and said he would call us later. Hailey and I got ready and headed off to class. I did not see Dominic all day; I guess he was giving me the break that I asked for. During the week, football took up a lot of his time, but a small piece of me was hoping he would at least try to talk to me.