Chapter 18
HUNTER
If Jamison’s cheerfulness isn’t enough to tell me I won’t like what Dorothy has to say, then the gleam in her eyes when she came around the corner, staring at him in awe, definitely is.
I step away from the counter and meet her as she treks toward me. “You can always have a moment of mine.”
“Are you checking out?” She stops before me.
“No. I’m extending my stay.”
Her brows knit together. “Why?”
I rub my aching neck. “Isabella’s giving me a hard time about some things, and I need to settle them before I go.”
“Sorry I asked. It’s none of my business. It’s just a habit.” She wraps her arms around her waist. “I wanted to let you know I’ve decided what I want to do about my job.”
“That was fast.”
“I know, but…” She glances at Jamison, and a smile spreads across her face. Her gaze comes back to me full of apologies. “I don’t want you to hear it from anyone else so…Jami asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”
And here I thought her not taking her job back would sting. The jolt of the blow is like being electrocuted. It causes me to stumble backward .
I asked her to marry me more than once over the time I was with her, and she always said it was too soon. They’ve been together for a couple of months, and she says yes? The pain hits me unexpectedly, and my brain short-circuits.
I really need to find a way to get over her. Otherwise, I’m going to die knowing she’s building a life with him.
I shift to cover up my emotions by sliding my hands into my pants pockets. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Her expression softens. “Hunter, I’m not trying to hurt you. I just thought you deserved to hear it from me.”
“I appreciate it.” My chest cracks open, and my heart crashes to the floor. “You know I only want you to be happy.”
“I know, but?—”
“But nothing. If you recall, I never planned to tell you about your job because I thought you would be better off in Miami with Jamison. Trust me. I think this is the right thing to do.”
She reaches out and touches my forearm. “You’re a wonderful man, Hunter. I’ll always hold our time together close to my heart.”
“Same here.” I swallow the lump of grief that’s stuck in my throat. “It’s better this way. Between the issues with my son and the therapy I need to continue to fix my fucked-up brain, you’re making the best decision for all of us involved.”
She brings her arm back to her waist. “Your brain isn’t fucked-up. This situation is.”
“I’m sure my therapist would put up a pretty good case arguing otherwise.”
“Don’t put yourself down like this. You’re too special to think there’s anything wrong with you.”
“Very well. I’ll stop if it means that much to you.” I shift away, getting ready to excuse myself.
“Hunter, there’s one more thing.”
“And what would that be?”
“About the money. I can’t keep it. ”
I hold my hands up in the surrender position. “There’s no way I’m taking that money back. Not after what my mother did to you. If it weren’t for me, she never would’ve come after you.”
“But I?—”
“Find someone to give it to if you don’t want it because there’s no way I’ll let anyone at Efron Worldwide give you the routing numbers. That money is yours. It’s the least I can do.”
Jamison joins us. I can’t take another minute alone with her, knowing this is the last time I’ll see her for a while.
Sure, I may run into her at a function Mateo is hosting, but it will probably be a year or more before I do. That thought steals the air from my lungs.
I’m about to get on my knees and beg her to stay with me. Every second with her is like rolling in a bed of swords. I’m cut and bleeding out.
Jamison turns to her. “Do you mind if I cut in and take a minute of Hunter’s time?”
“Of course not.” She steps up to me and gives me a hug. “Goodbye, Hunter. Good luck with everything. You deserve to have a great life.”
I wrap my arms around her. “You too, beauty. You too.”
She pulls away with our past love shining in her eyes.
Her gaze moves to Jamison. “I’ll be over there with Melanie.”
“Okay.” He waits until she walks away and then faces me. “I just wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for me.”
I nearly choke on his words. “Are you being serious?”
“Yes. Dori wants all the grudges and hostility to be put to bed. She says holding on to it only causes problems, and she only wants to look to the future. Not only that, but you took a chance on me, and I’ve never properly thanked you.
If it weren’t for you and Jonah, I wouldn’t be where I am today. ”
I nod and decide to take the higher ground. “Well, Jamison, you’re a fucking genius in business. You’re more than a worthy opponent, and you stole my lady. While I can’t say we’ll ever be friends again, I respect you and wish you well.”
He laughs under his breath. “I didn’t steal your lady. According to your theory, she was on loan for a little while, but she was always mine. Regarding the other two things, I feel the same. You have my respect as well.”
I smile at the memory of the night we had our talk about women. We used to be friends, and I enjoyed that friendship.
I sigh and let the anger and division fall away. “In that case, maybe someday we can be friends again.”
He shrugs. “Who knows? Stranger things have happened.”
“True.” I hold out my hand. “Congratulations on your engagement.”
He shakes it then breaks away. “Thanks. I’m surprised she told you.”
“Yeah? Why is that?”
“It just happened. She doesn’t even have a ring yet.” He gazes over at her. “I really fucked up that part.”
I look her way. She’s keeping a keen eye on us as she and Melanie talk. I toss her a smile to tell her Jamison and I are being civil.
He twists back to me. “I know things got out of hand between us. I hope we can leave it in the past now and work to be better men. She doesn’t need any more drama in her life. She’s dealing with too much as it is.”
“I’m willing if you are.”
“Thanks, Hunter. I’m sure she’ll appreciate that.”
“Anything for her.” I inch closer to the counter. “I’ve got to take care of some business, so I’m going to need to cut this short.”
“Yeah, sure. We’ll see you around.” He dismisses himself and strides to Dorothy.
She lights up like an angel the closer he gets. The love she has for him spills into the air. It’s so strong it’s got a pulse of its own .
At least she’s happy. It’s the only consolation I have.
He picks up his bag and shoulders it, peeking over at me and waving goodbye as he does. Melanie and Dorothy follow suit, and then they all disappear out the front doors of the hotel.
I watch them with my heart breaking until they get into a car and drive away. Maybe someday I’ll find a love like they have. I let myself dream of the possibility until the ring of my phone jerks me back to reality.
I laugh at my stupidity. Guys like me don’t get the happy ending. No, guys like me get to deal with manipulative women like my mother and Isabella.
I’m glad Dorothy won’t be subjected to any more of their insane antics. They put her through hell, so she deserves a life full of love and happiness on the beaches of Miami with the love of her life.
That thought gives me the strength I need to let her go once and for all.
I belly up to the bar where Aiden is waiting for me. “Aiden, sorry it took a while for me to get here. I had a call with my attorney that took longer than I expected.”
He side-eyes me from the stool he’s sitting on. “No problem. I’m a couple ahead of you though.”
“I could use a stiff drink, so I’ll make mine a double, and we’ll be even.” I relax next to Aiden and tip my chin to the bartender.
He hurries over. “What can I get you?”
“A double of your best whiskey.”
“Can I see your ID?” He spots my wallet .
I smirk at his ridiculous request as I thumb through it. Once I find my license, I toss it on the bar.
He lifts it and reads it. “Happy birthday.”
He hands it back to me.
I nod. “Thanks.”
The bartender retreats to get my drink as I put my ID away.
Aiden gives me a quick glance. “It’s your birthday?”
“It is.”
He shakes his head. “Some birthday.”
I shrug but silently agree. Maybe this time next year I’ll be in a better place. As I wait for my drink, Aiden scrolls through his phone.
I twist his way. “Did you speak with the attorney I connected you with?”
He places his phone down and gives me his undivided attention. “I did. Thanks.”
“What did he have to say?”
“He’s speaking with the department. He thinks he can get them to work with us by telling them everything they want to know. I won’t be working for them anymore, but I’m okay with that.”
The bartender slides my glass over.
I dip my chin in acknowledgement and then address Aiden. “Where does that leave things with you and your family?”
He shrugs with melancholy dripping from him. “My dad will probably cut me off, and my relationship with my parents will be severed. It’s no big loss. If anything, it’ll be a relief.”
“And your sister?” I sip my whiskey.
“She isn’t speaking to me right now.” He lifts his beer to his lips and takes a drink as he seems to think about something.
There’s a moment of silence as a thousand different emotions flit through his eyes .
I place my glass down. “Do you think you can make amends with her someday?”
“Dori’s usually pretty forgiving, but with Jami in the picture, who knows?”
“Well, he and I just put our issues aside, and I don’t share the history with him like you do. My guess is they’ll both forgive you, and everything will go back as it was.”
“It’s possible, but I still can’t wrap my head around them being together. I’ve spent over sixteen years of my life trying to keep them apart. If I can’t find a way to accept them together, there’s not much hope. Not unless they break up.”
I release a pained laugh. “They have no plans of breaking up.”
The space between Aiden’s brows forms into a line. “Why do you say that?”
“I ran into them as they were leaving. She’s still moving to Miami.” I brace myself for Aiden to fly off the handle.