“I missed you,” he said.
My chest hurt. “I missed you too.”
His arms tightened. “I’m sorry.”
“Hunter, please. I need you to stop apologizing. I’m here because I want to be here.”
“I know.” His hand cupped the back of my neck. “That doesn’t mean I don’t hate how it made you feel.”
I touched his chest. “I hated being away from you more.”
His eyes changed. Then his mouth was on mine. The kiss started like relief. Like both of us had been holding our breath for a week and finally found air. His hands slid to my waist, mine to his hair, and the next thing I knew, my back was against the door, and his body was pressed to mine.
“I want you in my bed,” he said against my mouth.
“Yes,” I said, my breaths already heavy and my body heated.
“Catherine.” Hunter pulled back, looking like it physically hurt him. “I need to say a few things.”
He guided me to his couch and sat beside me, our knees touching, his hand wrapped around mine like he was afraid I would disappear.
“I feel guilty,” he said.
“I get it because I feel that way too.”
“Your parents trust me,” he continued. “I keep thinking we should tell them.”
My stomach dropped. “Hunter.”
“I’m not saying tonight. I’m saying eventually. If we’re dating, actually dating, we can’t hide forever.”
“You’re right.”
“Then why does it feel like you’re already bracing for impact?”
I stared down at our hands. “Because I am.”
His thumb stilled.
“I don’t want to disappoint my parents, and I don’t want to become fodder for the media. It’s so frustrating because what we are is nobody’s business.”
“I know,” he said. “But it isn’t something we can avoid forever. People don’t get to define you.”
“Don’t they?” My voice cracked before I could stop it. “Hunter, you’re established. You’re the captain. Everyone respects you. If this gets out, they’ll say I’m the coach’s daughter who slept with a player before I even had a real job.”
“I’d never let them talk about you like that,” he said like a promise, and that worried me more.
“You can’t control what people think.”
He looked like he hated that.
“This isn’t the life my dad wants for me,” I admitted. “And I know that sounds stupid because I’m an adult, but I don’t want to be a disappointment.”
Hunter’s face changed. Softened in a way that almost broke me. “You could never be that.”
“You’re very sweet,” I said.
“Thank you.” He grinned like he was pleased with himself, which made me want to bring up the other thing I’d been thinking about.