Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Regge contemplates his future in both business and romance
Two days after I’d shaken hands with Julian, I transferred the majority of savings Theo had gifted me into an account and signed a bunch of papers at a lawyer’s office. I was now the very apprehensive owner of the Hotel Fulbright. Abraham drove me home after.
“Regge, I know the pack has agreed to do some construction but let me know how else I can help.” He flashed a smile at me.
“You haven’t heard from him, have you? Julian?” I asked.
The big man shook his head. “No. He decided it was best to leave town. Your money has been deposited into his account, and my part in the deal is done. I got to get back to the bar. Where can I drop you?”
I watched the traffic and crowds slip by us, wondering what Hunter was up to at this time of day.
Since he went to New York, we hadn’t spoken or texted.
It seemed like the thing to do. Leave Hunter his space.
Give him time to think. Strangely, I missed him.
We hadn’t seen each other in a month prior to the hotel incident, but since then, so much had changed in our relationship.
At least, I hoped we still had a relationship.
“Home. I guess.”
Abraham glanced over as we waited at an intersection. “Still haven’t heard from Hunter?”
I shook my head. “This whole venture would be much more doable and less scary if he was with me.”
“Is that all you want? A business partner?”
“You have already given me your two cents worth on this issue. I talked to Hunter. I did. But he was all let’s be friends and then he pisses off to his mum’s. What am I supposed to do about that?”
Abraham nodded, but at the green light, he made a right-hand turn and then another, and we headed in the opposite direction.We pulled up in front of the 30th Street Station.
“What are we doing here?” I frowned.
“It’s a train station.”
“I know that, but—”
“For a smart kid, you can be so dumb. We’re here so you can go to New York. Where you will knock on Mrs. Hunter’s door and beg her son’s forgiveness. Say you’re a complete ass and you know it. And that you’ll do better.”
“But—”
“No buts. Just go. Yes, you tried. I get it. It’s like learning how to fight. You get knocked down in the process, but you get up and try again. You know the address, yeah? I know you’ve been to the city before. There’s like a bunch of express trains to New York. You’ll be fine.”
“I don’t even have any clothes packed or…” I stopped, knowing it was useless to argue.
“If you’re good and lucky, you won’t need any. Now get out of my car. Call me later.” Opening his wallet, he peeled off three bills—hundreds.
I grumbled, but I took the money.
“Thanks, Abraham.” I stuffed the cash in my pocket. The idea of seeing Hunter both thrilled and terrified me. At least I wouldn’t be sitting at home waiting. Moping. The car sped away, leaving me to shuffle into the train station with other travelers.
I had no problem getting on a train and going to a bigger city. I could navigate the complex modern-day traveling and cities just fine. Navigating my feelings was another matter. I wasn’t sure a two-hour train ride would be enough time to figure out what to say.
?±?
Hunter’s mum opened the door with a flourish. “Oh my! Regge. How lovely to see you, kiddo. Come in, come in.”
“Mistress, er, Mrs. Hunter.” I started to bow as was customary but quickly changed it to a nod. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but is Hunter, I mean, Bruce here?”
“Regge, now I’ve told you to call me Marjorie. Yes, he’s here. Come in. You’ll have the whole neighborhood wondering what I’m up to. It’s gossip central around here, and I don’t usually get young bucks like yourself at my door.”
I entered the tiny foyer, its dark-washed walls giving it a small closed-in feel that made my jaw clench.
Five more steps got me to the living room area where a large circular table was set up with several ladies seated around.
Round disks scattered in the center, cards on the table, and Hunter, his back turned to the entrance, laying down his cards.
“A pair of tens. Sorry, Eloise.” He gathered the chips to his side before looking over and seeing me.
Marjorie waved at the table. “It’s poker night. Girls, this is Bruce’s friend, Regge, isn’t he a doll?”
“Ma,” Hunter protested.
“Oh I agree,” the woman named Eloise said. “Regge, do you play poker? We’ll deal you in, and you can help us win our money back.”
“I’m unfamiliar with poker, though I understand the concept. Euchre was more my game.”
“Oh.” A woman with tight curls mused. “I’ve heard of that. My sister-in-law plays.”
Hunter rose to his feet but stayed near his chair. “Is everything okay?” His gaze flicked over me from head to toe. Searching for blood, I supposed. Of course, I would only come if there was an emergency—someone died or was grievously injured. Not to make amends or repair our friendship.
I nodded. “Yes. Everything is fine back home. Might I speak with you a moment?”
At the table, the curious glances never left us. I heard the whispered words. “Oooh, don’t you love his accent?”
Hunter’s face shuttered at the comment. He glanced back at the table, stacking his chips. “We’re in the middle of a game.”
Beside me, Marjorie cleared her throat. She said nothing, but the sudden stiffness in Hunter’s shoulders revealed that it was more than a scratchy throat.
With a sigh, he pushed his chair back and looked at Eloise.
“Can you deal me out of this hand?” He stood and brushed by me as he headed toward the foyer.
With an apology to Marjorie, I smiled at the women and retreated after Hunter. He stood just outside the door.
Marjorie’s porch was nothing more than a cement landing with a metal railing on two sides and down the four or five steps to the tiny front garden. Hunter leaned against the railing, his arms crossed over his chest.
“So it’s not an emergency, but you’re here.” The soft brown of his eyes held a glint of sharpness.
I steeled myself against flinching. Deep breath. Be sincere. Smile. No, damn it, no smiling, he’ll think I’m a cad. “I had to talk to you.”
“Did you lose your phone again?”
“No. I…I should have called. Or texted. However, this is too important for tiny words on a screen.”
Hunter’s eyes shifted skyward. “I was coming back in a couple of days.”
“I don’t want us to be friends.”
“Great. We’re off to a good start.” His hurt frown pierced through my addled brain.
“No. I mean. I want more. And wait… I’m getting it backward.
” I reached out. This time Hunter flinched.
I dropped my hand immediately. I’d made a massive cock up of things.
So massive that he didn’t want to touch me.
I screwed up my courage and brought all my old-world manners and lessons into play.
“First. I apologize. I most humbly ask your forgiveness. I lied to you, which is unforgivable. Alas, I hope your heart is greater than my error as I have no excuse. I do offer an explanation if you would hear it?”
I waited. The seconds ticked by. A door slammed down the street. Voices carried from someone’s backyard—laughter. Finally Hunter tipped his head.
My heart ached. My palms sweated.
“I was afraid. I was so afraid, HB. I thought I’d lost you forever.
That the necromancer would stay in you and the thought of him walking around in your beautiful body, doing normal everyday things and smiling with your smile, looking at me the way…
well, not the way you are now, but the way you have looked at me before.
Like you can truly see me. My soul. The idea of never seeing that look again broke me. ”
Silence. I held my breath, smoothed my hands along the sides of my best jeans. The moment was so long I was about to step away when he made a sound. Just a small noise in the back of his throat. He still stared, his arms still crossed, but a faint softening happened around his eyes.
“Quite the apology.”
“Do you forgive me?”
He didn’t answer. But his mouth twitched.
“Beautiful body? Really?” He glanced down at himself, at his faded jeans with the hole in the knee, his scuffed shoes he was so fond of that he named them.
I searched for the name. Chuck Taylors. Yes, that was it.
Gotta get my Chuck Taylors. Slip on the old Chucks.
His dark green T-shirt with Nirvana plastered in faded letters on the front stretched across his chest. I remembered it being loose on his slender frame, but he’d definitely filled out. Quite nicely.
“Shut up. You are glorious.” My face grew warm at his look. “I didn’t know how to tell you. It was my fault. I wanted to help Nigel. And afterward, I panicked.”
“You didn’t think I could handle it?”
“I’m a stupid blighter. I should have trusted you.”
“You have trust issues.”
“I do. I know. And I’m working on it. I’d like to work on it with you. If you’d let me.”
Hunter frowned, thinking. “I get it. You made a judgment call. What about the other thing?”
I frowned at him.
“You know. We have sex, it’s glorious, to use your word. Life is great. And then you basically cold shoulder me out the door like a Grindr hookup with bad breath.”
“You don’t have bad breath. Except of course after you eat those Doritos you like. Cool Ranch, what kind of name is that?”
“Don’t judge the Cool Ranch snacks. And don’t change the subject.”
I stepped back, studying my feet. “I…I falter at affection. The parts that come after.”
“Bullshit.” The word was hot enough to burn.
“Bullshit, Reg. You mean to tell me you never hugged Charlie?” My mouth dropped open at the mention of my old love.
“That you didn’t whisper little nothings in his ear just to make him blush?
Or want him so badly you couldn’t help but touch him all the time you were together?
You can do that shit. Just, apparently, not with me. ”