Always Mine (Roommate Duet 5)

Not wanting to bring any attention to myself, I quietly climb the stairs once I’m inside. I shut my door and feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Pulling it out, I see a text from Hunter.

Hunter: You busy? I want to get a drink in an hour, and Mason can’t break away.

A drink sounds really good, and it’s been a while since I’ve hung out with Hunter, considering he’s busy with the kids and being a husband these days. I’m sure he couldn’t care less about me being married and understands the love at first sight bullshit more than anyone I know.

Liam: Getting wasted during your lunch break?

Hunter: No, I’m on a half day. And it’s been a shitty one. Lennon’s with Brandon’s mom and the kids. Mason is busy as hell.

Liam: So it leaves me. Guess that means I’m your last choice?

I love messing with him. It’s just payback for all the hard times he’s given me in the past.

Hunter: Yeah. You are. Ha-ha.

Liam: Asshole.

Hunter: So you joining me, or making me drink alone?

Liam: You buying?

Hunter: If that’s what it takes.

I grin and tell him I’ll meet up. While I wait for the time to pass, I go onto my fake social media profiles and change the names on each of them just in case Chantal speaks to someone and warns them about me. I also block her profile too. This way, I stay safe, under the radar, and the only way to be found is by recognition. I made this a habit a few years ago when I stupidly blew my own cover. Once everything is updated, I get another text from Hunter saying he’s on his way to the sports bar downtown, and I head that way.

By the time I show up, he’s already sitting at the bar with his beer half gone. Before he and Lennon officially got together, we would meet up here. It kind of reminds me of old times before life was complicated—like now.

“I thought you were ditching me.” He chuckles and calls the bartender over.

“I don’t care how old I get, I’ll never pass up free beer,” I tease and order one.

When it’s placed in front of me, I take a big gulp.

“So, you want to explain what’s really going on with you and Victoria?” he asks. His tone isn’t accusing, though. He sounds like he wants to understand more than anything. Funny because I think we sat on these same barstools when the roles were reversed, and Mason and I bombarded him about his relationship with Lennon after Brandon passed away. I wasn’t always supportive of their friendship turned relationship, which makes me feel like shit now, knowing how perfect and happy they are.

I shrug. “We’re married, and we’re trying to make it work long distance.”

He glances at me. “Is that hard?”

Every answer I give him isn’t really a lie but more of the truth in a different context. “It is hard. Harder than I ever thought it would be.”

“You know, being married isn’t always easy. You’ll have your ups and downs, but you get over it.”

I chug the rest of my beer, then order another. “Spoken like a true husband.”

“When you meet the one, you know. After hearing your story and seeing how happy you two were at the party, I totally understood. I don’t fault you at all. It just seemed sudden and kinda shocking, you know, considering.”

Shaking my head, I grin. “Yeah, yeah, I know. My reputation precedes me.”

“Something like that,” he says, snickering. He has no room to give me shit since he had the same rep as me a few years ago. “So Lennon told me Maddie’s going on a date with a police officer tomorrow night. You know the guy?”

My entire body goes stiff, and I can feel my pulse throbbing in my neck. Just the thought of her going out with Blake aggravates the fuck out of me. “Yeah. I do. He’s a player.”

“Hmm.” I watch as Hunter’s jaw clenches. “If anyone hurts her, I’ll kill them. So the bastard better be on his best behavior and keep his hands to himself. She’s family and my little sister now.”

I nod and swallow hard, thankful Maddie kept our secret moments to herself. I’m not sure I’d be able to look him in the eyes if he knew what happened between us or the timeline of it all. Though, I deserve an ass kicking from Hunter for breaking her heart.

The way she looks at me hasn’t changed. The feelings are still there, but she’s built a wall around her heart and has forcefully pushed me away, which I understand. Regardless if my marriage is a sham, she’s protecting herself, something she should’ve done from the start. However, I never in my wildest nightmares imagined it would’ve happened like this. By the time Victoria and I end our charade, I expect Maddie to fall for another man or complete lose her feelings for me.