PRT 394- “
I sat on the floor of my living room looking at photos of
Michelle and I. I knew what happened the other night
wasn’t just a one off thing. It proved she still loved me. I knew it after the
way she clung to me all night. I also knew that her life was falling apart
around her, even if she wouldn’t acknowledge it. I knew the LA life scared her.
I didn’t know everything that was going on, but I knew enough to know she
needed help and was spiraling out of control. I had pulled her out of the
craziness before. She’d even written a song about it on her ‘This Woman’ album
called ‘You Take Me Home’. I needed to do that again…I needed to bring Michelle
home before she got herself in too deep.
I looked at a picture of
I needed to talk to Michelle. What happened the other night
proved there was still something between us. She even
admitted she still loved me. She felt she was a different person but that was
Sunset talking. I knew she was still the woman I loved and I had to get her
back. It was time to go force her to talk to me. I was not going to lose her.
Michelle
~~~~~~~
“Are you sure you’re ok?” Rocky asked as he reached for my
hand.
“Yeah Rock…I’m fine. A little hurt, but I’ll live.” I said.
“I just can’t believe Raye would
do that to you.”
“I know. I was a little stunned too.”
“Are you going to forgive her?”
“If Mina can forgive Amy for sleeping with Adam then I think
I can forgive Raye for kissing Hunter.”
Rocky nodded, “It seems like
“Yeah. I heard they are back
together…which is good. Their whole problem was Raye
keeping her identity from him. Now that the secret is out I think they have a
real shot at having something good.”
“I think so too. You know, we could have something good
also.” He said as he leaned closer to me.
“We do have something good.” I said as I kissed him.
“No, we have something fun. You’re still seeing Jesse and
Ryan and God knows who else.”
“I…Rock…”
“I know, you don’t want commitment.”
“No, I don’t. Not right now.”
“I just…I think we could be happy together.”
“Rocky, I promise you, someday we will have commitment. I
feel it in my heart…but not yet.”
“How can you promise this won’t be like last time? We were
headed in a really good direction the RJ came along and…”
“I know what happened with RJ. Trust me…I’m not letting
myself get swept away like that ever again. Rocky, you are who I want to be
with. You have to believe that. I’m just not ready to be committed. If you
can’t handle that I understand. I’m not expecting you to wait.”
“You know I’ll wait for you, as long as it takes…I just wish
it wouldn’t take so long.”
“I know Rock…I’m sorry…but I refused to commit to you before
I’m ready. I don’t want to risk hurting you.”
“I understand…I do.” Rocky said as he kissed me.
“Good. I do love you.”
“I love you too
I shook my head, “No actually. I’m not.”
“Want me to get it?”
“Sure, if you want.”
Rocky nodded and stood up. He went to the door to answer it.
“Oh god.” Rocky grumbled when he
opened the door.
“Great…ugh…I need to talk to Michelle.” A familiar male
voice said.
I stood up and walked over to the door, “Hunter, what are
you doing here?”
“We need to talk.” He said.
“There’s nothing to talk about. Please leave.”
“No, not until you talk to me.”
“Hunter, she asked you to leave.” Rocky said, stepping in
front of me protectively.
“Rocky, man, stay out of this. It doesn’t concern you.”
Hunter said, glaring at Rocky.
“You’re harassing Michelle, it most certainly does concern
me.”
“Michelle is standing right here and can speak for herself.”
I said, annoyed, “Hunter, go or I’m calling the police.”
“
That statement sent me into a whole new kind of fury, “You
love me? Liar! You love me so much you kissed my friend?!”
Hunter looked taken aback, “You know about that?”
“Of course I know about that! Raye
felt horrible about it and she apologized…clearly not a sentiment you share.”
“I didn’t mean for that to happen
“Right. Of course
not. Stop playing games Hunter, you don’t love me. You just can’t stand
that I don’t want you back. You want what you can’t have.”
“That isn’t true. I do love you and I know I messed up
before but I can make it up to you. The other night…I felt it…you still wanted
me as much as I want you.”
“What happened the other night was a mistake and will never
happen again.”
“I know you’re hurt that I kissed Raye
but if you can forgive her, why not me?”
“Because Raye
came clean about it and sincerely apologized. You were going to hide it
from me which tells me you aren’t sorry. You just didn’t want to get caught
because then I would know exactly the kind of man you are.”
“I am sorry!”
“Save it. I know you’re single so you have a right to kiss
whoever you want…but why did it have to be my friend?”
“I told you, it was a mistake. And you have to know how much
I love you. I lost Ronny because I love you too much.”
“You lost Ronny because you’re an idiot that can’t stand to
see me happy with anyone else. Well guess what, I am happy without you.”
“Oh yeah right. You’re a mess
Michelle, and everyone knows it.” Hunter said.
“Oh do they?”
“Yes! You’re a stung out drunk mess that needs someone to
put her in her place instead of being around all these enablers.”
“Ok, first of all, I am not doing drugs…second of all my
drinking is social, not an addiction, and third of all you know nothing about
me so don’t pretend you do. Besides, I was doing just fine until I lost my
daughter. I lost her because of you…doing this very thing! Enough is enough!”
“You know I never meant for that to happen. I feel horrible
about Aubrey.”
“Yeah, well sorry won’t bring my daughter back to life.”
“You can’t blame me for her death.”
“If you would have stayed away I wouldn’t have gotten so
stressed and Aubrey would still be alive!”
“I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
“Just like you didn’t mean to kiss Raye?”
“You can’t blame me for your life falling apart. You did
that on your own.”
“You don’t know anything about me anymore.”
“I know enough to know you need help. LA is killing you and
Rocky and all your other conquests are just letting it happen.”
“Ok, that’s enough. I would never let any harm come to
Michelle and you know it!” Rocky chimed in.
“That’s why you stand by while she makes a fool of herself
on Sunset.”
“She’s a grown woman and fully capable of making her own
choices. She doesn’t need a life coach.”
“Yeah, she’s making such great decisions.”
“She got rid of you didn’t she? I’d say she is doing fine.”
Hunter made a face. I could tell he want to hit Rocky but
was trying to control his temper.
“Hunter, please just go. I’m tired of fighting with you.” I
said.
“
“Don’t. It’s over and you really need to accept that.”
“No…if I hadn’t kissed Raye would
you consider giving me another chance?”
“It was a thought in the back of my mind until I found that
out…but honestly, no, probably not. It’s over.”
“I can’t accept that.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“Michelle, please. I’m begging you for another chance.”
“I’m going to close the door now and if you knock again I’m
calling the cops. We’re done here. That’s it.”
“
“She said leave…so leave.” Rocky said as he helped me push
the door shut and lock it.
Hunter must have known I was serious about calling the
police because he left.
“Are you ok?” Rocky asked once it was all over.
I shook my head, “No.”
“Come here.” He said as he pulled me into his arms. I
started to cry. I did love Hunter but I knew how the story ended with him and
it was never pretty…besides, he was partly responsible for Aubrey’s death and
he had kissed Raye…I wasn’t sure I could ever forgive
him.
Hunter
~~~~~
I left Michelle’s and got in my truck. I sat there for
awhile just seething. I was furious at Rocky for getting involved but I was
even angrier at myself for going off on Michelle. Telling a girl she’s messed
up is not a good strategy to get her back.
“Nice one Bradley.” I mumbled as I slammed my hands against
the steering wheel of my truck.
I didn’t want to let Michelle go…I really didn’t. I wanted
her back and I felt like that is what was supposed to happen, but I also didn’t
want to go to jail and I knew she’d call the police if I went back to talk to
her. Maybe it was time to try and move on after all. I didn’t like the idea, at
all…
I finally pulled out of her apartment lot and headed to get
something to eat. I went to a local restaurant I liked but I was greeted by the
paparazzi. The second I got out of my car they ran over to me like vultures to
flesh.
“Hunter, what happened with you and Ronny?”
“Any chance of reconciliation with
Michelle?”
“Did you cheat on Ronny with Michelle? Was that the cause of
the break up?”
I tried to ignore the questions and keep walking but I
finally snapped.
“Just back off, all of you! Get a
life!” I yelled as I rushed into the restaurant.
“Everything ok?” a voice behind me said. I turned around and
saw Jessica. (Yes, Simpson.)
“No, not really.” I sighed.
“You eating alone?” she asked.
“Planned on it.”
“Want some company?”
“Sure, why not?”
Jessica and I got a table and sat down.
“So, what’s going on?” she asked after we ordered.
“My girlfriend dumped my, my ex-girlfriend hates me, and the
damn vultures won’t leave me alone.” I said.
“Wow, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“So, you ex that hates you…would
that be Michelle?”
I nodded, “Yeah.”
“I was so surprised you two ever broke up.”
“Yeah, us too. I want her back but
she’s having no part of it.”
“Oh wow. I’m really sorry. I know what that’s like.”
“Yeah, you just went through another break up didn’t you?”
“Yeah. It’s always hard.”
“Yes, it is. What have you been up to?”
“Trying to salvage my career after that
country album that flopped.”
“You were a victim of poor promotion and bad song writing.”
“I like my songs.” She said with a pout.
“Yes, but clearly the public didn’t.”
“What do you know about music anyway? You’re a racer.”
“Yeah, a racer that dated Michelle Morris.
I learned a thing or two.”
“Maybe I should date Michelle then.”
“Now that would be headline worthy.” I laughed.
“You’re laughing…good…you look much hotter when you smile.”
“Thanks.”
Jess and I had lunch and then went out the back.
“Thanks for lunch.” She said.
“Thanks for the company. I needed it…you wanna
go back to my place and hang for a bit? We could watch a movie and just chill
or whatever.” I said.
“Yeah, sure…I would like that.”
We each left in our own vehicle and met up at my apartment.
“Make yourself at home.”
I said as I put a DVD in.
“Thanks.” She replied as she slipped her sandals off and sat
on the sofa.
I turned the movie on and sat next to her. Over the course
of the movie I noticed we were moving closer and closer to her. I finally
reached my arm around her. She moved towards me and leaned closer. I liked
where this was going. I finally decided to go for it. I turned my head and
kissed her. She kissed me back and pretty soon the movie was all but forgotten.
I finally broke the kiss and turned the TV off then I stood up and reached out
my hand for hers.
“Come with me?” I asked.
Jess thought about it for a second then nodded, “OK.”
I took her hand and led her to my bedroom.
We got to my room and started to make out. I reached my hands under her shirt and slid it over my head. I kissed her neck.
“Oh god, Hunter.” She moaned.
“Mm, Jess.” I moaned as she reached her hands down my pants. Clothes started flying off after that. I got her to my bed and got on top of her.
“Do you have protection?” she asked.
I nodded and grabbed a condom from my bedside table. I put it on then pushed into her. She wrapped her legs around me as I thrust my hips faster and faster. I needed so badly to not think and this was amazing. In this moment we were the only two people that existed and that was all that mattered. It was perfect.
After we finished I held Jess and she snuggled against me.
OK, so this probably wasn’t the best way to get over Michelle, but I had to do
something. Clearly Michelle wasn’t going to speak to me anytime soon and
my heart was breaking. I glanced towards my bedside table and saw a picture I
had laid there of
“Are you ok?” Jess asked.
“Fine. Just get some sleep.” I said
as I closed my eyes. With my eyes closed I would pretend it was Michelle I was
holding.