Love At First Hate (Love At Firsts Book 2)(68)

They spent the night here, and it was good to have some company. I’m a loner but being here, alone with my thoughts, I was starting to get crazy. Or maybe I’ve always been, who knows. Anyway, I’m ready to go back to civilization now and be with my friends. Besides missing Matt like crazy, I do miss everybody else.

Locking up the front door to the cabin feels like closing a chapter of my life, and getting in my car feels like the beginning of a new one.

Hopefully, I’m leaving here all the worries and drama that came from my life growing up. I’ve done all I could to make my father understand that I didn’t want a part of his f*cked up plan, and I hope I don’t have to deal with him again. I want that part of my life to be done and over with.

I’m ready to start a new life with Matt and be happy. I just want to enjoy my life how I want it and not let the shadow of what my past was like cloud it and mess things up for us. We’ve both done our piece to mess things up. Me by not talking to him and Matt by not answering my calls. I wasn’t really ready to tell him everything, but I would have told him what my father did to me and why I needed some time. The last thing I wanted was for Matt to see me in the state I was in. It’s a little better now, but I still look rough. My lip healed, and my eye isn’t swollen shut anymore, but I’m still pretty much covered in bruises. At least being at the club he won’t notice them as much.

I start my Impala and drive toward my hopefully happy future.



Making my way through the sea of people in the club, I notice a tall, dark, and handsome man leaning against the bar with a beautiful redhead bouncing to the beat of the music, trying to drag him to the dance floor. If I didn’t know better, I’d get jealous instantly.

The look of annoyance on Matt’s face as Haven is trying to drag him on the dance floor is quite amusing. I position myself far enough from them so that I can see them without being seen.

There’s something about watching the people you love interact with others when they have no idea you’re there.

Matt isn’t looking impressed with Haven’s attempts to have him dance, nor is he looking his happy self. That’s until another guy joins them, and it appears as if he’s hitting on Matt. I trust Matt. I would trust him with my life, but I do not trust that guy and his intentions with Matt.

Taking a deep breath, I make my way toward them. Haven is the first to see me, as she looks uncomfortable with that guy talking to Matt. She widely grins at me and steps to the side. Matt is still talking to that guy until my body is against his. I gently take his face in my hands and bring his lips to mine, kissing him with all the passion and desire I have in me. It doesn’t take him long to kiss me back as his hands cup my face, and he deepens the kiss.

Wrapping my arms around his body, I bring him closer to me and finally hold him in my arms. It’s been far too long, and I’ve missed holding that perfect body. I’ve missed feeling his lips against mine, kissing, sucking, and nipping away.

“I f*cking missed you,” he says in a breathless voice.

“I missed you too. I’m sorry I didn’t come back sooner.” I rest my forehead against his, holding his body to mine still. He wraps his arms around me, holding on for dear life.

“Don’t leave me for this long again,” he says against my lips.

“I promise I won’t. I had good reasons.”

“Will you ever tell me?”

“Yes, I can tell you when we get home.” I smile.

“I like the sound of that.”

“You two are so f*cking hot together!” Haven squeals from next to us.

“You’re pretty hot yourself.” I chuckle looking at her. “Sorry for what happened in Hawaii.” I reluctantly let go of Matt and hug her.

“Don’t mention it. I’m sure you had a good reason, and you didn’t ruin anything, she did. It’s Matt you have to apologize, not me.”

“I intend to do that later,” I say in her ear, and she starts giggling.

“I have an idea or two on how you can apologize to him.” She waggles her eyebrows as she pulls away from me.

“What are you two up to, and how did you know where to find us?” Matt asks, sounding suspicious about us.

“Nothing, and I might have texted him to let him know where we would be.” She grins at him.

“I knew you were up to something!” he shouts at her in a playful way.

“I’m always up to something, and it’s nothing bad. He’s here, you’re here, and you two are back together.” She shrugs.

“Fair enough. Thank you.” He hugs her, and I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around only to see Maddie, Jessica, and Valentine. Now, I know Valentine is a decent guy, but I’m not sure I trust him enough to be around my sister.

“What are you doing here? You’re not twenty-one yet.” I ask her hugging her.

“Valentine let me in. I have a bracelet saying I can’t have alcohol so don’t start. Besides, I was just hanging out with Jessica, and we wanted to have some innocent fun. We know this club is safe so why not?” She hugs me back.

“If anything happens I’m holding you responsible for it.” I glare at Valentine.

“I’ll take full responsibility for it. Don’t worry. Anyway, good to see you’re back. Did you solve things with your father?” he asks me, and I’m quite surprised that Maddie told him. She’s usually very private. It makes me wonder what’s going on between them.