I'm over at Hunter's, getting ready for tonight. I've just stepped out of his bath, and about to make a start on my skincare, I will add a little make up after too.

It's Saturday night, and I will be meeting all of Hunter's close friends tonight. I am a little nervous, we have only been together a week officially so things are still very new.

I head into the wardobe room, where my dress in hanging up, it's a forest green mini slip dress, which I'm pairing with white strappy lace up heels and a matching white clutch.

I went shopping with the girls yesterday before our movie night and picked out a couple of new outfits, I never used to go out this much before I met Hunter and I didn't have anything that I thought was nice enough to wear, so I spent a little on myself which felt good.

Once I give myself a final check in the floor length mirror in Hunter's hallway, I step into the living area to see Hunter on the sofa, brows furrowed. His arms resting on his thighs his gaze on his phone in his hands.

"Do this look alright babe?" I question, holding my arms out. My hair flowing in loose curls around me.

Hunter lifts his gaze to my body, his throat bobs as he gulps. He stands, slipping his phone away into the pocket of his trousers. Dressed in a navy shirt, a few buttons opened at the top that shows off his tattoos and light grey skinny trouser, Hunter looks so sexy.

"Fuck, Soph. You look gorgeous." He places a kiss on my lips.

"You look very handsome too." I smile.

"Is this a new dress?"

"Yeah, I got it yesterday with a few other bits." I nod.

"You should have said you wanted something new baby, I would have bought you whatever you wanted."

I smile, I don't need him spending money on me, but I try to be polite when I tell him, "Maybe next time."

"Definitely next time, I'll go with you. You can try them on for me." He winks, his hands wrapping around me to grab my ass.

"Shouldn't we get going now?" I laugh, placing my hand in his large one while walking to the door.

"Yes, the Uber should be here now."

〰️〰️〰️

Pulling up to the club I wipe my palms together in my lap, I'm so nervous. What if his friends don't think I'm good enough for him? I'm probably so different to women he has been with, I just hope they like me.

"Baby, come here." Hunter reaches over to grab my hands in his.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just nervous for meeting your friends." I shrug.

"Hey, listen, they love you already Soph, they know you make me happy and that's all that matters." He smiles at me, planting a kiss on my forehead.

He makes me happy too. The way we have merged both of our lifestyles together is great right now, I think we have found the perfect balance.

Arriving into Lava Lounge hand in hand with Hunter is something I've never experienced before, the butterflies are dancing my stomach whenever I feel his touch on me. He leads us over to a table in the corner of the bar where there is 3 men and a woman seated, all looking in our direction.

Hunter briefly glances at me and smiles, squeezing my hand, here we go.

"Hey guys, meet Sophia. Soph, this is Jack, his girlfriend Kim, Brent and Adam." Hunter goes around the table while I make a mental note of their names. I smile and give them a small wave.

"Hi everyone, nice to meet you all."

"Hunter! She's bloody stunning!" The woman yells over the music and chatter of the bar to Hunter, which makes us both laugh.

They all move around the booth to let us sit down, Hunter kisses my cheek as he goes to get us some drinks.

"So, you look familiar." The beefy guy next to me says. He's the bouncer from the club, the one who was a dick to me when I'd lost my phone.

"Yeah, uh- I- I've been to the club a few times and seen you. I asked you to look in the lost property a few weeks ago for my phone, turns out I'd left it at Hunter's place." I speak up.

"Wait, you were Hunter's girl then?! Fuck." He rubs his palms over his face.

"Chill man, she wasn't his girl then, he was chasing her but this one left him, poor idiot wanted more than a one night stand." Brent laughs, nodding this head towards me as he speaks to the table, I blush, I didn't know the extent of us at that early stage, so it's weird hearing it from his friends side of things.

"I hope your being nice to my girl." Hunter returns with a tray full of drinks for us all, placing it down on the table, he slides in next to me whispering in my ear, "Vodka cranberry with ice baby."

I smile and nod, picking my drink up and biting the straw between my teeth.

〰️〰️〰️

Throughout the night I stay mostly quiet, between Jack and Kim downing shots they are definitely wasted already, Brent keeps eyeing up all the women in the bar, asking his wingman Adam to help him out, although he doesn't look to interested in helping him to be honest, apparently this is a regular thing when the guys are all out together, I only join in conversation when neccessary.

Hunter has stayed close to me all night so far, either holding my thigh or his shoulder around me while we're sitting and his hand always in mine or attached to my lower back when standing. He keeps placing kisses on my neck or cheeks and whispering in my ear how beautiful I am. I know he is trying to be comforting, as he knows how nervous I was coming in here.

"Let's head to the club guys! I'm ready for a dance!" Kim shouts.

I briefly spoke to her when we made a bathroom trip together an hour ago, her and Jack have been together for seven years, they met when she worked in a bar that Jack was drinking in. She now owns a boutique in the city and told me to come see her one day, which I took her up on.

〰️〰️〰️

A short Uber ride later we are heading into the VIP area at Hunter's club. The air is hot and the music is blasting through the numerous speakers they have.

The guys are in front, Kim has a solid grip on my hand while I guide her up the stairs, my body freezes when I reach the top and I see a hostess holding onto Hunter's shoulder, whispering in his ear. Next thing I know, Hunter pulls the girl away to the side of the room, anger radiating from him. His brows furrowed and his muscles tense, I'm too far away to here what's going on.

"Heyyy, Sophia, let's go get a seat?" Jack approches me, guiding me in the opposite direction, to a table Adam is sitting at, I sit down next to him as I turn my head back to see the girl wink at Hunter before she heads back into a side door. Hunter pushes his hands through his hair and storms down the stairs.

He doesn't even look at me as he passes, I'm so confused, who was that girl?

Jack spots me looking confused and speaks up, "I'm gonna go find Hunter, he's probably just getting some drinks."

I nod. Do I really look that dumb? We are sat in VIP where it's table service, not to mention it's Hunter's club, why would he be running around getting drinks?

Jack leaves us and heads downstairs, Brent and Kim are dancing and Adam is chatting to some guy on another table, I take this as my opportunity to sneak away and find Hunter.

I can only think that they went to his office so that's where I head, fighting my way through the crowds of sweaty bodies, guys trying to get my attention all the way. I finally make it to the corridor when I hear voices. Hunter's voice, coming from inside his office, the door not fully closed.

"Hunter, you need to tell her, you've just left her upstairs confused as fuck. What was that?"

"We are so good right now! I don't wanna ruin it!" I hear Hunter yelling at Jack.

"You are ruining it though man, you storming off like that, I thought you handled Lucy?"

Who the fuck is Lucy? I feel my body shaking, I don't know what to do. Why are they lying to me?

"Take 10 minutes man, calm down, I didn't know Lucy would be serving VIP tonight, Pete said we had a sickness and she offered to cover it." I hear Jack explain.

"I can't tell Sophia. It's nothing with Lucy."

I can't believe this. He can't tell me what? So Lucy is the hostess. Is something going on between them? Hunter said he hated being lied to and yet here he is, keeping me in the dark about something.

I need to get out of here. I shouldn't be eavesdropping on their conversation anyway.

I back out of the hallway heading straight for the exit. I can feel tears pricking the corner of my eyes, I blink them away and take deep breaths to settle my body.

It's only just turned midnight so I'll be alright getting home alone, I've only had 3 drinks so I'm not drunk either. I call for an Uber, luckily one is 4 minutes away. I step outside, the cool night air hitting my arms and questions circuling through my mind.

I'm so thankful I carried my keys with me in my clutch tonight, meaning I can go back to my apartment.

All I can think about is Hunter's voice saying he can't tell me something. What has happened with that girl? Why was she winking at Hunter? Why was he so angry? Jack obviously knows what is going on too, he practically covered for Hunter.

Stepping foot into my apartment, I try and be quiet as Cassie will be sleeping.

My phone pings a few times and I freeze, cringing at the sound, I fumble around in the darkness trying to get to my room.

I hear footsteps. Shit.

"Soph, what are you doing here?" Cassie comes into view, her eyes nearly closed.

"I'm sorry Cass, I didn't mean to wake you." I whisper. My phone pinging again.

"What happened, why are you here babe?" Cassie drags her feet towards me, I can feel the tears threatening to spill.

Cassie notices my watery eyes and immediately snaps her eyes open.

"Where's Hunter? Did he do something?" Cassie voice louder and straight to the point.

"I left, I'm assuming that's him texting me now." I hold up my phone.

"Alright, let's get you some water and we can chat for a little bit before bed? Come on." She takes my hand, guiding my to the sofa.

I glance at my phone while Cassie is in the kitchen.

"Maybe you should just let him know your here, at least then he will know to stop with the texts and calls." Cassie suggests.

"I just don't even wanna speak to him right now Cass." I tell her, turning my phone off.

〰️〰️〰️

It feels like I've only just gone to sleep when a banging at the door wakes me.

"Sophia! Soph!"

Hunter.

He's here, and he's going to wake Cassie up, she's going to kill me.

I run to the front door as fast as I can. As soon as I turn the handle Hunter bursts through the door, his eyes focus on me and I see his shoulders drop in relief.

"Baby, why did you do that to me? Just leaving like that, I thought something awful had happened to you."

He pulls me in for a huge hug, but my body remains still, he feels that I don't move and steps back putting his hands on my shoulders.

"What can't you tell me?" I'm dying to know, and I need him to respect me, so I need answers.

"What?" His brows pull together in confusion at my question.

"I saw you with that hostess Hunter. Jack lied to me about where you stormed off to. Then I followed you to your office, I heard how you don't want to ruin things with me, that Lucy was cover for someone tonight, and you can't tell me something." I whisper yell, hoping we haven't woken Cass up.

Hunter doesn't speak. He is standing infront of me, eyes wide, his hands let go of my shoulders.

"What is she to you Hunter? Who is Lucy? What can't you tell me?" I ask, tears are pricking my eyes again, I'm so angry at him, I just need an explanation.

"Soph, I- uh- I-"

"If it's more lies Hunter I don't want to hear it." I shake my head, dropping my eyes to the floor.

"It's nothing, she's no one." He says, explaining nothing.

"I think you should go." I try to walk around him to get to the door.

"Baby, please-"

"No Hunter. I'm not stupid, I know what I saw-"

"Please come back to mine and we can talk about this, I can't leave you here knowing your mad at me, you fucking disappeared on me, all kinds of scenarios were running through my head." He tried to hold my hands, but I pull them away.

"I'll come over tomorrow, I want to sleep now." I tell him.

"I really don't wanna leave you, if I leave you, you might not see me tomorrow." His forehead touches mine, I know I wanted an explanation, but not now, it's nearly 3am and I need some sleep.

"I will come pick you up tomorrow then alright? Around 10am, will that be ok?" He takes a step back from me.

"Yeah." I say, as Hunter heads out of my apartment and I close the door behind him.

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