Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Hunter
I growl at anyone who crosses my path. Harrison is basically taking care of all the customers today because I can barely hold a conversation with anyone before they take the hint and scram.
With Jake’s mom being home sick, he stayed home for the rest of the week. That means my extra set of hands for the market isn’t here. I’ve made do before, but I’ve gotten used to him helping.
Harrison caught me all but throwing everything into the truck this morning and offered a hand. I denied him because I didn’t want company, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. So now I have to listen to him chat away with every person who walks up to the damn stand when all I want to do is leave.
I lean against the bed of my truck and pull my phone out.
Nothing.
I haven’t heard a word from Cassidy since our fight last night. In true Cassidy fashion, she is avoiding whatever she doesn’t like. Which is currently me. I immediately tried to call her back after she hung up, but that went without an answer. I called twice more after giving her some time to cool, and nothing. The texts have been read, but she hasn’t responded to one.
I shouldn’t get my boxers in a bunch since she has an entire weekend with her girls planned down to the minute.
Looking through our shared pictures I see the snap of her notebook with a rough itinerary written down. I look up into the corner of my phone screen and see it’s a quarter after ten, so she should be getting brunch right now.
I roll my eyes at how pathetic I am. I look over my unanswered texts.
Me: Really?
Me: Answer the damn phone, Cassidy.
Me: Okay, sorry, please answer.
Me: Morning. I’m sorry about yesterday. I hope you have fun with the girls.
Me: Please text me when you get back from the bars tonight.
All read. Not one response.
“Stop.” I look up and see Harrison with his arms crossed across his chest. “Enough. It was a stupid fight. You guys will talk tomorrow when she’s not busy. So, stop your sulking.” He throws me an unopened bottle of water and I take a heavy drink.
“This woman drives me crazy.”
“That’s what they do brother, but you didn’t want an easy one. So that’s on you.”
I mumble to myself about what a fucking joke I am, and I get mad thinking about Cassidy calling me a joke last night all over again.
I try to busy myself with the stand, but it’s no use. I am barely able to be civil to each patron as they come. I look around and see people walking around the market and envy the couples who get to walk hand in hand without a worry in the world.
They have the security of knowing they’re in a relationship to hold them together. They get to talk about things like the future without a fight-or-flight response. They get to laugh and go to sleep in the same bed.
Just a month ago I didn’t envy anyone other than my parents on occasion. A few weeks of talking with Cassidy has me twisted into knots.
The stand is about empty, and I start to load up early. It’s almost one and that’s when most of the other vendors wrap everything up. Harrison picks up on my cue and starts to break things down with me.
“Closing up early?” I hear a shrill voice call from over my shoulder. I am in no mood for Franny today. I couldn’t play nice if I tried.
“Yup.” Harrison decides to take the reins on holding a conversation with her, and I’m suddenly grateful he came.
“It sure was a busy day today. A lot of out-of-towners.” She presses on.
“We always have out-of-towners, Fran.” Harrison is trying to end the conversation and continues to break down without looking over at her. I continue to just pack up on my side of the tent.
“Hunter, you got a minute?” She walks right in front of me until I see her boots in front of mine. I force myself to look up at her and give her a quick nod .
“What can I do for ya’?” I regret asking, but it’s the right thing to say.
“I know you’re talking to that out-of-towner, and I’m not tryin’ to butt in. I just want to speak my piece. I can tell you’re all out of sorts today, and I think part of that may be due to her.”
My nostrils flare, but my mouth won’t open to tell her to stop yapping.
“I don’t know the details, but I do know that a lot of people don’t get the way we do things ‘round here. But the thing is… I do, Hunter. I get how you do things. I can’t help but think if you would just give me a chance, I could make your life a hell of a lot easier.”
She goes to put her hand on my bicep, and I jerk it away, taking a step back.
“You about done?” I cross my arms and look her dead in the eyes. “I’m not going to pretend I’ve thought about giving you a chance, Franny because I haven’t. I’m not interested in whatever you’re offering, so you should just think of someone else to give that offer to. Others might find it a mighty fine one, but I just find it trouble.” She physically jerks back at my words.
She shakes her head twice like she can’t believe how curt I’m being, but I’m done being gentle. It has only given this girl false hope, and I don’t have room for that.
“Hunter,” she starts again, and I shake my head sternly.
“I’m not interested, Franny.” I stand my ground and her bottom lip trembles as she turns in her boots and heads back over to her stand where her brothers are breaking it down.
I let out a heavy sigh and pull my hat off my head, tossing it on the empty crates next to me. I run my hands through my hair and groan, giving the ends a quick tug.
I can’t imagine this weekend getting any worse. I don’t want to bring any more bad karma my way, so I try not to put out additional negative energy.
“Well, I did not see that coming. I thought Franny would have played the innocent I’ll-wait-forever game ‘til the end. Today she put her big girl boots on and walked right into a big fat pile of horse?—”
“Shut up, Harrison.” I toss my hat back on and finish the breakdown without another word.
Back at the house, I sit in my mother’s library flipping through the pages I have left in Ready Player One. Cassidy had one shipped to my house so I could finish what I started.
Most of me knows she just wants someone to talk with about the book. I don’t mind bein’ that person. I try to read the same passage three times before closing the book and giving up for the night.
Like the pathetic man I have become, I pull my phone out and see that I finally have a message. I almost drop my phone in my rush to unlock the damn thing and see what it says.
Jake: Can you come by? My mom is getting worse.
Disappointment rushes me, but I stand and grab my keys as I head out my door straight for the park. Jake asking for help can only mean one thing: Sharon has to go to the clinic.