70. HUNTER
70
I ’m in my truck, pissed at myself for kissing Charlotte when she isn’t mine to kiss.
Not yet anyway.
The dial tone echoes as I wait for Jason to answer the phone.
“What’s up, Hansen?”
“I fucked up.”
“Why?” His voice sounds bored, and I rub the back of my neck.
“We went to get some ice cream, then I kissed her… at the same time we ran into her fucking boyfriend.”
He lets out a full belly burst of laughter, and I roll my eyes, unamused.
“Talk about bad timing, playboy.”
“Shut up.”
“How did she react to you kissing her?”
A fluttering feeling forms in my gut, my heart rate speeding up in excitement, thinking back to my lips on hers. It was only brief, a slight brush of our lips, but fuck me, I was ready to dive in for more if that damn guy hadn’t shown up.
“Like she wanted more.” I chuckle before my face falls a bit. “But then he got into her face, I got into his face, and she snapped. Then she walked away. I wanted to take her to the shelter to get a dog.”
“She walked away? ”
“Yeah,” I reply, dragging out the word. “I guess it was more like storming off? And I’m pretty sure she broke up with that douchebag.”
“Wait, what? She broke up with him on the sidewalk?”
“I don’t know!?” I blurt, confused. “She was like: I need time. I need to be by myself after what happened. And I have no clue what that means. I wanted to go after her, but I don’t know.”
“Where was douchebag Ben?”
“Still glaring.” I huff. “I wanted to punch him real bad. Thinking about how he’s been kissing my girl for the last few months, but instead I punched a trashcan and walked to my truck.”
“Really?” There’s shock in his voice, slightly pissing me off.
“Yes, really. Can’t have that fucker calling TMZ, saying he got punched by Hunter Hansen. Gina will have a fit.”
“But your lawyer will have a blast?” he jokes.
“You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Oh, come on. You got what you wanted! She broke up with him. What are you still moping about? You got the girl.”
“I didn’t get the girl. She stormed off!” I correct.
“So, go get her! Where the fuck are you waiting for?!”
“She didn’t seem like she wanted me around right now.”
“Like that ever stopped you,” he says flatly.
I groan in frustration, biting my lip.
“I don’t even know where she is.”
“For fuck’s sake, Hunter. I’m sure you’ll know where to find her.” He stays quiet, and I know I’m acting like a scared little boy. Everything I’ve done the last year was for this moment, facing my biggest fears, and winning my girl back. And now that’s finally here—I’m scared as fuck.
“You’re gonna chicken out now? We moved back to this one-horse town to back out now? I saw the way she looked at you last night. The two of you are endgame. ”
“Something is holding her back. Like she’s scared to open up to me again.”
“Then convince her otherwise. Show her you’re legit this time. Either way, you should hang up the phone and talk to her instead of me.”
“Right.” I smile.
“Cool. Call me after.” He hangs up the phone as I stare out onto the street, thinking about where she could be. When I start driving in the direction she stormed off in, it only takes me a minute to realize where she went, and I park in front of the cemetery two minutes later. Walking through the gate, I quickly notice her on her knees in front of her mama’s grave, and the sight of it makes goosebumps pepper my skin as I approach her. I’m not giving up now.