HUNTER: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Rosewood High Book 5)

  Hunter

  Rosewood High #5

  Tracy Lorraine

  Copyright © 2020 by Tracy Lorraine

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Edited by My Brother’s Editor

  Proofread by Sisters Get Lit(erary)

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Tracy Lorraine

  Hate You

  Hate You

  Andy and Amelia

  Prologue

  Poppy

  Three years ago…

  “Zayn, your turn,” Ethan says, his eyes moving around the circle until he finds Zayn’s excited dark eyes.

  It’s his birthday, he should be excited. Unlike me, who’s been forced to attend a fifteen-year-old boy’s party while ignoring the fact he doesn’t want me, Ruby, or his sister here.

  We stand out like a sore thumb among his football friends, but for some crazy reason Jada, Zayn and Harley’s mom, seemed to think it was a good idea.

  I roll my eyes at her naïve plans. At least Scarlett, their older sister, had the sense to argue and has hidden herself in her room.

  The tension in the room ticks up a notch as everyone stares at the empty bottle that Zayn spins in the middle of the circle we’re all sitting in.

  All the girls around me, bar Harley, seem to hold their breath in the hope of getting a chance at seven seconds in heaven with Zayn.

  I try to keep my breathing steady in the hope of covering up that I’d also be more than willing to lock myself in the closet with Zayn.

  He’s hot, and I can’t deny that I haven’t had a crush on him since they first arrived in Rosewood last year.

  It’s just a shame he’s one of Jake’s football buddies. They might all only be sophomores, but I only have to take one look at the varsity team to see what they’re going to be like in two years. Their egos and wannabe god-like personas are already growing larger than life.

  I have no interest in getting tangled up with that. I’m not a popular girl, I’m not destined for the cheer squad or one of the sport teams. I’ll just hide in the shadows while doing my thing and counting down the days until I can leave for college and finally take charge of my own life.

  I let out a sigh, lost in thoughts of a future without the weight of my family weighing down on me. Being fourteen shouldn’t be like this. I shouldn’t be worrying about everyone else more than myself, but sadly it’s my reality.

  The bottle slows to a stop and my heart jumps into my throat as realization dawns that it could be about to land on me. I glance to Harley at my side and smile, imagining everyone’s irritation—mostly Zayn’s—should it land on his sister.

  It misses her though, and when the bottle comes to a stop, it’s pointed directly at me.

  My eyes fly up in shock as I look up at Zayn.

  “No. No fucking way,” Jake, my cousin barks, his eyes narrowing on Zayn.

  “Calm down, man. It’s just some fun. Poppy, you’re up for it, right?” Ethan looks at me expectantly.

  “I… um…” I hesitate as all the sophomore girls’ eyes drill into me.

  “Just let him spin it again,” Shelly pipes up, one of the cheer wannabes. “Zayn doesn’t want to kiss a freshman anyway. She probably doesn’t have the first clue about what she’s doing.”

  I part my lips to argue, but really, she has a point. My experience with kissing is limited to an awkward lip press with Christopher back in junior high during a game of kiss chase.

  “No second spins,” Ethan spits, reiterating the rules that he laid out at the beginning of this stupid game. “You get in the closet or you forfeit, and I’m pretty sure none of you want to do the dares that I’ve got running around in my head.” He smiles wickedly and Shelly pales slightly. I’ve heard all about Ethan Savage’s dares, and so has everyone else in the room looking at their faces. “So…” He waves his hand between the two of us and the closet being used for this game.

  My nerves quadruple to the point I worry if I’m going to be able to actually walk over there.

  I push to stand, feeling the stares of everyone around me but no more so than Harley’s shock and my cousin’s death stare.

  I manage to take two steps to where Ethan is now holding the door open before a hand wraps around my wrist.

  “If he tries anything with you, tell me and I’ll lay him out.”

  “It’s fine, Jake. It’s just for fun,” I tell him, but I don’t meet his eyes. The last thing I need him to see are my nerves and, dare I say it, excitement about this.

  “It better be. You’re worth more than any of this group has to offer.” I don’t miss the sounds of the rest of the team ribbing Zayn for having to kiss his little sister’s friend, but I zone them out and focus on Jake.

  “They’re your friends, Jake.”

  “Yeah, and you’re my family. The only decent one I got. I want the best for you, Popsicle.”

  I roll my eyes at his overprotectiveness, although I can’t help but feel loved. It’s something I don’t feel all that often where my family is concerned. I think Jake is the only person who actually understands, who gets me. And for that, I’ll forever be grateful.

  “It’s all good. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”

  He releases me, allowing me to slip into the closet.

  I wait in the shadows for Zayn to join me while the hoots and hollers from his friends continue.

  “Make sure she gives you one hell of a present, Hunter,” someone calls, making me swallow down the lump of anxiety that’s climbed up my throat.

  It’s only a kiss. I can do that. It’s no biggie.

  Right?

  There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s only doing this because it’s a game. There’s no way in hell he’d ever willingly kiss me. I might have imagined what it would be like a time or two, but I suspect it never so much as crossed his mind, let alone in this capacity.

  The door widens, allowing a sliver of light to illuminate me before it clicks shut, bathing us both in darkness.

  My heart beats so wildly I swear he must be able to hear it. My hands tremble and my temperature spikes.

  Every noise he makes sounds incredibly loud despite the fact I have blood rushing in my ears faster than I’m sure is natural as he closes the space between us.

  “Poppy?” he asks, his voice sounding calm, like this is just an everyday occurrence for him.

  I remind myself that it probably is. Jake, Zayn, and the others have girls hanging off them wherever they go. He’s probably well-practiced in this sort of thing.

  “Y-yeah,” I whisper, hating that my voice cracks, showing my nerves.

  The heat of his body hits mine. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to do this?”

  His words throw me off for a second and it takes me longer than it should to register them.

  “Y-you want to k-kiss me?” I sound pathetic and I kick myself for not sounding more confident.

  “Yeah. There was no one else I wanted that bottle to land on. This is the only birthday present I wanted.”

  “Oh God,” I practically whimper when his fingers find mine.

  He steps into my body, pressing me back into the wall. I gasp at the feeling of his hard body against mine as his fingers tickle up my bare arm before he grasps the back of my neck.

  “Ready?” he asks, his voice deeper than it was only moments ago.

  My head spins as I fight to remember to breathe.

  “Y-yeah, I—” I don’t get to finish my thought because his soft, full lips brush mine.

  At just that small contact, my knees go weak. He must sense it because his other hand lands on my waist. It feels huge as his touch burns my skin, causing sensations to swell within me that I’ve never felt before.

  His lips stay on mine, unmoving for what feels like forever but in reality, it’s probably not more than a second before his tongue teases at the seam of my lips.

  I have no idea what I’m doing, but it doesn’t seem to matter because my body seems to know what’s expected of me and my lips pa
rt, allowing him entry.

  If I didn’t already know he’d had experience, then I did in that moment as he took control of the kiss. His tongue sweeping against mine.

  My arms stay rigid at my sides as his fingers twitch at my waist, obviously wanting to move, but he never moves.

  He kisses me like I’ve seen on TV, but it feels nothing like I imagined. I’m not nervous. Not self-conscious. I just let myself go and allow him to sweep me away.

  All too soon, he places a chaste kiss on my lips and backs away from me. I miss him almost instantly, to the point I actually reach out for him, but despite my eyes having adjusted to the darkness, I don’t manage to make contact with him.

  “Poppy?” he asks again, his voice husky and rough, it does things to my insides I can’t explain.

  “Yeah?” I ask eagerly, desperate to hear it again.

  “Don’t repeat a word I said to you.”

  Lead fills my veins at his warning. I should have known he was lying.

  I’m too devastated to respond, desperately trying to fight the tears that are already burning the backs of my eyes.

  I thought he really meant it. That he’s been thinking about kissing me like I have him.

  Stupid, stupid girl.

  He pushes the door open, the sudden light makes me close my eyes as a chorus of cheers erupts from the other side.

  My heart sinks into my feet as I wonder how the hell I’m supposed to walk out of here with my head held high.

  You’re not, a little voice in my head says. You just totally screwed up.

  The ruckus only gets louder as a victorious Zayn steps from the closet after his few seconds in heaven.

  “So…” someone prompts. “Did she give you the gift you’ve been dreaming of?”

  Before he answers, he looks back at me. I might be back in the shadows but he sees me and our eyes connect for the briefest moment.

  “Nah, she’s a frigid bitch.” He walks away as his friends erupt in laughter and a couple of the girls descend on him, probably offering to do everything I apparently couldn’t. All the while, I pray for the ground to swallow me up while continuing to hide in the shadows.

  How long can I stay in here? Will anyone even notice?

  1

  Poppy

  I rush out of the Hunter’s kitchen with a drink in hand, ready to find Harley and Ruby to celebrate the New Year together.

  Butterflies erupt in my stomach, despite all the crap in my life, this is an exciting moment. One year closer to finishing school. One year closer to taking control of my life. One year closer to leaving this place and everything I despise about it behind. This year we’re going to become seniors, we get to start seriously thinking about our futures and what we want from life. I might not have it all figured out yet, but I know one thing. My future isn’t here. There are too many memories and demons lurking in the shadows for me to ever want to stay.

  But while I’m stuck here, I figure I’d better make the most of it.

  I see a flash of Harley’s bright red hair and I can’t help but smile. At least I have a couple of good things in my life, my two best friends are definitely that. I have no idea how I’d survive this place without them.

  The sound of the party around me begins to lessen as kids head outside, ready to watch the fireworks that are about to illuminate the sky.

  I shouldn’t have come tonight but despite my parents’ obvious irritation that I was going to spend the night enjoying myself and they weren’t, I packed a bag and walked straight out the front door. Most days I allow them to blackmail me into doing as they wish, tonight wasn’t one of those nights.

  I knew it was safe being here. It’s mostly the seniors who are partying at the Hunter’s, the majority of our junior class are elsewhere, thank God. It means that for once, I’m able to let my hair down and attempt to enjoy being a seventeen-year-old girl if just for a couple of hours, forget about the weight that presses down on my shoulders every other day of the year.

  I’m almost at the door when a warm hand wraps around my wrist. The grip is hard, meaningful, and my heart jumps into my throat. A shiver of fear runs down my spine.

  He’s not here, I remind myself. You’re safe right now. He is not here. It doesn’t matter how many times I repeat those words in the millisecond I have before whoever has touched me makes themselves known, the fear threatens to swallow me whole regardless.

  I kick myself for letting my guard down tonight, for allowing myself to think that I could have just one normal night. For once, just enjoy a party like everyone around me does without constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for the devil to strike.

  “You’re looking hot tonight, Pops.”

  His deep, rough voice flows over me, and instantly my shiver returns, only this time it’s not with fear.

  Steeling myself, I lift my chin, ready to fight.

  “Get your hands off me, Zayn.”

  I try to pull myself from his grip but he’s holding too tightly. Before I’ve even had a chance to plan my next move, he’s taken control and pulled me back until the cool of the wall bites into my skin.

  He stares into my eyes and as always, I hate that he can see so deep.

  “Why aren’t you enjoying yourself like everyone else?”

  “I… um… I am. See?” I lift my drink and tip it toward my mouth, only it doesn’t meet my lips. Instead, it’s taken from my fingers and pressed against his full lips in a heartbeat.

  “That’s soda,” he states, his brows drawn.

  “So?”

  “Don’t you want to let go, have a little fun? You’re always so uptight.”

  I flinch at his words. I spend most of my life trying to cover up how I really feel, what’s really going on with me. I really don’t need him digging and finding the ugly things that I try to keep away from everyone else.

  “Don’t you want to have fun?”

  “Who says I’m not?”

  “Aside from the soda, your face.”

  My lips part to respond but I fear I have no argument.

  “The others don’t see it, do they?” His fingers lift and he tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, his touch burning all the way down to my toes.

  “Don’t see what, Zayn?” I snap. I shouldn’t ask. I’m terrified to hear the answer, to know what he really thinks of me but that’s the thing about my best friend’s older brother. He affects me in a way that no one else ever has. It annoys the crap out of me.

  “I don’t know,” he muses, staring deep into my eyes. “But I want to find out.”

  “Fuck you, Zayn,” I spit.

  “Now there’s an idea. You think that’ll help loosen you up a little?” His eyebrows wiggle in excitement as I will all of my muscles below my waist not to clench at the thought.

  I told myself years ago that I wasn’t ever allowed to lose myself in Zayn’s smooth lines. He shattered my young heart all those years ago in that closet. I may never have forgiven him for that, but hell if I don’t still dream about it. I tell myself that should the situation arise ever again that I’d tell him to go to hell, but I’m pretty sure I’m only lying to myself because even now, I can feel that kiss.

  “Let me go,” I damn near beg.

  “Why, so you can go and pretend to be happy? Tell me how to make it better, Poppy. Tell me how to put a genuine smile on your face.”

  “Why do you care?” I ask, my eyes narrowing on his sparkling ones.

  “I’ve always cared. I watch you, you know, when you’re not looking.”

  “No,” I argue, knowing that it can’t be true. The thought of it being true and him discovering what I keep hidden is scarier than him admitting that he might actually care.