Chapter 35
Chapter
Thirty-Five
Natalie: I hope you’re hungry! I’ll be there in a few minutes.
Hunter: See you soon.
Holding up the brown takeout bag, I knock on Hunter’s hospital room door and paste a smile on my face. I might be a rain cloud inside, but I can’t let on. He needs all the optimism he can get. “Can I interest you in a burrito?”
Instead of an answering smile or a grumpy groan, he looks wary. His blue eyes stand out more than normal in his pale face, dark circles like bruises underneath them. Lines bracket his mouth, and his jaw is clenched.
“Are you in a lot of pain?” I ask, sitting the food down and brushing his hair off his forehead.
“Not too bad.” The harsh lines of his face soften as he looks at the bag I brought from LaBamba. “Thanks for bringing me dinner. I’m so sick of hospital food.”
“I figured. I know it sucks.” Home-cooked meals are usually the first thing my dad misses.
But instead of digging into the takeout, Hunter’s brow furrows.
“What? What’s wrong?” A bead of sweat tickles the back of my neck. Does he know about my job?
I wanted to wait until after dinner to tell him. To have a few more happy moments where I live in denial. But his expression tells me that’s not possible. Did one of his teammates hear about my termination and mention it?
He continues to stare at me as I move closer and grab his hand. Might as well bite the bullet. “I need to tell you something.”
“About your dad?”
I sink into the chair next to him. That’s not what I expected.
“Um.” Swallowing, I try to clear my dry throat. “What do you mean?”
“Were you ever going to tell me he’s sick? And your family is totally broke?”
I bristle. Yeah, I probably should have told him about my dad by now. But it was so nice, not constantly focusing on that. And our financial situation is none of his business. That stays in the family.
“I didn’t ask you for an earnings report,” I shoot back, standing and flipping my hair over my shoulder. “I didn’t figure you’d need one in return, but I guess if money is that important to you—”
“Natalie.” Shaking his head, he cuts me off. “It’s not about that. But your dad. What’s wrong?”
The compassion in his crystal blue eyes cools my anger and cuts straight to my heart. I bite my lip, blinking back the tears that threaten to spill over at his concern and the reality of the situation.
“He has polycystic kidney disease.” I speak around the lump in my throat. My voice sounds funny. “It means his kidneys don’t do their job, basically, and he has to do dialysis every other day.”
“That’s why he…” Hunter trails off, clearly connecting the dots.
“Yes. That’s why he can’t work, is always exhausted, and looks much older than he is.” I perch on the bed next to him and he takes my palm, stroking my fingers as I explain. “I should have told you when you mentioned his age… he’s actually in his mid-forties. But…”
“Why didn’t you?” Instead of angry or judgmental, Hunter looks curious. So I take a deep breath and squeeze his hand.
“If you knew, it would have changed things.” His eyes flash, and I rush to reassure him. “Not necessarily in a bad way, but you’d be worried about him, right? You’d ask about him, want to help or fix things. Right?”
He nods. “Of course.”
“Because that’s who you are. You’re an amazing boyfriend. And I just…” Glancing down at the scratchy hospital sheets, I fiddle with a loose string. “I didn’t want that to be why we were together. I didn’t want you to pity me or for us to talk about it all the time. Does that make sense?”
Hunter shifts on the bed, sitting up, and then pulls me closer so he can brush his lips across mine. “I get it. Wanting someone to be with you for who you are and not for the other stuff going on. I wish you would have told me, but I understand.”
I lean into him, taking comfort from his solid warmth. “While we’re on the topic of confessions, I have another one.”
He stiffens beneath me. “That sounds bad.”
“It’s not great. I got fired.” I stay pressed against his chest, so I don’t have to look at his face. I can’t stand the disappointment that might be there.
“What?” Outrage tinges his voice, and he pulls back to see me. There’s no chagrin, only disbelief. “But you’re amazing. Way better than the guy we had before. I don’t understand.”
I don’t know how to tell him this next part. He’s going to feel responsible, and he better not try to do something noble, like break up with me so I can keep my job. Ripping off the Band-Aid is probably best.
“Kayla Barnes found out about us.”
Hunter sucks in a quick breath, eyes wide. “It’s my fault.”
“It’s not. I knew dating a player was discouraged when I started working for the team, and when you asked me out. Just like I knew I was taking a risk to leave the gala early.” I shrug. “I didn’t think they’d fire me for it, but that doesn’t matter. I’d do it all over again.”
It’s the truth. No matter how much I liked my position and wish there was a way to keep it, I love Hunter.
“It’s a dumb rule,” he says, stroking my hair. “You’re the best person for the job, even if you’re dating someone on the team.”
He might have said it to cheer me up, but his words boost my sagging confidence. “Thanks.”
I kiss him again, putting more heat into it before pulling away and glancing around.
Hunter raises his brows.“Giving the nurses a show?”
“You wish.”
“For some privacy so we can continue what you started there?” He gives me a cheeky grin, and the moment of levity is just what I needed. “You know I do.”
“When can you go home?” I skim my palm up and down his bicep, his t-shirt soft against my skin.
“Tomorrow, probably.” He grabs my hand and kisses my fingers, the sweet gesture making me melt even more. “Cooper has already offered to be my chauffeur and pick me up.”
“That’s great news.”
A comfortable silence settles between us until he perks up. “You must have influenced me, because I just thought of a silver lining here.”
“Oh, yeah?” I shift, laying my head on his chest once more. His heart beats a steady rhythm under my cheek.
“We both have a lot of time on our hands. So we’ll get to see each other more.”
I wince, looking up at him. “About that. I hate to crush your newfound positivity, but you know how my mom has been driving for GrubHub?” Hunter nods, and I continue. “Since I don’t have my job with the team anymore, I’m going to join her. It’s a little tough, sharing a vehicle, but we can make it work. And she says the tips are pretty good.”
His face falls. “I guess that makes sense. You’ve gotta keep working. It was silly of me to think you’d have more time.”
“Not silly.” My tone is firm as I gaze at him. “Don’t worry, I’ll still squeeze you in.”
“I hope so.”
“Definitely. You have nothing to worry about.”