I laughed. Quite a group of guys we had here. Tough, too. I smacked Hunter’s chest. “No red rage beast, right?”
“I’m good.” He rolled his eyes. “Just don’t go all ape-shit on one of them if they look at your girl wrong.”
“My girl.” I downed the rest of my Pepsi. “I wish. She’s a hard nut to crack.”
“Keep working at it.” Hunter pushed up from his chair.
“Yeah?”
“Sure. She’s worth it.”
He gathered his glass and phone, then turned to the bar. He knew something, didn’t he? It’d been two weeks since I’d told her I wanted a date, but our schedules didn’t iron out like I’d hoped. Then this gig came through for the club. That had us all scrambling for coverage. The press was on it, and it was going to be big.
“I finally got a date and, since you have no man card anymore because you’re married”—I laughed—“got any tips?”
“Less is more.”
“Excuse me?” I set my glass on the bar next to his and Sam picked them up. Ever the bartender.
“The more you go nuts and balls out, the more you have to live up to. And, the more fake it seems. Like you’re trying to get into her pants.”
I huffed at that. I could have been inher pantsno problem the other night. It had taken every bit of strength I had to not go there, but I saw the merit in what Hunter was saying.
“Look, man. Just be real.”
“And buy her candy corn?”
Hunter let out a laugh that had the staff turning in our direction. “Yeah. Something like that. Maybe take her to hold some of those babies,” Hunter whispered.
“She didnottell you that.”
“No. But she told my Lina. Don’t worry. I’d never rat you out.”
“I can’t believe she told. Shit.”
“Girls talk. Especially—well, let’s just say that Lina and Sarah have a lot in common.”
Hunter’s face softened, yet his eyes flared with anger at the same time. “You know, don’t you?”
“Not every detail. Lina would never betray that confidence. But yeah, I know something went down with Sarah, and it was bad.”
“Really bad.”
Hunter’s eyebrow quirked up.
“Yeah. I get it. Survivor bond. Like you said with your mom and Lina.”
Hunter and his mom had barely survived his dad’s wrath. Violent, deadly, and had nearly killed them both.
“You’re the shrink, what’s it mean when a chick sleeps with any guy, but never kisses them, then goes on to say she’s never been on a date before? Not to mention that guys only want sex and total control over women,” I asked Hunter.
“Holy shit.” Hunter dragged me off to the side, away from the bar and any prying ears. “What did you say?”
“Dude. After keeping me at arm’s length for how long now? I walked her home on Halloween and she tried to jump me. But she wouldn’t look at me, just said she knew how to make me feel good.” I scrubbed my face. “It was like she flipped a switch or something. She was …different.”
Hunter analyzed me with his intense eyes. I hated when he did that. Felt like he was seeing into my soul or something. He had a degree in psychology, so maybe he had some insight.
“What?” I asked.