Chapter 15 #2
Hunter had no idea how good that news was. If I had to spend an hour on a deserted island with my ex, I would’ve swum to the next dry land to get away from him. I wetted the towel and scrubbed my skin harder.
Hunter’s hands paused, and he looked up at me. “Do you mind if I ask you why you married him?”
I wished back at the high school senior prom, I didn’t think just because he was on his way to graduating as valedictorian—just like me—and headed to the same university, it was our fate to be together.
“I thought I could have what my parents had since they were college sweethearts.” I sighed. “I was an idiot.”
“I have a strong feeling he is an idiot. Not you.” The muscles on his tan forearms flexed when Hunter flipped the knife to the other side and used the same motion. Then his hands changed blade sides again and repeated the same skillful and capable movements five times.
I tore my eyes away and rolled my head around, cracking my neck like I was getting ready for a ring fight.
“My dad needed a lot of attention. I felt bad leaving him alone with a nurse. I quit my job and took care of him. Phill was unhappy that we were running through our savings because I stopped working. I suggested he get an actual job instead of waiting for a management position for the past five years. That didn’t go well.
He also didn’t like that I spent so much time with my dad.
Our house had a spare room, and I wanted my father to move in with us so I could look after him, but Phill said no.
I wasn’t going to beg, and gave him an ultimatum: either my father moved in, or I moved out.
By the end of the day, I moved out.” I gave Hunter a weak smile.
“Two months later, I was served divorce papers.”
I scoffed at the memory of how surprised I’d been to open the door, thinking it was my lunch DoorDash delivery, to find a short young man with a letter.
I didn’t even know why I was shocked. Somewhere deep down, I’d known that this would happen.
Only I suppose I was hoping it would be me who filed first.
“He based his divorce on spousal abandonment. Which was, on some level, true. He got a good lawyer and robbed me of half of everything, including my 401k, never mind that since we got married, I had been the only one who had a job. I was tired and didn’t fight at all during our divorce.
I just wanted it to be over. And to top it off, Phill lied to me about the debt he ran up online gambling.
I couldn’t do anything about it because everything was in my name.
” Close to three years had passed, but talking about it again made me feel like I was back there, my life being sucked out of me.
Hunter took a large pot and placed it under the pipe with running water. “Do you want to know a fun fact?”
“Um … sure.”
“When humans develop in the womb, the anus forms before any other opening. Which basically means at one point everyone was nothing but an asshole,” Hunter said, looking at me. I had no idea where he was going with this. Then he added, “I have a feeling Phill never developed beyond that stage.”
I blinked at him, then burst into laughter. “This is the best.” I wiped at my eyes. “Tina said, ‘You can’t fix stupid, but you can divorce it.’”
“And she is right.” Hunter nodded.
She also was sure Phill suffered from SPS (Small Penis Syndrome) and couldn’t handle my success.
He wasn’t like that when we were in school.
His personality only worsened after we graduated from university.
I already had a job, and he couldn’t find one.
I jumped at the first opportunity to get my foot in the door, but he waited for something better.
As my career rocketed, his deep envy of me increased.
Each time I got a promotion or a bonus, he wouldn’t talk to me for a day, sometimes longer.
Shaking out my hands and letting the pent-up energy out of my body and into the earth, I smiled. “All right. No more talk about the douchebag. Now it’s only fair since you asked about him, I get to ask you a personal question.”
“Do your worst.”
I already knew a lot about Hunter, but my craving to learn more grew stronger with each day we spent together. I looped some of my hair behind my ear.
“Did you have a girlfriend before you moved here?”
“Yes.” Hunter lifted a pot full of water; his biceps bulged, forearm muscles tensed. He carried it to the fire pit. Hunter had remarkable arms. And ass too. I looked down at my flip-flops before he could notice my prurient watch.
I wanted him to elaborate. But he picked up the next knife and started sharpening it. I stared at him until he caught my eye.
A shy smile pulled at his lips. “You look like you have questions.”
About a million of them. “What happened?”
“We met at the bar where I was celebrating my twenty-third birthday. Dated for about three years. I got laid off and couldn’t find a job in finance, so I worked two jobs to support us.
Jolie was busy with medical school, and when Edward offered good money, I thought, why not do it for half a year and then come back.
Jolie wasn’t happy about it at first, but then I convinced her that extra cash would benefit us since we both had huge student loans.
She was okay with me leaving to work with Edward.
” He concentrated on the stone and blade.
“And then I really liked it here. I liked the people and life in Rarotonga and the weather. I called Jolie and tried to persuade her to move here.” He chuckled.
“That didn’t go well. She said no. I took a few weeks to think about it, and when I decided I had to return to her, she told me she had met someone else.
And that was that.” His voice was without melancholy. Did he regret coming to help Edward?
“Did she meet that someone else after you asked her to move here or…?”
His eyebrows went up like he’d never thought of that. “I don’t know, and it really didn’t matter. Jolie was done with me. She’s married now.” I could detect some pain in the last statement.
“How do you know?”
“I saw it on Instagram.”
“You have an Instagram account?” I couldn’t picture Hunter as a guy who would post or follow anyone on social media.
“Of course I do. Who doesn’t?”
“Castaways who live on a deserted island, that’s who.
Actually, I can see it being a huge success.
” I dramatically raised my hands, palms out like I had a vision.
“Half-naked, hunky single man living on a tropical island with two cats doing manly things every day. Millions of followers. I can see cat food and Speedo sponsorships.” Why did my mind right away have to go to teeny-weeny bikinis?
I could have mentioned a sunscreen brand.
He playfully rolled his eyes. “It is not my personal account. It’s for my business. You’d be surprised how many bookings Edward and I got through it.”
“So, you social media stalked her?”
“No. Two years ago, she reached out just to say hi.”
Illogical jealousy seized me like an octopus gripping its prey.
I bet Jolie did it to rub it in. Or maybe she was still pining for Hunter.
Why was I thinking about all of this? I shouldn’t care.
I was too much of a damsel in distress for Hunter to be interested in me.
Yet, I wished I had my phone—and electricity, and the internet—so I could check out what she looked like.
“Are you talking to her?” Please say no.
“I didn’t reply to her.”
“Good,” I blurted, too fast and way too pleased. “I mean, it’s good that you moved on and started dating others. Right?”
I didn’t need to know that bit of information. Of course not. I was trying to be polite and show my concern about his well-being and nothing else. No hidden subtext—just plain politeness. And yet, I held my breath, waiting for his answer.
“I dated some.” At that point, our eyes connected. Hunter’s face relaxed, and his features faded to thoughtfulness, then something complicated. “I’m still looking for the one.”
I wished he would smile because his stare was downright intimidating and unapologetic, a mix of emotions of primal possession and tenderness. And it stirred an involuntary throb in me that was now in need of satisfaction.
“Are you a hopeless romantic?” I asked.
“Are you not?” he countered.
I scoffed. “Probably not. Love brings pain. People divorce you or die. In the end, you are left with a broken heart.”
“A wise man or woman, I’m unsure, said, knowing both love and loss is what makes humans alive. Without love, there is no meaning in life.”
The way he grasped my gaze sent waves of anticipation through me.
When was the last time I felt like this?
It wasn’t wise to start something with Hunter.
We were roommates, island-mates, and it should stay like that.
Uncomplicated. But a match had been struck in my lower core, and that was a borderline dangerous feeling.
I had to find a question that would put us back in a fun and playful mood, and away from thoughts that had no business existing in my head.
We’d started the “get to know you better” game, and I had to come up with a better question to get to know Hunter on a deeper level.
A million questions, like a school of fish, all scared in different directions when I tried to pick one.
“Who’s your celebrity crush?”
I wanted to face-smack myself. Seriously? That was the best I could come up with?
The randomness of my question puzzled him at first, but then he smiled. “That’s easy. Heidi Klum.” Hunter rinsed the knife under the water, scrubbed carrots of dirt, then handed me everything. “Peel these, please.”
I pointed the blade at him. “Not Gal Gadot?” I had to tease him, even though it sounded like I was asking him if he liked me since she could be my twin.
“She’s hot too,” he said, retreating, raised arms in surrender. My cheeks grew warm with the compliment. “What about you? Who is your celebrity crush? And if you say, Henry Cavill, I’ll howl.”
I ran the knife over the root, scraping off its delicate skin and watching it fall into a bowl on the table. “Well, then you better start howling because Henry is fucking fantastic. Only a bit short for my taste.”
“Isn’t he like six one?” Hunter lit the logs and threw the used match into the growing fire.
I shrugged, what can I say? “Yeah, if he were a few inches taller, I would totally marry him.”
“You have a thing for tall guys?” He wiggled his eyebrows, straightening his back and squaring his broad shoulders.
I ran my eyes over Hunter’s statuesque figure.
I had a thing for him, but not just because he had the greatest physique and, God, that handsome face—no, it was more.
His humor and kindness. Something about him was so calm.
He was sure of himself, confident, and I couldn’t deny that I found it attractive.
All of it. And there were also small touches like his cute text message notes, and the fresh flowers that appeared in the hut and on the picnic table, that made this rustic place feel like a glamping second cousin.
Hunter also gave very good forehead kisses.
Okay, there’d only been the one, but it was flawless.
I shrugged again. “You’ll do,” I said in an indifferent tone, willing my lips not to curl up at the corners.
“You’re all right too.” He winked and picked up the bird by its feet. “Now, do you want to learn how to pluck a chicken?”