15. Hunter #2
Logan fills me in on his cases. The more I listen, the clearer it becomes that there’s a link between what is happening in Suncrest Valley and in Eagle Falls. He also tells me about an informant of his who now lives in Suncrest Valley that might be willing to help.
“What’s his name?”
“Daley. Jack Daley.”
The steering wheel creaks under my grip. “You sure?”
“Positive. I think he’s got a brother too.”
Daley. I knew I’d heard that name when I found that slip of paper. I glance at the time on the dash. Sutton’s probably already knee-deep in paint. No reason to go kicking in doors yet.
“Send me everything you’ve got,” I say.
“Will do,” Logan says. “Tell Sutton I say hi.”
We hang up, and I decide to swing by Ground Up before going to my house. For a mid-Saturday morning, Ground Up is busy, with only a table or two available. Thankfully, there isn’t a line.
“Well, well, well,” Navy says as I walk up to the register. “Look what the cat dragged in. Rough night?”
“Not entirely,” I say with a subtle smile.
If eyes could twinkle, I’m pretty sure hers does. “So I heard.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know Sutton came in here first thing this morning to tell us everything.” The look she cuts me makes me feel about two feet tall.
“Our date last night didn’t end the way I wanted it to either.”
“You’ll make it up to her?” Navy eyes me.
“Of course I will.”
“Good,” she says. “So, what’ll it be?”
My stomach tightens. If Sutton came in here first thing this morning, that means she’s been thinking about last night too. I still hate how I had to end our date.
“Let’s do two turkey grilled cheeses, one tomato soup, and one French onion.”
She purses her lips, containing a massive smile.
“What?” I ask.
“Oh, nothing, just that a similar order came through not fifteen minutes ago for a Sutton Bradley.”
“Well,” I say, placing my hat on the counter and pulling out my wallet, “that makes it easy then. How much do I owe ya?”
I settle the bill with Navy and sit at a nearby table to wait for our order.
I can’t seem to wipe the smile from my face.
Moments like this remind me how long Sutton and I have been in sync.
It wasn’t until the summer before my junior year in college that I realized it might mean more than friendship.
Sutton: 18 years old. Hunter: 21 years old.
The overhang from the front porch blocks the sun.
A half-melted pitcher of lemonade sits between us and a deck of cards spread across the table.
Sutton talked me into playing Bullshit. She is annoyingly good at lying, which makes it almost impossible to beat her at the game.
I, on the other hand, learned long ago that lying never did me any good.
Probably because my mother is scary as hell.
“Two fours,” Sutton says, sliding the cards to the center pile. It’s the casual confidence that makes me suspicious.
I narrow my eyes. “Bullshit.”
Her grin comes instantly as she flips the cards over—two perfect fours. This is going to be a long game.
“You are terrible at this game, Hunter.”
“Or maybe you’re too good at it,” I mutter, scooping up the pile while she laughs.
Eventually, Luke gets home from working at the local pool and joins our game. Sutton and I don’t stand a chance once he gets involved.
The afternoon stretches on, her laughter filling the sticky summer air every time I fall for one of her bluffs.
At some point, between her teasing and the way her nose scrunches when she concentrates, I realize I’m not just watching Sutton.
I’m memorizing her. Every smile, every movement, every detail.
Like I’m trying to take pieces of her with me before I head back to school.
And then I notice something else . . . the way she touches me.
How her hand always finds my arm when she laughs. How her shoulder leans into mine like it’s second nature. The way her fingers brush over my knuckles when she reaches for the cards, never hesitating, never pulling away too fast.
And the worst part?
I’ve noticed it before.
I’ve felt it, that pull. That quiet shift in my chest every time she gets a little too close, every time she says my name like it belongs to her. I just never let myself call it what it is.
It hits me like a sucker punch. Sutton isn’t just one of my best friends. She is everything.
I almost tell her then, almost blurt it out, because now that I realize I have feelings for her—that I’ve probably had them for a long time—I don’t want to keep them in.
But I don’t say anything. She’s a senior this year, still standing at the beginning of everything. She doesn’t need to be tied down to me.
Not when she’s still figuring out who she is, and I already know what I want. I’ve had my time to mess up, to learn, to want something more. She hasn’t. I won’t be the reason she skips all that. She deserves a chance to discover who she is without me and Luke around.
I lean back in my chair, trying to act normal after being hit with something that feels like it just changed everything, even as my chest feels like it’s about to burst. It may not make sense to tell Sutton how I feel now, but I know I’ll tell her someday.
“Hey, lover boy!” Navy’s voice breaks through my subconscious. “You alive over there or what?” She pushes a bag with my order to the edge of the counter. “Food’s ready.” She crosses her arms over her middle. Navy is quickly rivaling my mother for the scariest woman I know.
“Thanks,” I say, taking the bag, putting my hat on, and backing toward the door.
“You’re not just messing with her, are you?”
I pause, back against the glass door. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play stupid.” She leans forward, placing both hands on the counter.
“Navy,” I walk back to the counter, not wanting to have this conversation across the entire entry of the coffee shop. “I promise you, I am not messing with Sutton.”
“Okay, but, you’re you. And you’ve been known to date.” She gives me a pointed look. “A lot.”
I clear my throat in an attempt to tamper down my sudden surge in anger.
“Sutton,” Navy says, “is one of my best friends, and I know whatever is going on between you two right now is serious for her. I don’t want you getting involved with her if you’re looking for another right now or fling or whatever your specialty is.”
I clench my jaw, forcing myself to keep my voice even.
“Not that I have to explain anything to you, but I’m allowed to date, even if it seems like a lot.
And, no, it wasn’t because I was playing the field or going through girls for fun.
I dated so much because Sutton was unavailable, and I was trying to find someone who made me feel half of what I feel for her.
So, as much as you’re worried about Sutton being a right now for me, you couldn’t be more off-base.
I realized years ago that my heart belongs only to her.
And now that we’ve found our way to each other, you better believe I won’t be letting her go. ”
Navy’s shoulders relax, and she steps back from the counter. “Okay.”
“Okay? That’s all you’ve got to say after coming at me like that?”
“Just need to see if you’re one of the good ones.” She turns to wipe down the counter.
I am dumbstruck. I know Sutton, Navy, and Greer are protective of one another, but I never thought I’d be on this end of it, with Navy playing bodyguard for Sutton against me.
“And?” I question. “What’s the verdict?”
“Time will tell.” She side-eyes me. “Just know, if you break her heart, I break your kneecaps.”
I chuckle. Navy looks all sweet and innocent, but I know she’d do it.
“You’re scary as fuck. You know that, right?”
She winks and goes back to her work.
I’m still fired up when I get in my truck. I get why Navy is worried. It’s not like I’m immune to my own reputation, but like I told Sutton, I was loyal and upfront with every woman I spent time with. I couldn’t help it that my heart didn’t want to be with any other woman but Sutton.
And unfortunately, she had found love, at least for several years.
I couldn’t have known that she and Brandon would eventually break up.
Sure, I was hoping, but at the time, I knew I owed it to myself to try to find someone to create a life with.
And boy did I put in a lot of effort to convince my heart to love other women. It just never did.
When I pull down my dirt drive, I’m surprised to see Easton’s crew loading up supplies and trash. Maybe they’ve actually made progress.
“Hey, Hunter,” Easton says when I step out with my food in hand.
“You guys work on Saturdays?” I shake his hand.
“Not usually, but we wanted to finish these floors.” He tips his head toward the house, motioning for me to follow him. “Cabinets are here too, so we’ll install those Monday. Other than that, it’s just basic cosmetic items on the list, which Sutton’s already started on.”
Inside, the kitchen is a blank slate with no cabinets or countertops and what looks to be a brand-new farmhouse sink in the corner.
I nod along as Easton lists everything out. “I thought it was going to take you guys forever,” I say, “but you really picked up the pace.”
The house is blessedly quiet except for the familiar sound of country music coming from upstairs. I smile, picturing Sutton dancing along to each song like she always does. I place our lunch on a saw horse and turn back to Easton. “And I’m assuming new countertops are on the way as well?”
Easton smiles. “Those are ready too. I’m headed there now to pick up the slabs.”
“Easton, it’s Saturday. You know you don’t have to work on the weekend.”
He shuffles his feet back and forth. “Nah, it’s all good. I don’t live here full-time, so I don’t really know anyone around town. Not much to do, ya know?”
“What are you doing next Saturday?” I’m thinking of Greer’s Halloween party. It’s not like me to randomly invite people to parties I’m not hosting, but I don’t think Greer will mind, and it sounds like Easton could use a night off.