2. I’m the new girl.
2
I’M THE NEW GIRL.
HALLE
I’m in Hunter’s kitchen looking for coffee, but, of course, I can’t find any. Shuffling around as quietly as I can, I have no idea what time he came home this morning or if anyone else came home with him. I at least had a solid sleep last night, but skipping food after a long drive probably wasn’t the brightest idea, and now I’m paying for it. Opening cupboards and peeking into the fridge, I come up with nothing. For a guy who has a lot of people around all the time, it’s pretty empty in here.
“If you’re looking for coffee, you won’t find any. Hunter is the worst at keeping his kitchen stocked.” I push the fridge door closed and turn around slowly, not recognizing the voice and preparing to feel judged.
My eyes go wide as I stare at her. She’s stunning. She looks older than me, maybe around thirty, like Hunter. She’s standing there, tying her long blonde hair up into a messy ponytail, looking at me with a thoughtful glint in her eyes. She has a pretty, round face and curves that fit those denim shorts and white tank top perfectly, curves that anyone would wish to have .
“But if you want, I’d happily take you to the local coffee shop to get one. I could go for one of their killer muffins, too.” She sounds so happy.
I stand there, frozen, not quite sure what to say. Time feels slow and the sun shines through the back windows. I hear a door down the hall open and close. I wait for her to ask why I’m snooping, or to even ask who I am. I realize as the seconds go by that she’s waiting for me to answer her.
“Ah, I don’t even know you.” If she picks up on my bitchy tone, she doesn’t pay any attention to it.
“Shit, I’m sorry. My name’s Madison, but everyone around here calls me Madi. Your brother, however, calls me Mads. Please don’t call me Mads, it drives me crazy.” She says this with a joking tone, but I think she’s being serious.
“You mean, it makes you mad, like, crazy mad?” I mock back.
She grabs my arm and starts pulling me toward the front door. “Oh god, not you too. Please don’t be like your brother. I need another girl around here to stand against all the boys.”
We’re halfway down the driveway when I realize I have no shoes on and no money with me, and I still don’t really know who she is or why she was in my brother’s house.
“Hey, ah, should I go back and get money and maybe some shoes,” I say hesitantly, not sure if she’ll be frustrated with me for screwing this up already.
Madison spins around, arms out wide. She pauses in front of me but starts walking backward. “Halle, girl, you’re in Sunlit Cove now. Shoes aren’t always needed, and it’s my treat. Call it a welcoming coffee.”
She turns back around and starts off down the street. I stare at her for a beat and wonder how in the span of ten minutes, I went from feeling so out of place and not knowing what to do, if I should hide in my room and wait for Hunter to wake up or go explore on my own, to smiling a little for the first time in over five years, feeling somewhat welcomed—all because of this sunshiny girl.
Twenty minutes later, I’m sitting outside at the one and only coffee shop here, Sunlit Espresso. Main Street is only a ten minute walk from Hunter’s place, which is very convenient.
Madison takes a bite of her blueberry muffin and holds up the plate in front of me. “Are you sure you don’t want any? They’re the best blueberry muffins you’ll ever eat.” She says this so enthusiastically, like they’re her life source. It’s kind of funny.
“I’m good, thanks though,” I say, taking another sip of my coffee, which by the way, I have to admit is one of the best coffees I’ve ever had. My mind takes me back to last night.
I don’t remember much after I got Hunter to finally leave me alone. I took those pills again, and that’s it. I hate taking them, but I can’t help it. When my anxiety peaks like that, when my breathing gets out of control and I start overthinking, I just need to shut it off. I need the loudness to go quiet again. It’s the only way I know how. But something is nagging at the back of my mind. Like something happened just as I was about to pass out.
“MADISON! YO, MADI!” We look up and across the street to a guy standing there with his dog on a leash.
Oh my god, is that a French bulldog ?
Madison waves back and calls out, “Hey!”
I go back to looking around the quiet area, not wanting to pay the guy any more attention in case he comes running over here, wondering who I am. It’s still quite early in the morning, but the sun is warming up, and the skies are so vividly blue. I hear birds all around, and the air is fresh. Madison said that things don’t start happening around here until after ten. You have your early birds and fitness people, but mostly everyone loves the midday to late-night lifestyle here.
A shadow falls over our table, and I startle, seeing the guy reach over Madison to grab her muffin. He smiles at me and shoves the piece into his mouth.
“Hey, I’m Connor. You must be Hunter’s lil sis. Didn’t catch you last night when you arrived.” He’s holding his hand out, waiting for me to shake it.
My eyes drop down, and I see his dog standing by his feet. I pull out from my chair, bend down, and start scratching behind his ears, “Hiiiii, lil guy, aren’t you just a bit cute.”
I really struggle with meeting new people, and Madison already hits my quota for the day.
“Con, really? I was enjoying that.” I look up to see Madison scowling at him.
Connor laughs lightly like he’s not offended that I completely ignored his handshake or that Madison is annoyed at him for stealing her muffin.
“This is Ace. He’s the best boy in the world,” he tells me.
I glance over at Connor, and he’s looking at me with a warm smile. He’s tall with light sandy-colored hair that’s pulled back in a knot. Lean but broad, he’s very handsome in a surfer guy kind of way.
“Sorry,” I say and look back down at Ace. “I’m Halle, the new girl.”
Before anyone can call me out on my rudeness or give me a disapproving look, I jump back up, thank Madison for the coffee, and start walking back the way we came. Logically, my brain knows that nothing has happened, that I’m okay, and that Madison and Connor were just being polite. But the way my heart starts racing, and the panic I feel over the expectations they may have of me has me running away.
I hear Madison call out to me halfway down the street. “Halle, are you okay?”
Looking back, I see her standing next to Connor, both of them wearing confused expressions as they look at me.
I don’t need them to see my panic set in, so I yell back, “Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll see you guys later.”
I make it back to Hunter’s and stop on the sidewalk, not ready to go back inside yet. That would mean facing Hunter and all of his questions. Laughter catches my attention, and I move toward it, further down the street. I see a park at the end and a dirt track off to the side that disappears into the trees. Kids are already swinging on the swings and the jungle gym, having fun, their laughter ringing all around. They look so carefree, and a pang of sadness hits my chest. That’s a feeling I never got to have as a kid. I head toward the dirt track and follow it, not sure where it’s leading, but the stillness, the silence amongst the trees, has a calming effect on the anxiety that started creeping back in at the café.
I hear the rush of water first before I reach the end of the track. Stepping through the trees, the area opens up, and— oh wow —this must be one of the famous waterfall creeks Hunter tried to talk up to me. The crystal clear water flows over rocks and pebbles, and sunlight filters through the trees surrounding the creek. Further out, near the small waterfall, the water looks deep enough to swim in. Moving toward a large rock, I take a seat and hold my knees to my chest, gazing around. I can’t help but admire the beauty of this town. The laughter from the kids down at the park echoes through the air, taking me back to happier times with Hunter.
We would sneak out every Saturday afternoon after hours of chores and being told what to do over and over again by Ray. Hunter would always find me silently crying outside, the mean words hurt the most when I was younger.
“You’re not that fucking stupid, are you Halle?”
“You’re fucking useless.”
I still feel useless. Back then, Hunter wouldn’t ask what was wrong, he’d just grab my hand and take me away. I could see the worry in his eyes, though. I could sense his pain. I’m not sure what caused Hunter’s pain, but it was there.
We never had any money, but most Saturdays, we would find our way to the small arcade and we would wander around, watching all the kids play games with bright flashing lights and music. It was one of the only times we would laugh and joke. Hunter used to tell me that one day, he’d have all the money in the world, and we could come to the arcade and play as many games as we’d like for as long as we’d like. Turns out that was a lie because that one day ended up in Hunter leaving. I tried going back after Hunter left, but walking around an arcade by myself as a ten-year-old in clothes that had holes in them and shoes that clearly didn’t fit my feet was apparently frowned upon by the adults that were there. Ray had to come get me. I was so scared of what would happen, but it was just more mean words.
“You’re a fucking burden, Halle.”
After that day, when I was home, I wouldn’t leave my room unless Mom was there. She was my safe place. He never said anything to me when she was home.
A tear slips down my cheek, and I quickly wipe it away, taking a shuddering breath as I look out toward the water. I wonder how my mom was so good, so safe, and yet she chose him. I’ll never know why now. I miss her. I miss her hugs and the way she would make me feel when she walked into my bedroom after a long day. The comfort she would bring. If she just stuck around, we could be here together. Getting our lives back on track with each other.
Standing, I realize I’ve lost track of time. My stomach rumbles, and I’m stiff from sitting for so long. I probably should get back before Hunter goes searching for me.
As I get closer to Hunter’s, I hear people screaming at each other. Quickening my steps, I rush towards the front door. The closer I get, the more I can make out Hunter’s voice.
“Mads, how the hell did you lose my sister?” Oh no… no, no. He sounds frustrated.
“Hunter, I didn’t lose her. I told you, we went for coffee. Connor spotted us and came over, and she kind of just freaked out and took off. I thought she was coming back here.”
Before I can start worrying over Madison’s words, she adds, “Look, she seemed sad and a little anxious. She probably just needs some space to breathe. If she’s not back in ten, I’ll go look for her, but you need to chill.”
My eyes start stinging at Madison’s words. She doesn’t even know me, and she’s sticking up for me. I can’t remember the last time someone was there for me in that kind way, especially after Mom. I’m starting to think Madison may be good.
“I told you, you couldn’t trust her, dude.” I stop suddenly, that voice—angry, deep, and raspy—bringing me back to last night’s haziness .
“Help her, but don’t let her walk all over you.”
Why is he so angry with me?
The door slams. I look over at the guy standing on the porch, and he scoffs.
“Fuck, she’s right here,” he yells back through the house.
I hear murmuring voices, feet moving, and the door opening again. I move toward it as I lock eyes with the angry guy standing there, leaning over the porch railing. He’s staring down at me, eyebrows pinched and his lips pursed in a thin line. Damn, I thought Connor was handsome, but he has nothing on the asshole in front of me. Tall, tanned skin, dark curly hair that’s shaved on the sides, and is that a lip ring? He’s wearing jeans that fit his thick thighs and a plain black tee that stretches over his muscles. Muscles that I’d love to run my hands over.
Jesus, girl, get a grip. He may be hot, but the guy is a fucking asshole. I may be filled with anxiety and my own insecurities, but I also won’t take any shit from anyone who’s outright rude to me. I’ve done that enough.
I move my attention away from him and his scrutinizing stare to see Hunter, Madison, and Connor standing next to him. They’re all looking at me, and the panic I managed to let go of earlier starts to creep its way back in. Too much attention for my liking. I wonder if I could just sneak by them and shut myself in my room.
“Ah, hi guys.” I break the silence nervously.
Angry guy looks me up and down, shakes his head, and goes to walk down the steps.
He slaps Hunter on the shoulder and says, “I’ll see ya at the bar later.”
Hunter gives him a nod and turns to walk back inside.
As I move past Mr. Angry, I hear him whisper to me, “Don’t fuck his life up, Halle. ”
Oh, we are definitely calling him Mr. Angry from now on.
He doesn’t wait for my reply. He just gets in his truck and takes off.