"Life is about having a good time." - Norman Lear
You can probably find me at The Swinging Door runnin' the show and callin' the shots. What's better than the town drunk's son runnin' the best bar in town, huh?
@tupeloextras || [tw: alcohol, neglect, death of a parent, car accident, cheating]
Hunterâs dad died in a car accident when he was 3. His mom never really got over it and started drinking pretty heavily. Because Hunter was essentially a spitting image of his dad, his mom harbored a lot of resentment toward him and he spent most of his childhood attempting to stay out of her way.
Once he became a teenager, the drinking reached an even new high and Hunter spent most nights helping take care of his mom.
Hunter has an older sister who is his world. In addition to her, heâs really close with @austinxkirbyâ who is like his little brother. @jordanxkirbyâ is essentially his little sister as well.
He grew up not too far down the street from the Kirbyâs and Austinâs mom would constantly invite Hunter and his sister over for dinner, etc. Austinâs mom is the one who taught him how to dance for his first school dance and helped him get ready. Basically, sheâs the mom he always wanted.
Heâs owned The Swinging Door for 4 years, worked there as a bartender when he graduated high school (2001) before he moved to Dallas.
Moved to Dallas in 2010 (age 27) with his girlfriend. They lived together for a while until he found her cheating on him with a guy from her job. He moved back to Madison 5 years ago.
He was pretty sure he and his girlfriend, Leah, were going to get married. Heâd started looking at rings and was saving up some money for a while when they broke up.
Moved back to town and got his job back bartending at The Swinging Door, eventually moving up to manager. The owner wanted to retire 4 years ago so he bought the place. Heâd kept saving money from when he was going to buy a ring and added to it, so he had the cash.
Heâs a bisexual hoe so like if you want to throw your babes at him, just lmk
Heâs got a crosseyed siamese named Butters who is 2 years old and he loves him. I donât make the rules.
Heâs going to flirt with your muse(s). Again, I donât make the rules. Iâm serious when I say this guy would hit on a lamp post if he thought he had a shot.
Oh btw if your muse works for him, thereâs a chance that heâs hooked up with them or is currently hooking up with them, so letâs plot that out.
âI canât turn down an offer like that. Though, would it better if I know your name first?â He questioned. It wouldnât be the first he messed around, or slept with someone without ever knowing their name but that was when he had been passing through towns. The man figured this would be their last randevu. Skelly reached to pick up the drink after the bartender set it down, taking a sip as he didnât take his eyes off the man. âShall we?â
âHunter,â he said with a smile, extending his hand out toward Skelly. âAnd you are?â When the drinks arrived, Hunter let Skelly grab his own before taking the second one and standing up. He gestured toward the office with a nod, letting Skelly know to follow him. Once they were at the door, Hunter unlocked it quickly and gestured for the man to lead them inside. âItâs not much, but this is where the magic happens,â he joked.Â
The amount of restraint it took her not to giggle as he tugged her away from the crowd was immeasurable. Following close behind to a part of the bar she hadnât had the pleasure of visiting yet, Joâs eyes kept wandering to Hunterâs profile and then back to their hands, still holding each other. If the sheer idea of him made her heart skip a couple of beats just then, it sure wanted to burst out of her chest right about now. Coming to a stop in front of the locked door where he had to let go of her, Jo immediately looked for a new little point of contact, urging her forward until she stood on her tiptoes as much as her heels would allow it, her chin gently poking his shoulder as she peered over Hunterâs shoulder to see the progress. Something about the way he fiddled with the keys until he found the right one reassured her that she wasnât the only one who was wired.
The turn of the lock was a sound of triumph that announced a whirlwind up ahead. Being pulled through the door, she watched his keys disappear somewhere on the floor as she pointed in their general direction, a mix of amusement and disbelief in her tone. âYouâll regret that as soon as youâll need them again.â Still, she showed no signs of disobedience when he kept guiding her into the room. And when his hands found her waist to lift her onto his desk, only a little gasp gave away her surprise. âOh, is that so? For a while, huh? Is that a promise?â She said, the grin on her face now permanent as she wiggled forward on the furniture, practically colliding with his chest as she let her one hand trace his arm, slowly moving to his shoulder while the other held him in place by the fabric of his costume. Reaching its destiny, Joâs thumb traced one side of his jaw before her index finger lifted up his chin, a satisfied little hum of appreciation tickling her throat. âSo, I donât think I made myself clear earlier when I said you look good - .â Leaning forward, there was a high chance she was breathing in the same air as he was. â- Cause you look spectacular, Mr. Dixon. Iâd say even better up close. Iâd rate you - â Brushing her lips ever so gently against the corner of his mouth, not even once did she look away. Â â - maybe a seven?â And then she left a kiss on his cheek, as delicate as it could get. âHmmm - no. An eight.â Another butterfly soft kiss, only this time on his neck. âNine?â She lingered for a moment before pulling back enough to meet his gaze. âOr shall we go for a ten?â
This woman would, in fact, be the death of Hunter Dixon. Heâd barely been able to survive the way she touched him while he unlocked the door had him thinking that maybe, just maybe, she had wanted him this entire time. When Joanna shifted forward on his desk, Hunterâs tongue slipped out and over his lips, his eyes falling to her own. The way she put her hands on him was a clear sign that Joanna Cailan knew what she was doing, and Hunter was glad he hadnât been wrong about that. âOh?â An eyebrow shifted upward and Hunterâs mouth twitched upward into a grin. The hair on his arms felt like they were standing up, screaming for her body to get more and more contact. He wasnât going to even hide the moan that slipped from his parted lips as his eyes fluttered shut at the feeling of her lips on his neck. Painfully slow, teasingly dragging this out to play her cards right, Hunter knew Jo was doing this all on purpose and he loved it. He let one hand fall down to the space between their bodies, what little bit remained, and his knuckles grazed the inside of Joâs thigh before slipping further underneath her skirt. âI have a feeling I can earn that ten.â Licking his lips as he kept his eyes on hers, Hunter lowered himself to his knees and lifted one of her legs over his shoulder, pressing a kiss to the inside of the other thigh.Â
Jo didnât know what to expect but all bets were off. In her head, she already settled for the fact that she was more trouble than he had bargained for when they first started their little back-and-forth. She never expected to get this involved but now solely the idea of having to let it go made her stomach churn. Every time he had disappeared from her sight the past few days, he took some part of her rational thinking with him. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would replay that distant look she had faced after breaking up their kiss. But it came back to haunt her every evening while the world grew quiet, making her stare at the ceiling of her bedroom, thinking how she managed to mess it up so bad. However, all those troubled thoughts seemed to be worth it the second she found the warmth of his hand on her knee, squeezing it ever so gently but for her, it felt like the force of a thousand horses was trying to knock the air out of her lungs while his reassurance was the air she was so desperate for. The moment he leaned in closer, her hand twitched, instinctively wanting to wrap around him to pull him closer but instead, she let his breath tickle her ear. Mixed with his words, a little shiver traveled through her body, making her eyes flutter shut for a second before she found his gaze again, sealing her fate for the night. There was no way in hell she would slip out of this one. âAlright. I can manage that.â If she hadnât been so caught up in him, she wouldâve been embarrassed by how breathless she sounded. But instead, she looked down where his hand was caressing her skin and wrapped her own around it, making him stop the movement. âI want a do-over.â Looking back up, she squeezing his hand and slid off the stool, her heels clicking once as they hit the floor as she now stood in front of him, not letting go of his hand. âAnd this time I want to do it right.â A smirk slowly crept onto her features as she gently tugged him forward, trying to get him to move, not sure where the hell she wanted to go but she sure as hell needed to get him alone. âJust call this the flow and go with it.â
The look in her eyes changed almost instantly, and Hunter knew that wherever the conversation was headed a moment ago was out the window, and that this was where the night was going now. It wasnât his usual transition, though, not one that dismissed the serious moment but instead came leaping to life from the very moment itself. Hunterâs heart began to race almost instantly, and if he wasnât completely convinced at her feelings, her words solidified it for him. âA do-over,â he said, pressing his lips together to fight back the urge to give her a completely stupid grin. âI can make that happen.â He followed her lead, standing up and using his free hand to grab both of their beer bottles by the neck before he pulled her toward his office.
It didnât take much for him to catch her drift, but telling him to go with this flow was the exact kind of challenge Hunter Dixon craved. Wordlessly leading her to the door of his office, he only dropped her hand when he had to dig in his pockets for the keys, using his lips to select the right one and then unlocking the door. As soon as the door was opened, he tossed the keys inside onto the floor, not caring at all where they went so long as they werenât in his way anymore. He didnât grab Joannaâs hand, instead slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her with him through the door. In the time it took him to set the beer bottles down on the filing cabinet on his way in, he managed to get all of three steps inside the door, tugging Jo along the rest of the way before he reached his desk. âI donât know why I brought the beer, youâre not goinâ to be able to get to it for a while,â he said. Hunter shifted, hands on Joâs waist as he lifted her up and sat her on his desk.Â
âyeah, youâre right. you know i love you.â lottie didnât mind being honest with her brother. sometimes, especially during the break in her relationship with cash, he felt like the only person she could really turn to. she knew he had his own stuff going on but she still turned to him when she needed a shoulder to lean on. âiâm sure he will. iâm excited to see him pick up some kind of hobby. iâll be sure to tell you when his games are so that you can be there with me cheering him on in the stands.â she replied, a smile on her face as she got excited just thinking about the possibility. âyeah, yeah. i should know that but i was just hopinâ ya changed your mind.â
Hunter adored his sister, and he would do anything for her at the drop of a hat. âYeah, I know,â he replied, winking at her. âGood. I love that little rascal, yâknow?â He didnât even try to hide his laugh as he let it ripple through his chest, shaking his head. âCharlotte Dixon, youâre way too smart for that nonsense. Youâve known me since the day you were born, and we both know Iâm stubborn as hell. Me not settlinâ down isnât goinâ to go changinâ with the seasons. I happen to like my single life quite a bit.âÂ
The smile showed up on her face before she even knew it happened. Funny how the word family set such clear boundaries and at the same time was so versatile in its meaning, expanding right alongside the heart. Jo had experienced it firsthand, not the way he had but there was a certain art to picking the people who deserve to be at the top of your list - or accepting those whoâd put you there. âI guess I just see all the fine lines connecting and separating it. Accepting the crap weâve gotta accept and yet still wonder what wouldâve been if youâd ended up being the lucky one.â Jo knew their situations werenât alike, not even slightly. She grew up with a silver spoon and countless open doors. She had a choice, he didnât. âSuppose youâre perspective is a little bit more healthy than mine.â She mused, her smile still intact as the realization hit her that Hunter had the mental bearings of solid iron. âThereâs nothing wrong with an odd bunch. Iâm just glad to hear you had each other.â Her eyes traveled between him and their hands, now more intertwined than before and yet still cautious. Still, his fingertips seemed to prickle her skin in the most exciting way possible.
âSpeaking of stories, I - I owe an explanation.â She said, clearing her through but it didnât help the nervous undertone of her words. There was no right start to this. Unlike him, she was a coward, unable to talk about her damaged parts without feeling like a failure, like she was giving him every reason to withdraw. âAbout the other night - .â She trailed off, studying him for a few seconds in fear heâd get agitated, as he had every right to. But then she just pushed on, knowing damn well that the moment presented itself on a silver platter and sheâd curse herself all over again if she didnât seize it. â - Iâm sorry. I donât know what happened.â Her bottom lip got caught between her lips as she chewed on it, shaking her head in frustration. âNo, thatâs a lie - I got scared.â Inhaling once, her voice got lower but her words sped up, rushing out of her mouth as if she tried to get it over with. âA few years back, I lost all control over my life.â Truth be told, she didnât know how much he knew about her previous career or what ended it. Chances are Bree even told him some of the details the press didnât know but Jo decided not to dwell on it. âAnd Iâve been trying to keep it together since. Control my surroundings, control the narrative. Itâs why Iâve moved here. Somewhere new where I could be in charge of my life. And I got really good at it. And then you made me want to lose it.â A little humorless chuckle vibrated through her throat. âWho am I kidding? I lost it and I enjoyed it and it freaked me out. But it was unfair to you and Iâm sorry.â Somewhere between her sentences, her leg started to anxiously bounce. âWhat Iâm trying to say is, if you regret it or you want to move on from it, I wonât make it awkward for you. I messed up, itâs my own fault. But I hated coming in here and not talking to you. I donât want to do that again.â
Hunterâs brows furrowed only slightly when she mentioned owing him an explanation. Truthfully, Hunter wasnât sure heâd ever get one, and the idea of it being handed over right now made him a little more aware of how badly heâd wanted one. âMmhmm,â he practically hummed, giving her a slow nod when she referenced the other night, the night theyâd shared a dance and a kiss on the hardwood floor not so far away from where they were sitting now. Heâd replayed that night in his head so many times from every possible angle, trying to understand where her head was in all of it, and now he would find out.
Seeing Jo like this, somewhere between nervous and authentic, it was nice. Hunter appreciated her authenticity, especially after heâd just opened up himself. It was terrifying to do, and now she was joining him in diving right in. He didnât know anything about her, really, not nearly as much as heâd like to, but hearing her talk about losing control felt somehow reassuring and familiar. He wanted to speak, wanted to say something to let her know he was following, but instead he kept his eyes locked on her face and chewed on his bottom lip carefully. When she was done, Hunter glanced down at where her leg was bouncing nervously before doing the only thing he could possibly think of to help her feel calmer. As soon as his hand met her knee, Hunter gave it a reassuring squeeze and looked back up to Jo with a small smile. âWell, I understand why that might be a little terrifying. I mean, I donât like losing control either. But Joey, I donât regret kissing you and Iâm not ready to move on without seeinâ where it could go.â He ran his tongue over his lips quickly before leaning in even closer, letting his lips move toward her ear before he whispered softly, âIâll let you take control any time you want, baby.â When he pulled back, he gave her leg another reassuring squeeze before his thumb started to move back and forth across her inner thigh. The party was starting to wind down around them, but for Hunter, it felt like his entire night was laid out before him. âYou can talk to me anytime, Joey. Just donât go disappearinâ on me anymore, alright? I donât need to know all the details, you know me, Iâm pretty go-with-the-flow. I just donât want to think youâre mad at me if youâre not.âÂ
Calling out DJâs name in a soft moan was not too surprising for Hunter, honestly. Heâd gotten to where he knew hooking up with DJ was going to be good, no matter where or how it happened. His head threatened to fall back at the feeling of his hand on Hunterâs dick but instead, Hunter forced himself to focus. He didnât keep much on his desk because it usually just got in the way, so Hunter had no trouble pushing DJ onto his back before yanking the otherâs jeans down. âGet those jeans off,â he commanded DJ before slipping off his own pair and moving to straddle him on the sturdy surface.Â
When Hunter turned towards him it gave Skelly a better chance to look the older man over, biting down on his lower lip as he liked what he was seeing. Hunter was far more than attractive, he couldnât resist. The man was smirking now when hearing that he could possibly get his own special performance. âOh, I will,â he cooed. Skelly quirked a brow, âYou own this bar?â He looked around, lips pressing in a thin line. âImpressive.â As Hunter leaned closer, his eyes flickered down to the touch at his arm. Skelly could feel his skin burning beneath the touch as he looked back up at him. âThereâs nothing wrong with being a little selfish. Plus, itâs Halloween. I think we all deserve a night of misbehaving,â he purred and stepped closer to him.
Hunter had heard enough to know that Skelly was definitely flirting back. It was reassuring to know that he was, it gave the man more confidence to make his moves without fear of crossing a line someone didnât want crossed. As he shrugged off the compliment, Hunter thanked him quietly before raising a brow at his words. âWell, I have to say, I do like the sound of that. What do you say we see what kind of trouble we can get into in my office once we get our drinks?âÂ
âyeah, iâve noticed.â she teased back. lottie knew that neither of them hated each other and they never could. she was close with hunter and maybe they were two different people but that didnât mean she didnât lean on him. she did leaned on him quite a bit and she loved him. âi know. iâm so excited that heâs interested in a sport. i mean, i really just want him to find something heâd love.â she glanced down at her stomach once he brought the attention down to her growing stomach and smiled softly. she really was excited about having her second baby and that was mostly because it meant she was fixing things with cash and expanding the family she always wanted. she shook her head and lifted her hand to motion that she was zipping her lips. âitâs not important. letâs move on.â she laughed, not wanting to talk about the things sheâd heard around town. âwhen are you going to settle down and give me a niece or nephew? i want to be a cool aunt.â she teased him.
âBut you love me anyway,â Hunter pointed out before tapping Lottieâs nose playfully. No matter how old they got, he would always see her as his baby sister, and while he wasnât ever one to dive into the world of being the typical overly-protective sibling, he definitely couldnât help but act like a big brother from time to time. âIâm bettinâ heâll be good at it. Iâm shit at sports but Iâll be out there rootinâ for him every chance I get, okay?â Hunter raised an eyebrow at Lottie, looking her over carefully. âWhat kind of crazy idea is that, Charlie? I ainât ever settlinâ down and you know it. Youâre a cool mom, why would you want to go and be an aunt too. Besides, I donât need to have kids, Iâm barely able to handle myself around yours.âÂ
Jordan felt her nose wrinkling more and more at the thought. âHeaven knows Iâll have to go on and get used to it if I ever want to see my best friend again.â That was going to be partly a downside of her best friend dating her brother. Even more so know that Hunter had put this image in her head. Jo wasnât naive about the natures of life and relationships, she had her fair share, but when it came to her brother and best friend? She preferred to be blissfully aware and unaware all at the same time. They all knew what was happening but she didnât want to acknowledge it or know all the nitty gritty details that went along with it. âYou are not wrong about that,â she shook her head, laughing at the the thought once more. âThe whole town is goinâ to want to wash their eyes out.â
Hunter shook his head, still laughing a little at Jordanâs words. âI mean, at least until they break up.â It was mostly a joke, one that held a twinge of truth in it. Hunter didnât want to see Austin and Greer break up, he just knew that it was a possibility. After all, Greer was a mess and Austin had pined for her for so long that something was sure to let him down. They could only be so happy for so long, at least as far as Hunter knew from his own history. Relationships werenât meant to last forever, and they were never something Hunter Dixon put much stock in. âHowâs your mama doinâ anyway? I havenât talked to her in a while, she hasnât come barginâ in down at the bar to see me or anything. Kind of feelinâ hurt, actually, she must finally be done with me,â he teased.Â
Her eyes landed on him with courtesy as he started talking, every word he said revealing a little bit more of the man that was Hunter. Fully aware that it wasnât easy to be as honest as he was right then - she certainly couldnât do it - Jo didnât waver in giving him her full attention, her gaze never leaving him even as his own dropped to his drink. Her hands wrapped around the bottle he brought along, gently pushing it forward until her hand bumped into his. One might guess it was accidental if it werenât for the fact that she let it rest there, not even making an attempt to remove their point of contact. If he was willing to reveal a piece of himself, she wasnât going to let him believe it was a casual conversation. Or even worse, let him think she didnât appreciate it as if it meant nothing. The empathy that spread through her quickly gave way to awe. This child who was deprived of a childhood became this wonderful man sitting across from her, taking his past experience and making something of it. âThey say it takes a village - and you did it by yourself.â She offered him a small smile while fighting her own anger at the idea of a parent doing this to their own child. But not just any child. To him. There was this certain need to defend Hunter spreading through her and she really didnât know what to do with it. It was misplaced at best and at worst, well, it meant she was in deep trouble. âAnd you did wonderfully. And thatâs not just my opinion. Look at you now. But for what itâs worth, I am sorry. You shouldnât have had to go through that. No one should.â She shifted a little bit in her seat and took another look at the ground, her smile becoming more rueful. âThis whole thing has a bit of a different meaning now.â
It was subtle, the way her hand moved closer to his, and Hunter knew it couldâve been a gesture meaning a dozen different things. In his head, he tried to convince himself it was simply one of support, but that didnât mean his body listened. His hand moved a little before he used the back of his finger to trace a few lines against the back of Joâs hand. Her words were meaningful, and Hunter knew she wasnât one to say things she didnât mean. After she finished, he nodded a couple times before smiling softly. âIâm not,â he said, âSorry, I mean. Iâm glad it happened the way it did. I mean, it shaped me, how can I be upset about that? I wasnât really alone, either. I had my baby sister, and my best friend, Austin. His mom took me in like her own most days, and she was part of every milestone my own mom missed. My village just looks a little different on paper, thatâs all.â He straightened his back slightly, shifting his hand so that he could slide his fingers into the nonexistent space between Joâs hand and the countertop and draw circles on her palm.
He watched her carefully, hating every part of him that itched for more of her skin on his own at this kind of tender moment. Honestly, Hunter wasnât known for turning off his sex drive, and if anything, he was slowly learning that being authentic and open with Joanna made him want her even more. Usually, this kind of conversation was the first sign that he wanted to run for the hills or derail everything with some kind of flirty dismissal of the mood. Instead, he found himself wanting to draw closer to Joanna, to wrap himself in a bubble with her, just like this for as long as he could. âBesides, we all have our story. Mineâs no worse than anyone elseâs, itâs just mine.âÂ
Whatever had possessed Hunter to text his nephewâs father, Hunter hated it. (Okay, it had been Lottie, and he could never hate Lottie, but still.) He found himself sitting down in a booth, tapping his fingers against the table as he eyed the menu, frustration and anger coursing through his body. He had to calm down at some point, right? Hunter looked up at the sound of the door opening and saw Cash, clearing his throat slightly to let the man know where to find him. Once the other was settled in to the seat opposite him, Hunter sat his menu down and licked his lips carefully. âSo,â he started, already hating how much effort he had to put into this conversation and wishing he didnât have to do this. âCharlie says youâre stickinâ around.âÂ
Hunter laughed at DJâs words, knowing that his employee was just as likely to tease as Hunter was. He responded by lifting DJâs chin so he could kiss him as his own chest rested flush against DJâs. Just feeling his body so close to the otherâs sent the best kind of chill down Hunterâs spine, bringing the tightness in his jeans to a new level. He dropped his hand as he kissed DJ and pulled their bodies apart just enough to lower his hands to undo DJâs jeans before sliding his hand underneath the denim and palming his dick, kissing him the entire time he worked.
At least he didnât lie to get a blowjob, some men would do it, and he didnât approve at all of that, âSure, if you had lied to her, I would definitely tell on you, but since you were honest, and she still insisted anyway, I will think about your case.â
âI try to be a man of my word when I can. I mean, thereâs no sense in lyinâ to people. I donât get why some folks do that.â Sinking his teeth into his bottom lip, Hunter paused before leaning in slightly toward the man. âWell, if you need anything to convince you of my innocence, just say the word. I happen to be quite good at it.âÂ
âThatâs an interesting choice of costume,â Skelly cooed. âAre you going to give a little performance later because I would love to be front and center.â He tipped the bartender off, leaning forward as he gave his order before looking over at Hunter. âCan I buy you a drik?â He asked. âOh, the only wingman Iâm playinâ for is myself,â he cooed.
There was something incredibly attractive about the manâs confidence. Hunter was always turned on by it, and the fact that Skelly was attractive as hell didnât hurt his chances, either. âWell, if you play your cards right, I might give you a special performance all to yourself,â Hunter replied, his voice instantly dropping lower as he turned to face Skelly full on. Hunter couldnât help but smile as the man offered to buy him a drink, giving the bartender a quick nod to let them know heâd take his usual. âSeeinâ as this is my bar and all, I feel like lettinâ you do that would be pretty selfish of me. While I can be known to be selfish, I think this one time, I ought to behave.â Leaning closer, Hunter let his fingertips brush against Skellyâs arm gently before he spoke again. âUnless youâre into that.âÂ