62 Mia and Hunter 3

Mia looked up at Hunter and wondered, why is he frowning? He probably does not like Aaron. Well, sometimes hostility from the game transfers to real-life as well, Mia thought. Not everyone can keep the rivalry from the game behind, once the timer runs out.

Mia remembered to tell Hunter about the used gear, but before she could say anything, the door of the women's locker room opened, and the auburn-haired woman stepped out.

Woman's cheeks were dark red, going on purple, visibly swollen. She paused when she saw Hunter and Mia. Her eyes were bloodshot, she was obviously crying… and the flood started again.

"Suzy?", Hunter called. "What happened to you?" His voice was not a concerned one, it was more curious.

Mia looked at the woman who attacked her in the locker room, now appearing all pitiful and weeping in front of Hunter and she felt a headache coming.

Suzy narrowed her eyes at Mia and pointed her shaky index finger angrily. "It's her! That woman by your side attacked me viciously!"

Mia's impulse was to punch that sobbing Suzy-woman into obedience but a second later she decided on a different tactic. If that shameless woman can play a victim… well, two can play that game.

Mia swiftly hid behind Hunter and clutched his shirt in the back while speaking to him in a shaky voice: "Who is she? Why is she accusing me of violence? Tell her that it's a misunderstanding… There is nothing going on between the two of us, and I didn't come to seduce you… It was just a game… If I knew that your girlfriend would smear my name like this, I would not come…"

"She is not my girlfriend.", Hunter interrupted whatever Mia wanted to say next.

His icy voice interrupted Suzy's cries as well.

Mia widened her eyes in a 'surprise'. "Really? If she is not your girlfriend, why is she after me? I can see how she is looking at you…", Mia ended weakly.

Hunter's lips twitched while thinking, how can Mia fear Suzy if she was talking smack to the five guys on the field who are double her size? But he wanted to see where this will lead, so he played along. "How she is looking at me, it's her problem. There is nothing going on between us."

Mia blinked few times at Hunter before shifting her gaze toward Suzy who stared at the two of them without moving.

"Did you hear that? Whatever you feel toward Hunter, it's your problem. He is NOT interested. So, leave me alone and don't throw random accusations. I can sue you for slander!"

"Slander!?", Suzy was raging again. "No matter how I feel about him, it does not change the fact that you assaulted me!"

Mia gasped in an exaggerated shock. "Really? Prove it!"

No matter how fired up Mia was, she knows that during the 'assault' it was just the two of them in the locker rooms, which means that there are no witnesses. And it is a common knowledge that in the area where people remove their clothes, it's illegal to have video surveillance.

Suzy clenched her teeth and then looked at Hunter, expecting some help.

"Can you prove it?", Hunter asked her coolly.

Suzy looked at Hunter dejectedly while tears flowed down her cheeks silently. After some time, she lowered her head and walked away.

Hunter tilted his head to look at Mia. "You can drop the act now and stop wrinkling my shirt."

Mia let go of Hunter's shirt swiftly and patted it few times to smoothen up the creases (unsuccessfully). She looked up at him with a big grin on her face. "When did you figure out?"

He shook his head in disapproval and refused to answer her question. "Let's go…"

"It was a self-defense!", Mia exclaimed and rushed to catch up to him.

Jake, Ashton and Derek observed the scene from the back. The trio exited few seconds after Hunter and they watched silently, expecting a good show. They saw Hunter stand stiffly next to Mia until Aaron left, and they saw how Hunter coldly treated Suzy (Hunter's pursuer of many years), and how he played along with Mia…

Hunter is known as a polar opposite of Max. Max is charming and welcoming to any woman and Hunter prefers to keep a polite distance while doing his best not to encourage them. Hunter said that he only brought Mia for the game, but what he did now in the hallway was definitely out of character for him.

"Didn't Hunter say that he is not interested in Mia?", Jake asked his two friends suspiciously.

Derek rubbed his chin. "Actually… he never said that."

Ashton nodded in agreement. "We all assumed that he is not interested because he didn't say anything when we spoke about making our move on her."

Jake inhaled sharply. "Making our move? Didn't she just leave?! With Hunter?!!"

The trio exchanged urgent glanced and rushed down the hallway, hoping to catch up to Hunter and Mia.

…

Mia and Hunter are in his car and he is driving through the parking lot toward the exit…

"Do you want to hang out with those three goofballs?", Hunter asked Mia while glancing at the rear mirror of his car.

Mia looked at Hunter questionably.

"They are behind us, waving… angrily.", Hunter explained, unable to hide a smirk which sneaked on his handsome face.

Mia glanced at the back and laughed while waving at them. "Just take me to Liz's place."

Mia sank in the seat and smiled while thinking how it was a good game. A great exercise pumps her with endorphins and improves her mood.

She also thought about Aaron. He seems like a good guy. When she comes to Seattle next time, she might give him a call and see if he is available for rock climbing. Or maybe he can teach her kayaking… she is always interested to learn new things.

And then… that auburn-haired woman, Suzy. Annoying. If it was someone else instead of Mia, Suzy would actually hurt her! Why is she acting so possessively if Hunter is obviously not interested in her? Thinking about Hunter and Suzy… it seems that Hunter knew from the start that Mia was faking it and that she is the one who bashed Suzy. Why did Hunter not expose her? Mia glanced at Hunter who was focused on the road and she used this opportunity to assess the curves of his profile. She could not find any flaw. Mia forced herself to stop staring and turned to the road while thinking that Hunter is probably frustrated by that woman. It is very likely that this is not the first time for Suzy to stake her claim on him, so he wanted to send her away. Maybe…

…

Hunter parked in the underground parking of Liz's (and Max's) apartment building, in a spot for visitors.

"Thank you for helping out today."

"The best way to thank me is to feed me.", Mia said cheekily. She leaned over the seat to get her jacket from the back.

Hunter's phone buzzed and he glanced at it. He saw a message from Max and unlocked his phone.

Mia was holding onto the handle to open her door and get out, when Hunter stopped her.

"Liz will not be back for dinner."

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Mia paused. "Oh? Did something happen?"

"Max texted…", Hunter showed her his phone.

[Max]: "I'm having dinner with Liz. If Mia is still with you, tell her that the girls need to manage without Liz."

She returned the phone to Hunter and pursed her lips.

"You don't approve?", Hunter noticed.

Mia had a complex expression. "I just hope that he does not take advantage of her. Liz is an amazing woman, but she trusts people easily… exposing her to a heartbreak."

"It's been a long time since I saw Max interested in anything more than a one night stand.", Hunter hoped that Mia will understand.

Mia smiled faintly. It's not that she does not understand, but… "That does not mean that he will not break her heart."

Mia was about to say bye, when her phone rang. It's Bri…

A minute later…

"Bri is having her dinner with Quentin?", Hunter didn't hide that he overheard Mia's talk with Bri over the phone. She was right next to him, it was impossible to ignore.

Mia confirmed. "Thanks for the game. It was fun."

"What will you do for dinner?"

Hunter's question made Mia pause halfway out of the car.

"Uhm… I will manage. If I can't figure out anything I might call…", Mia paused while wondering why she is telling this to Hunter. It's none of his business. They just met today and had a good game after lunch. That's it.

"Goodnight.", she wished politely and got out.

Hunter looked after Mia who was walking away, and he was not sure if he wished her a goodnight back or not, but he knew that there is a heaviness in his chest at the thought that she might have a dinner with someone else. Possibly that guy from the sports club, Aaron. Tonight.

Mia was almost at the elevator, thinking what to do for dinner. There are some pastries, leftovers from that morning, but it's not enough. Should she go somewhere by herself? Or maybe she can order food from the Asian restaurant Liz loves, the number is on the fridge. Or… maybe she can call Aaron? He was interested to spend more time with her, and she would like to know him better. He is handsome, with a good sense of humor, and it seems they have more than few things in common...

Mia paused at the sound of hurried steps coming from behind her. She turned and saw that it's Hunter.

"You said that the best way to thank you is to feed you.", Hunter reminded her. "I have no plans for tonight, and it seems that you are free as well… so, how about I thank you tonight, with a meal?"

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