The Boy on the Bridge

“This isn’t the final destination?” I ask, confused.

Hunter shakes his head. “He’s gonna take you home. I didn’t figure you’d want to stick around at my party.”

“Oh. Well, no, not really, I guess. But…”

“Are you pregnant?”

I shake my head, looking down at my lap. “I’m sure I’m not. But you didn’t use a condom, and I haven’t had a period yet. You know me, I’m a worrier, so I’m just… being careful while I wait.”

“Other than the lack of condom, do you have any reason to think you might be?”

He sounds so calm. This isn’t the reaction I expected. I didn’t want to tell him unless there was something to tell, but I thought if I had to… well, I didn’t expect him to be so calm about it.

“I’ve made a concerted effort not to look at a listing of pregnancy symptoms. I would probably convince myself if I did, but I don’t know, I’ve been more tired than usual. I also haven’t been sleeping as well, though.”

“I think not being able to sleep is a pregnancy thing. Something about the hormones. My stepmom was talking about it with my half-sister. She was messing around with some dumb fuck from prep school and her mom was freaking out about her late period.”

I crack a smile at how protective he sounds talking about it. “I still want to hear all about Italy.”

“It seems we have a lot to talk about,” Hunter says, leaning in and absently kissing my forehead. “Well, I’ve gotta make an appearance in here, but once I do, I’m coming to your house.”

“You are?”

He nods. “Leave your window unlocked.”

Chapter Thirty Five

Riley

When I get home, thankfully Mom and Ray are already in bed, so I’m able to slip into my room without explaining why a limo dropped me off instead of Anderson in his Lexus.

I close my bedroom door and pace nervously, unsure how to prepare for Hunter coming over. I’ve imagined him climbing back through my bedroom window about a million times over the years, but now that it’s actually happening, I don’t feel prepared.

I unlock my bedroom window, but I don’t know what to do after that. Should I change out of my dress? I don’t know.

I put the tiara on my dresser and take my hair down while I wait, but I leave the dress on. I’m brimming with nervous energy, my stomach in knots. I tell myself there’s no reason to be so nervous, it’s just Hunter… but it’s not just Hunter. It’s Hunter in my bedroom.

Even though I tell myself I won’t need them, I walk over to the end table beside my bed and crack open the drawer.

I’m absolutely not going to have sex with Hunter Maxwell again tonight… but, just in case, I bought a pack of condoms. I didn’t want to have to rely on him to bring them again since that didn’t go so well last time.

Totally not going to happen, though.

I am 100% certain.

Still, I open up the box and toss the individually wrapped condoms in the drawer so they’ll be easier to get to if I need them.

Which I won’t.

Obviously.

Behind me, I hear a noise from my window.

Startled, I drop the condom box and slam the drawer shut like I’ve been caught doing something wrong.

When I spin around, wide-eyed and guilty-looking, I see Hunter Maxwell climbing in my bedroom window.

My heart jumps.

It thinks it belongs to him, the stupid thing.

“What have you got there?” he asks.

“Nothing,” I say too quickly.

He cocks an eyebrow and walks closer. “Nothing, huh? Why do you look so guilty? You got another boyfriend stashed in there I’m gonna have to get rid of?”

I crack a smile and roll my eyes. “Yes, he’s three inches tall. Good luck finding him.”

Hunter smiles, closing the distance between us and reaching behind me for the drawer pull.

I push my hands back against the drawer, keeping it closed. “No peeking. It’s an invasion of my privacy.”

“I guess you better distract me, then,” he challenges.

My heart thuds in my chest as I look up at him. He towers over me, and he’s so close, it’s overwhelming.

I want to be light on my feet, I want to be glib and engage in light-hearted banter, but it’s like I’m 14 again, alone with a boy for the very first time.

I can scarcely breathe, let alone wield my wits.

Seeking to kill the mood and settle my rocky stomach, I say, “We should probably discuss the potential pregnancy situation.”

Hunter shakes his head, his gaze still locked on me. I can feel it, even though I won’t look up at him. “Not exactly what I had in mind.”

“It’s important.”

“If you’re pregnant, we’ll figure it out. If you’re not, we don’t have to. There, matter settled.”

“That’s not…”

“Riley.”

His voice makes my heart drop again. I finally lift my gaze to meet his. “Yeah?”