Chapter 40
FORTY
On my tiptoes, I make my way down the hallway, the first of my bags slung over my good shoulder. It’s early in the morning again, but I think I’ll need two or three trips on foot to get all my stuff. It didn’t look like much when we put it in Hunter’s truck, but having to carry it all back sucks.
Just as I’m about to reach out for the front door, a deep voice comes from the kitchen. “Good morning.”
For fuck’s sake.
I turn to see Hunter sitting at the table with a mug in front of him, his eyes fixed on me. “Morning,” I greet, pointing with my thumb toward the door. “I just wanted to—”
“Leave, I know,” Hunter interrupts, standing from the table and coming my way.
Nervousness and butterflies are raging inside me, and my pulse quickens.
“I wanted to talk to you for the last few days, but you did a good job of avoiding me.” Busted.
“And it didn’t feel right doing this over texts.
” His eyes fill with sadness as he reaches out to grab my bag from my shoulder, setting it on the floor.
“I never wanted to make you feel uncomfortable, Sloan. I thought there was something between us, but I know now I was delusional.” He releases a sarcastic laugh.
“I’m sorry if you felt the need to get out of my way or leave.
I promise I will keep my distance and respect the boundaries you’ve set.
You don’t need to go. I got the message, loud and clear. ”
His words hit me like a punch in the gut.
He thinks I don’t want him?
That he made me feel uncomfortable?
How badly can someone fuck up, Sloan?
“You got the wrong message then,” I whisper, looking at the floor. But he won’t let me hide again, gripping my chin gently and turning my face up so I have to look at him.
“What are you saying?” he asks, his brows furrowed.
“You aren’t delusional,” I say softly. At the same time, a tear makes its way down my cheek, prompting him to stroke it away with his thumb. “But I’m a mess and all over the place… lost. You deserve someone better. Someone who’s not falling for you as much as she’s falling for your brothers.”
He pulls his hand away from my face, shock written all over his.
Now you’ve done it, Sloan.
At least I was honest, and he knows it’s not about him and not his fault.
He needed to hear that.
“You’re falling for me?” he asks me, his voice barely above a breath.
I nod fast, feeling like a bobblehead while tears stream down my cheeks. “I am, but—”
He grabs my head between both hands, leaning in, his gaze finding mine. “I can live with a little competition,” he murmurs before bringing his lips to mine.
My hands come up to hold his wrists, kissing him back, amazed again by how good of a kisser he is.
God, I missed this.
Now I know what Saylor meant. My insides are tingling like crazy.
He breaks the kiss but places a few more soft pecks on my lips. “You’re staying,” he murmurs against them.
“I can’t, Hunter. I’m going to mess things up for you guys,” I whisper.
“Let that be my problem, okay? I promise everything will be all right, just stay here. Let me take care of you.” I look up into his beautiful ocean blue eyes.
That doesn’t change the fact that you’re weird, Sloan.
“You don’t know me. If you did, if you knew everything about me, you would want me to leave.” My heart breaks telling him, but it’s the truth.
He puts his forehead against mine. “Not possible, Shortcake. I will never want you to leave. I will always want you here. I promise.”
Hope flares inside me. Maybe, just maybe, he’s telling the truth.
If someone would mean it, it would be him.
And I’m so desperate for someone to mean it. To want me, flaws and all.
So, I take the leap. “Okay,” I whisper, knowing I might have just signed up for even more hurt.
He stands back straight and declares, “Now, let’s get your bag back in your room. You’re not going anywhere.”
An hour later, I’m sitting at the kitchen table with Hunter and Lio.
Hunter has made some delicious French toast, and I groan with delight after taking a bite. Closing my eyes for a moment, I savor the taste and when I open them again, I’m met with Hunter smiling warmly at me.
I bite my lip, thinking about kissing him again just as Nash makes his way into the kitchen, ruffling Lio’s hair and leaning down to kiss the top of my head.
And it begins.
He sits down beside me, grinning. “Morning, pretty girl.”
I glance at Hunter, ready to see him hurt or angry, but he still has a soft smile on his lips, so I mutter a quiet, “Morning.”
“Li-Li, are you ready for our day today?” Nash asks Lio, who gets all giddy.
“So ready. I did practice my whale song like you told me,” Lio announces, making noises that are anything but whale sounds, causing me to scrunch up my face because it hurts my ears.
Nash just laughs. “That was perfect,” he praises, holding out a fist, and Lio bumps it with his.
So freaking cute.
“Make sure he stays where you can see him all the time. I don’t want him to wander off and fall over the railing while you’re occupied navigating,” Hunter cautions. “And check twice to make sure you have his inhaler with you.”
“Not our first time hunting whales, brother. Li-Li and I are pros.” Nash grins.
I sit up straight, turning from Nash to Hunt and back to Nash again. “You go whale watching?” I ask, a surge of excitement coursing through me.
“Someone’s excited.” Nash chuckles. “Wanna join us?”
Of course, I want to join. It’s at the top of my bucket list. But it would mean a day with flirty and sexy Nash in his element.
And I’m still pissed at him for his proposition.
No, not pissed. Hurt.
But if I’m honest, that’s not fair. He never promised anything, and neither did I. I was well aware of what I was getting myself into and who he is. Punishing him for that would be hypocritical.
And I was the one offering him to be friends.
I’m just afraid I can’t handle it.
“I would love to,” I admit.
Nash’s grin gets even bigger, and he looks at Lio. “What do you think, Lio? Are we inviting the greenhorn to come with us?” he asks, nodding in my direction.
“Sure, I can watch out for Sloany.” Lio nods proudly.
“Then it’s settled.” Nash puts an arm around my shoulder, thankfully missing my bruised spot. “We’re gonna have so much fun,” he whispers in my ear, making a shudder run down my neck.
Oh, I’m going to regret this.
“What about you, Hunter?” I ask him, worried that Nash is getting a little too touchy in front of him.
But Hunter seems relaxed when he answers, “I don’t go on the ocean anymore.”
I glance at him, trying to decipher the shadows behind his calm facade, but his eyes are kind as always, revealing nothing.
A tangle of emotions grips me—relief that he’s not upset with me for choosing to join them and a twinge of sadness about him not joining too.
Yes, I’m so excited to see whales, but leaving Hunter behind, even just for the day, feels like a betrayal of the bond that’s been tightening between us.
But for Hunter to sit there, a smile still playing on his lips, it speaks volumes.
It tells me he maybe even understands my tumult of feelings better than I do.