Authors: Ashley Blake
"Yeah, what was her deal? Your sister Claire was the polar opposite of Abby, she was so sweet to me. I don't think Abby likes me, and she doesn’t even know me!”
"It's not personal, Abby has her issues and has this silly feud with Claire, there's a long-standing sibling rivalry there which has never really been resolved. Claire tries to talk to her but Abby doesn’t seem to want to let her get close. Our parents have even suggested counseling for them but Abby doesn’t want to do it, so they continue to argue but deep down I know that they love each other. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.”
“Wow, heavy.”
"Tell me about it. Anyway, let's not let that ruin our time here this weekend, Abby will just have to get over herself and my mom will see to it that she does. Are you ready to go downstairs and have some delicious hot chocolate?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
We were sitting around the dinner table when I heard a familiar voice enter the room.
“Hi everyone, sorry I’m so late. I couldn’t fly with Jonathan and Sky so I had to fly commercial and my flight was delayed.”
Barbi strolled in wearing a low cut tight sweater, tight jeans, tall black boots and a mink fur, her blonde extensions flowing down her back. She looked ridiculous.
“Hi Barbi, why did you have to fly commercial?” Abby looked thoroughly concerned at the thought, like the world was ending.
“Jonathan thought it was best that I get my own flight.”
Um, girl, you’re not going to throw him under the bus like that.
I surprised myself because I didn’t even hesitate to defend him in front of everyone.
“Barbi, we both know he had his reasons. If you had not tried to break us up, he would have welcomed you on the flight with us, right?” My eyes held hers as she tried to look away.
She looked visibly uncomfortable as she was forced to tell the truth, and all eyes were on her.
She glared at me and then answered me. “Yes, and I apologized for the misunderstanding.” Her glare became even stronger.
We had settled things back in the park that day, but it had not turned into any sort of friendship, not by a long shot. I had tried to give her the benefit of the doubt and I thought she might have had some redeeming qualities, but I wasn’t seeing them and I still didn’t trust the girl and neither did Jonathan.
"Let's be clear Barbi, there was no misunderstanding, you blatantly tried to break us up. But we've already covered that and it's water under the bridge now, so let’s move on.”
I glanced around the table and realized that his family was looking at me with awe and admiration, everyone but Abby, of course.
“Jonny, sweetheart, this girl is a keeper.” Bunny had a big grin on her face as she winked at Jonathan, and then her look turned to disgust as her eyes landed on Barbi’s outfit.
“Barbara please go change into more appropriate clothing, no one here is interested in seeing your bosom and the outline of your figure.” Bunny did not mince words and I really liked that about her. Jonathan was right when he told me she was the spryest little thing I would ever meet.
Barbi’s cheeks turned beet red as she sulked away to go change her clothes.
"Ethan really needs to get that girl under control, she looks atrocious and she's making our family look bad. I don't want our family to be associated with someone like that. Joshua, Jake, I want both of you to have a talk with Ethan about that girl. She needs to shape up and be quick about it.” Bunny was
not
happy.
“Yes mother.” Both men spoke in unison.
It was really interesting to me to see what the general consensus was about Barbi in that family. The only person who seemed to like her in that room was Abby, and after the way they both treated me, that should not have come as any sort of surprise.
“Well, it’s getting late, we’ve had a tough few days at school, tons of work, so we’re going to turn in, if that’s okay with everyone.”
"You are most certainly not going to turn in with Skylar young man, we have raised you better than that. You may walk her to her room and say good night and then I expect for you to go to your room to retire for the evening. Do we understand each other?” Mr. Hunter’s voice was firm as he furrowed his brow at Jonathan.
"Dad, I didn't mean that she and I were going to go retire in a room
together
, I meant that we're both very tired and going to go retire to our individual rooms, that’s all.”
“Okay, good, I’m glad to hear that. Well, you two get some rest and we will see you in the morning for breakfast. Skylar, if you need anything please do not hesitate to ask.”
“Okay, Mr. Hunter, thank you. Goodnight everyone, I will see you all in the morning.”
Jonathan closed the door behind us after we entered my room and he immediately gathered me in his arms and gave me a soft, sensual kiss. “I have been waiting to do that all day.”
“Jonathan, we can’t do that because I won’t want to stop and we have to stop since we’re in your parent’s house. I don’t want to do anything to make them not like me. I already have an uphill battle with Abby, which I can handle, but I don’t want to have an uphill battle with the rest of your family. Things are good right now with everyone so we’ll have to wait to be together until we get back to school.”
“Okay, but you have to at least give me little pecks. I can’t go the entire weekend without kissing you Sky.”
“Okay, here, is this what you want?”
I pulled him down to me and gave him a soft lingering peck.
“Or is this what you want?” I pulled him down to me for a longer kiss and I was a total hypocrite because I got caught up in the kiss and I didn’t want to stop. I was doing exactly what I just told him I couldn’t do. But I couldn’t help myself because he was so sexy.
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to him as his tongue slid over mine. His fingers laced through my hair, grabbing fistfuls as his kiss became more needing and wanting. I pressed my body against his and I laced my fingers through his hair as a soft moan escaped my lips. I could feel his arousal and I wished so badly that we were back at the dorm in his room so that I could let him have his way with me. His hands roamed slowly over my body, cupping my breasts and squeezing my behind and my core began to throb, aching to be filled.
I suddenly pulled away and we were both panting like animals in heat.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that, especially when I knew how difficult it would be for me to stop. I want to be with you so badly but we have to wait until we get back to school. We’re going to have to be good while we’re here, right?”
He looked at me and gently ran his hand over my hair, letting a finger slowly caress my cheek and then slide across my bottom lip.
“Yes, sweetie, we’ll be good. But when we get back to school, you better be ready because I have a lot of lost time with you to make up for.” His voice was raw as he ground out the words.
His eyes were filled with lust as they held mine and the butterflies were going crazy in my belly, the good butterflies this time.
“I better go to my room before I don’t have the strength to leave you. Good night my love, sleep well.” He leaned down and gave me a sweet peck on the cheek, his stubble lightly grazing my skin, before leaving my room.
I got ready for bed and crawled under the covers feeling as if I was on cloud nine. I drifted off to sleep thinking of kisses from Jonathan.
The next morning Jonathan came to my room to get me for breakfast and if it was even possible, I think he looked more gorgeous than he had the day before.
“Good morning sunshine, how did you sleep?”
“I slept like a baby, I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a more comfortable bed in my life. How did you sleep, honey?”
“Honey, I like that. I also slept like a baby. Knowing that you were here probably had a lot to do with it. So, are you ready for today?”
I gave him a curious look. “What do you mean? What’s going on today besides Thanksgiving dinner?”
"Ice-skating! We didn’t mention it last night because my aunt Lauren likes guests to be a little bit surprised when they hang out with us. Her best friend came to visit once and had no idea about the ice skating trip, and tried to get out of it, but aunt Lauren wouldn’t let her and she ended up having the best time! Every single person in my family loves to go ice-skating because no one knows how to do it very well. We all end up falling on our butts and laughing our heads off, but it is so much fun.”
“I had no idea you like to ice skate! I love ice-skating! How soon are we going?”
“The car will pick us up after breakfast, but you’ll have time to change into more ice-skating appropriate clothes first.”
“Okay, sounds good. I’m starved, let’s go eat!”
After breakfast I quickly changed my clothes and met Jonathan by the front door. The car was waiting for us outside and we were riding with Abby, Claire and Barbi. I wasn’t too thrilled about that but I didn’t have much say in the matter so I decided to put on a happy face.
Barbi was barely speaking to me after our exchange the night before and Abby wouldn't even look in my direction. Thank goodness Claire was there to break the ice otherwise it would have been super awkward if it was just me, Jonathan, Abby and Barbi in the car.
“So Skylar, do you like to ice skate?” Thankfully Claire broke the ice. I think Jonathan was completely oblivious to the tension being directed toward me from Abby and Barbi.
I perked up and was happy to talk to her. “I do, I go every winter back home.”
“Oh good, you and I can race aunt Lauren. You wouldn’t think it because she’s older, but she can still fly around the rink like nobody’s business.”
“Oh fun, I love a challenge! Is the rink big?”
She answered but I didn’t hear her because all I could hear was the snide comment Abby whispered in Barbi’s ear.
“Look at the new best friends.”
They both giggled quietly and I have to say my feelings were hurt. I had tried to be nice to Barbi, even after what she did with the whole being in Jonathan’s bed thing, and Abby didn’t even know me and wasn’t giving me any kind of chance at all. I was starting to think that the person I was seeing was who she really was. The whole ‘I’m sorry I’m being a jerk to you because I broke up with my boyfriend’ story was no longer going to fly with me. The girl just didn’t like me and I didn’t know what to do about it.
“Abby, is there a problem?” Claire’s voice was firm.
Abby sneered at her. “Are you my keeper or something? No, there isn’t a problem. Do
you
have a problem?”
“Come on you guys, cut it out. Do you have to fight every single time we all get together? Can we just agree to be polite around my guest? Abby that question was for you.” Exasperation was written all over Jonathan’s face and the firm tone in his voice left no room for back talk. Even though he was the younger brother, he had an authority with his sisters that went way beyond his young years, and to my surprise they actually listened to him.
Abby looked apologetic and smiled at him. “I’m sorry Jonny, can you forgive me?”
His eyes were cold as they searched hers.
“Are you forgetting something?”
She glanced at me and I could see that it was a struggle for her to speak to me. “I’m sorry about that comment Skylar. I just haven’t been myself since my boyfriend broke up with me.”
That excuse was getting really old but I didn’t want to seem confrontational so I just smiled and didn’t say anything.
“That’s better, now let’s all have fun at the rink.” Jonathan seemed to be satisfied with what she said but I knew that she wasn’t being sincere.
Surprisingly, through all of this, Barbi didn't really say very much and I don't know if it was because she was on my side or she just didn’t want to get in middle of it. In any event, I decided that I was going to have fun with Jonathan and the family members that did like me.
We pulled up to the rink a few minutes later and I was amazed at how enormous it was. When we got inside the area where you rent skates, Jonathan’s parents and his aunt Lauren and uncle Jake were already there. Bunny stayed behind at the house to prepare her special dessert. The family’s personal chef and his team were preparing our Thanksgiving dinner so no one had to worry about cooking anything.
We got our skates and were lacing up when Barbi started flirting with a guy who was taking a break from skating. That left me, Jonathan, Claire and Abby to skate together. We decided to tem up in pairs and race each other around the rink. Abby insisted on skating with Jonathan since she hadn’t seen him in so long, so I skated with Claire, which was fine by me.
We all decided to warm up for a few minutes before we started our race so Claire and I chatted while we casually skated around the rink.
"So things seemed pretty serious with you and my brother, I'm happy to see that he met someone who is so nice. My family really likes you Skylar and that means a lot because they can be kind of harsh if they think someone is not right for one of us.”
“Things are pretty serious I guess and I’m so happy that your family likes me, well, except Abby seems to not care for me.”
She waved her hand in the air to dismiss what I was saying. "Oh please, don't even think twice about Abby, she has her own stuff that she’s dealing with and I promise you it’s not personal toward you. Her loser boyfriend broke up with her last night and kicked her out of the car by the side of the road. My parents have been begging her to break it off with him and are threatening to cut her off if she doesn't. Hopefully this is the end of him and we won't see him anymore. But really, don't worry, it's not you.”
I felt a little bit relieved to hear her say that but it still didn’t help that Abby was so nasty to me every time I saw her.
“What about you? Do you have a boyfriend?”
"A huge smile spread across her face as she answered me. "I do, his name is Keegan, and he will be here later today to join us for Thanksgiving dinner. I can’t wait for the rest of the family to meet him.”
“How long have you been dating him?”
“It will be a year and a half next week.”
“Oh, cool.”
“So, what’s the deal with you and Barbi?” Claire raised an eyebrow as she glanced at me.
“Barbi and I have a bit of history so I have to admit that I find it difficult to be anything more than just cordial toward her.”
“What happened with you two anyway? That was a weird exchange between you two last night.”
“She has not been happy about me and Jonathan from the second we first got together. She tried to break us up and it almost worked. I found her in his bed and it looked like she was naked but it turns out she had clothes on under the covers but wanted me to think she was naked. When Jonathan confronted her about it she said she did it for the attention and she felt like she was losing the only family she’d ever had.”
I glanced over at Claire as we continued to skate and she looked thoroughly disgusted.
“First of all, my brother would
never
in a million years look even once at a girl like Barbi, she’s not his type at all. Second, she tried to pull that ‘whoa is me I don’t have a family’ crap with me and I’m not buying it. Both she and her mother are opportunists and I’m just waiting for the day Ethan finds the next wife. He doesn’t stick with one woman for very long.”
“Why not?”
“Let’s just say he has a wandering eye.”
“Jonathan seems to like Barbi as a person, he’s always been very friendly toward her.”
“My brother has a heart of gold and he is extremely kind. He doesn’t like to see anyone feeling sad or lonely in any way, so that probably has a lot to do with why he is so nice to her. I can almost guarantee that she won’t be around much longer.”
We skated over to Abby and Jonathan and marked where we would end the race. Their aunt Lauren decided to sit it out since she was so comfortable inside, so it was just going to be the four of us. We were going to go around the rink three times. Claire and Abby were super excited and were acting like little girls. It was the first time I saw a glimpse of the nice side of Abby.
This ice skating thing must be a big deal with them.
We all stood at the imaginary starting line, counted to the three and took off.
Claire and I got a good lead and we made it once around before Jonathan and Abby caught up with us. Both teams were talking trash to the other and we were all neck and neck as we rounded the last turn when Jonathan and Abby pulled out ahead of us and won.
“Yay!” They high fived each other as we all erupted into breathless giggles.
“That was so awesome!” Abby had a huge grin on her face as she hugged Jonathan. “I knew we could pull it off baby brother!”
“Great job Abby.” A rich, deep voice interrupted us and we all turned to see a tall, dark, rugged guy watching Abby, his gaze full of hunger. He had that sexy, smoldering thing going on and I could tell that he was not from the same world the Hunter’s were. It was obvious.