Hunter: The Stewarts of Skagway #3

PREFACE

Tanner McKenna’s Christmastime Wedding

Hunter

I’m not surprised to see her.

I mean, I knew she’d be here.

(She’s McKenna’s maid of honor, after all.)

I’m surprised by how seeing her makes me feel. It’s been months since I’ve heard from her, and I guess I hoped I wouldn’t be affected by her presence.

But the joke’s on dumb-fucking-me because I am affected.

(I am very, very fucking affected.)

She stands at the back of the church, the last woman to walk down the aisle before the bride. Even though she wears the same dark green dress as my sisters, she looks like a different creature altogether. With her dark hair piled on top of her head and her lips painted fire engine red, she’s so stunning, I can’t look away...

...which sucks, because looking at her makes memories of last summer come rushing back.

(Memories I’d just as soon forget.)

Parker arrives at the front of the church, fanning out to the left, and I look up to see Isabella begin her own walk down the aisle.

As I watch her graceful progression, every cell in my body calls out to her. Blistering memories of what it felt like to touch her, to talk to her, to be with her fill my mind. They make me hate her a little bit. I hate it that I still have feelings for her. I hate it more that she didn’t give us a real chance.

Sawyer, who’s standing beside me, nudges me with his elbow and whispers, “You good?”

I clear my throat and nod. “Yeah.”

“She’s not worth it, bro.”

“I know.”

But do I know? I mean, despite the fact that I’ve had several opportunities for random flings and fucks since Isabella went back to Seattle in five months ago, I haven’t engaged. I’ve been stuck. Why? Well, here’s the bleak truth: no one compares to her. No one before, and no one since...and I don’t know what to do about that.

As she reaches the altar, she catches my eyes, a nervous half-smile playing on her lips. In response, I give her a frosty once-over, then look away with an unsubtle scoff, my meaning clear: I’ve seen better. You’re nothing special.

(Liar, liar, pants on fire.)

When I look up again, she’s taken her position with my sisters, but her little smile is gone. Her cheeks are crimson, her jaw is set, and she’s staring straight ahead at the altar. I hurt her feelings, which should make me feel bad, but doesn’t. She was the one who dumped me, after all. Long-distance or not, I would’ve given us a try. Part of me, God help me, still would.

The children’s choir finishes singing, and the opening chords of Wagner’s “Wedding March” sound on the organ.

I turn my attention to McKenna, who stands at the back of the church on PawPaw’s arm, and shut down all thoughts of Isabella Gonzalez...for now.

***

Isabella

He hates me.

I had hoped that enough time had passed since our super steamy summer weekend for us to be friends, but apparently not. The look of disgust he gave me at the altar made me feel like total dogshit. There will be no truce between us.

I’ve been trying to avoid him at the reception, which is hard since I’m the maid of honor and he’s the best man. But every time we make eye contact, he responds with a scathing glance before looking away.

His contempt hurts because I genuinely liked him.

(If I’m honest, part of me still does.)

I finish my dance with Paw-Paw, and let him walk me back to my table, realizing too late that Hunter has claimed the seat next to his sister, Harper. I briefly consider running to the bathroom, but Joe catches my eye and grins at me warmly.

“You’re a great dancer,” he says.

“It’s in my blood,” I say, sitting down in the chair beside him.

“Paw-Paw loves spinning a pretty girl around the floor,” Harper says, resting her hands on her ballooning belly. “Hey! I’ve been meaning to ask...did McKenna tell me something about you coming back up here this summer?”

Ugh.I’m not anxious to talk about my summer plans in front of Hunter, who’s chatting with Sawyer on Harper’s other side; I lean a little closer to her, lowering my voice and hoping Hunter doesn’t hear.

“My cousin and I were selected as contestants on The Astonishing Race: Alaska. They’re filming it up here this summer. No big deal.”

“Wait. What?” Hunter leans over his sister to look at me, his face contorted into a scowl and his blue eyes searing. “Did you just say you’re coming back to Alaska this summer?”

Damn it.

“Um. Yep. Yeah. That’s the plan,” I say. My nerves get the better of me, and suddenly, I find myself babbling: “The show’s a knock-off of The Amazing Race, I guess. My cousin—the one who worked for a crabbing boat last summer—was approached to audition, and when they selected him as a contestant, they asked if he had a family member who’d be willing to team up with him. And my cousin’s dad—he’s, um, my first cousin—said yes, but then he got sick, and since I have summers off, he asked me if I’d...um, you know, be on the show instead.”

“And you said yes,” Hunter growls.

“Yes,” I squeak, reaching for my glass of water and gulping it down.

Harper asks about the timing of the race, and I tell her about Beto’s and my plan to drive to Ketchikan, where the race begins. All the while I can feel Hunter glowering at me.

“I’m shocked you said yes,” he says acidly. “I know how you feel about being away from home.”

“I couldn’t say no,” I try to explain. “My cousin—”

“You’re not sticking around after the race, are you?” Hunter interrupts, practically spitting the question at me.

“I don’t know yet. As long as I’m up here, I thought I might come and visit Ken for a few days. Maybe I’ll do what she did—get a seasonal job, and make a little money before I go home.”

“She got a fiancé out of the deal,” says Huner.

“Oh, I’m not looking for one of those,” I blurt out, tittering nervously.

“Not one from Alaska, anyway,” he mutters.

He’s not wrong. As he knows better than anyone, I’d never get serious with someone who lives so far away from my home. Long-distance relationships don’t work.

He stares at me for a long minute, his expression boiling, then stands up abruptly, clapping his little brother on the shoulder.

“Sawyer, let’s do shots.”

“Shots? Yeah, bro! Whoot whoot!”

As the Stewart brothers head to the bar, I can’t help wishing that the first conversation since our break-up had gone better. Hunter’s still so angry with me, and finding out I’m returning to Alaska this summer has been unintentional salt in the wound.

“Hey, Isabella,” says Harper, placing a gentle hand on my arm. “Ignore him. He gets moody this time of year. Our mom passed away in January, so the holidays can be rough.” She offers me a conciliatory smile. “You’re going to have a great summer. Good luck with the race.”

“You’re very kind,’” I say, glancing at Harper’s belly with a bit of wistfulness. “Oh! And I meant to say ‘congratulations! McKenna told me it’s a girl. When is she due?”

“March.”

“You feeling okay?”

“Just tired,” she says, resting her head on Joe’s shoulder.

I look over at the bar, where Hunter and Sawyer have attracted a bevy of women. On the count of three, they all throw back a round of shots. I watch as Sawyer orders another round from the bartender.

Not far from them, I spy McKenna trapped in a conversation with a group of older ladies. Maybe she needs saving, I think, and grateful for something to do.

“I’m not being a very good maid of honor,” I tell Harper and Joe. “I should go check on McKenna. See you two later?”

As I cross the dance floor, I glance at Hunter one final time, determined not to let him spoil this weekend for me any further. Contrary to what he may think, breaking up with him wasn’t easy for me, but it was a smart and sound decision that protected us both from a lot of unnecessary heartache.

I don’t regret letting him go, I tell myself.

Now I just have to find a way to make myself believe it.