26. Kiss her #3
“Yeah. Of course.” Hunter did have to go back to the hotel where he’d gotten ready. The network had booked the room for him, but he had intended to grab his stuff and go back to his apartment. And be with Colby. “See you soon.”
Colby nodded, his eyes never leaving the floor as he walked ahead of the group out of the restaurant.
There were a few photographers out there, but they ignored Colby and yelled for Mikayla and Chris as he walked out behind them.
And him. Suddenly, paparazzi were calling his name. What world was this?
None of them stopped, though. Chris and Marc got into their waiting SUV, and Mikayla and Hunter got into theirs. As soon as it started to move, Mikayla tipped her head back on the leather headrest and sighed. “Sorry. Chris made me do that without asking.”
“He was looking out for me.”
“So are you dating him? Colby?” Mikayla asked bluntly. There was a privacy screen between the front and the back of the car, so the driver wasn’t listening, but Hunter glanced his way anyway.
“No.”
“But he’s more than just your roommate, isn’t he?” Mikayla asked softly. “You can trust me with the truth, by the way. I’m all for people finding happiness wherever they can get it, especially in this industry.”
Hunter nodded again. “We’ve… yeah. And he’s my best friend, but yeah, he’s been more.”
Mikayla smiled softly and studied him with gentle eyes. “So, Chris wasn’t wrong. I thought he was dating Hannah Wolfe?”
“That’s what you’re supposed to think.” Hunter watched the streets of Los Angeles blur by. “We know it can’t become a thing.”
“Baby…” Mikayla reached across to take his hand in hers. “Seems like it already has become a thing.”
Hunter shook his head as his heart seized painfully. “It can’t. We both know that. And it’s not like…”
He didn’t finish that sentence because it was exactly like that. In his heart, Hunter’s feelings for Colby were real. And intense. And deep. And he was fucked.
Back at the hotel as the elevator climbed toward their floor—they were both on twelve—Hunter opened social media and was bombarded by a bunch of stuff about the LA premiere. Mikayla was on her phone too, and she gasped. “We’re number one. On the site! People are watching!”
Hunter felt a surge of excited relief.
The doors opened, and they both stepped off. Mikayla reached up and hugged him. “If you ever want to talk about it—or anything—I’m here for you. I don’t give a shit if we ever work together again, I’m your friend, okay?”
Hunter nodded as she pulled back. She smiled. “I think we’re going to be doing even more press if it stays a number one.”
“I’ve got to get back to Montreal. To my mom.”
“I know. But we’ll figure it out. If I have to fly to Montreal and do the press there with you, I will,” Mikayla promised. She gave him another quick hug and walked away.
In his room, he stared at his small suitcase and slowly started to gather his toiletries from the bathroom.
He took off the borrowed outfit to be collected by his groomer tomorrow morning.
He changed into the joggers and T-shirt he’d worn on the plane and then sat on the edge of the bed and checked his email. There was one from his dad.
Mom is making me write this. I was going to wait until you got home so we could watch your movie together, but she insisted on staying up until midnight to watch it when it dropped.
We just finished it. Hunter, it was nothing short of amazing.
We loved it—and you in it! (Except we didn’t need to see your butt.) But the rest of it—INCREDIBLE.
We’re so happy for you! You can see the relief in your mom’s face. She knew you were a good actor, but she didn’t trust the world to figure it out. She’s so relieved they did. So am I, buddy. We love you and are extremely proud of you. Looks like your future is bright. Talk tomorrow! Love, Dad.
Hunter’s vision blurred, and tears fell onto his phone.
He tipped his head back and pinched the bridge of his nose.
This was everything he’d ever wanted. He should never have to bartend or wait tables again, right?
As long as he kept giving everyone what they expected.
What they wanted. Who they thought he was.
It wasn’t hard, right? He’d been fine before Colby.
He could be fine without him in his life in that way…
He sniffed and wiped his eyes with the backs of his hands. He picked up his phone again.
I’m gonna stay at the hotel.
He waited.
Colby
Yeah. It’s for the best.
Yeah.
Colby
This is what we both set out to accomplish.
Hunter nodded as new tears pricked his eyes. He blinked and cursed himself internally. He was such a fucking loser. This was supposed to be one of the happiest days of his life.
I fly back to Montreal tomorrow afternoon.
Colby
Safe travels my friend.
Thx. Stay in touch.
Colby
Reach out if you need me.
Hunter dropped his phone and flopped back on the bed and pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes.
He was not going to cry again. He was on the doorstep of everything he’d ever dreamed of.
Having to cross that threshold without a friend he didn’t even know a year ago wasn’t the end of the world. It wasn’t. Even if it felt like it.