Chapter 17
HUNTER
Jonah steps out of the car. “Hunter, I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”
“Just admit it. You want to say goodbye to Melanie.” I get out behind him with excitement brewing in my chest.
My driver shuts the door and leaves us so we can attend Melanie’s going away party. I wasn’t going to come, but Dorothy will be here.
Besides a few text exchanges, we haven’t spoken since I took her to dinner. I’m eager to see her.
Jonah leads us into the restaurant. “You said this party is in a private room.”
“Yes. I set it up for them last week. Hailey said everything should be good to go. Just ask the hostess what room we’re in.”
While he does that, I scan the area. It’s pretty tame for happy hour on a Friday night, but I have a feeling that will change once everyone from work filters in.
I’m not worried about that, though. I’m concerned about seeing Jamison and Dorothy together. She made it clear the other night that they’re in a relationship.
That awareness is a steel boot to my ego, but I can’t say I’m surprised. Between Jamison nearly dying and Isabella’s baby, there wasn’t much of a reason for Dorothy to stay with me. My heart is a tattered wreck.
The hostess shows us to a private room in the back. She slides open a glass door and dance music spills out. She waves us into the large, dimly lit room full of a bunch of twenty-something-year-olds. None of whom I recognize.
“Do you know anyone here, Jonah?”
“Sure. They’re mostly our employees.” He stops in an open area about twenty steps away from the bar. He glances my way. “I’m guessing from your question you don’t know anyone here.”
“I recognize some,” I lie.
“Yeah, sure you do.” He shakes his head. “You need to get out more.”
“I go out.”
“I don’t mean charity events and galas you’re mandated to attend.”
“They count.” I take a peek around the room, searching for Dorothy. “Besides, I just went to the Christmas ball and that wasn’t required.”
“No, but Dori was with you.” He pegs me with a knowing look. “Face it, brother. You wouldn’t be here if you knew she wasn’t coming.”
Melanie runs up to us and slaps me on the arm with the back of her hand. “Hunter, you didn’t need to upgrade us to this room, but I’m not going to lie. I’m so glad you did. This room is perfect. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. When Dorothy told me you were having a going away party, I thought I could contribute to your celebration.” I slide my hands into my pockets and glance at Jonah.
“Well, thanks again.” She smiles at him. “Thanks for coming. I wasn’t sure you would.”
He nods and scoops her up in a hug. “I wouldn’t have missed it. ”
Shock splatters over her face as he takes her in his arms. I’m just as surprised as she is. Jonah acted like I was torturing him by asking him to join us.
She says something near his ear that I can’t hear. They hold each other for a moment, then break apart. She glances between us, and an awkward silence settles.
Should I stand here or let them have a minute alone?
A nice-looking guy with dark hair joins us. “Mel, come over and meet my friend. He wants to say hi.”
“Sure thing. I’ll be there in a minute. I’m going to get a drink first.” She gestures to a server who just came back into the room.
The guy looks over at me and Jonah, and then back at Melanie. “Okay, but don’t be too long. I’m not sure how long he’s going to stay.”
“I’ll be right there. Now shoo.” She waves him off.
He hesitates but walks away, glancing back at us as he leaves.
Jonah gestures to the guy with a jerk of his chin as he addresses Melanie. “Don’t stay here on our account. Go meet his friend.”
“I’d like to stay and talk with you. I don’t give two shits about his friend.” She bumps her hip into his. “Lighten up or go home.”
He rolls his eyes, but his posture softens. “I’ll be better after a drink.”
“Yay! I knew you’d come around.” She beckons the server with the raise of her arm.
He rushes to us and takes our drink order. Another server walks by with some bacon-wrapped scallop appetizers. They smell delicious, so we scoop them up and empty the tray.
“Oh my god. These are to die for,” Mel says as she swallows her first one. “Why haven’t I seen these on the menu before? ”
“I had them special ordered for tonight.” Jonah casually throws it out there.
I turn in his direction. “You didn’t tell me you did that.”
“Why would I?” He shoves a scallop in his mouth.
I want to say because you didn’t even want to come, but I keep that to myself.
“Thank you for doing that. It makes me a little bubbly inside.” She twists from side to side like an innocent child as she eyes my brother up and down.
Not this again.
She’s already ripped his heart out once. I don’t want to see her do it again. And with her moving, that’s what would happen.
Jonah swallows his food. “I knew they were your favorite and wanted you to enjoy tonight.”
She softens as she smiles at him with warmth. “Thank you. That was thoughtful of you.”
He nods. “You mean a lot to me. It’s the least I could do.”
Her cheeks redden. “Jonah Efron, are you flirting with me?”
“It’s possible.” His eyes twitch mischievously.”
I’m about to leave these two alone, but the energy around us shifts. Instead of a light party atmosphere, it grows weighted.
Mel straightens as her eyes dart from me to someone behind me. The subtle vanilla and lavender perfume gives Dorothy away.
I pull in a gust of air and turn to face her, bracing myself for what I’ll see. She’s guiding Jamison over to us as he holds his right arm close and tight to his chest. His gait is stiff like he’s in a lot of pain.
My rib cage squeezes as guilt kicks me in the gut. He’s like he is because of my mother.
“Hey there, you guys.” Melanie steps around Jonah and shifts closer to them .
“Happy going-away party!” Dorothy reaches over and gives her a hug. I try to make eye contact, but she avoids me.
They move away from their embrace.
Melanie gives Jamison a once-over. “Hey, big guy. I’d give you a hug, but I’m scared I’ll hurt you.”
“I’m fine.” He takes a step forward like he’s reaching for her but stops mid-movement, bringing in a ragged breath.
“Yeah, I’m going to pass. You’re in too much pain.” Mel moves back and points to the other side of the room. “I have a table for you over by the courtyard. Let me show you where it is.”
Jamison holds himself stiffly. “Give me a minute. I need to catch my breath.”
“Whatever you need.” Dorothy scans over him, concern dripping from her every pore. “Do you want something to drink?”
“No. I shouldn’t mix the painkillers with alcohol.” He intertwines his fingers with hers, and her cheeks get painted in crimson.
The blood drains from my limbs. My heart shatters like I was the one who got shot. Now I need a painkiller.
I didn’t know seeing them together would hurt this much. I want to look away, but I can’t. It’s surreal seeing them together. I never thought it would happen.
“Hunter.” He dips his chin to me and then faces Jonah. “Jonah, good to see you.”
“You too. It’s great news you’re out of the hospital. We were really worried about you.” Jonah glances at me.
“Yeah. Your recovery is a relief.” I run my hand over my suddenly stiff neck.
“Yeah, I bet that’s how you feel.” Jamison leans closer to Dorothy.
“We’re all happy you’re alive,” she says, then addresses Melanie. “Where can I get a cocktail?”
“The server should be here any minute. We just ordered.” Melanie peeks around Jonah. “Look, there are a few open spaces at the bar. We can go get whatever you need.”
“Good. I don’t want to wait.” Dorothy tugs on Jamison’s hand. “Do you think you can make it over there, or do you want to stay here?”
“I’ll stay here. There’s something I’d like to discuss with Hunter.” He shifts and kisses her on the cheek. “Go. We’ll be civil.”
She nods and grabs Melanie’s arm. “We’ll be right back.”
They disappear before we can respond. The server who took our order walks up to us and delivers our drinks. Since Melanie left, there’s an extra dirty martini.
“Fuck it. One shouldn’t kill me, so I’ll have it.” Jamison downs half of it in one swallow as he glares at me.
Jonah takes it as a cue and leaves us alone.
Maybe I should’ve stayed home.
I swirl the whiskey in my glass. “What do you want to discuss, Jamison?”
“Dori’s job.”
“What about it?”
“Having her job back won’t lead to you two getting back together. I told you if you ever fucked up and hurt her, I would fight for her every day until the day I died. That truth remains.”
This guy grates on my every nerve.
“We’ll see about that.” I force down my irritation, along with a nice draw of my whisky. “Once you’re in Miami, I don’t see how you two will stay together.”
He inches closer to me. “That’s where you’re wrong. Our connection is something she craves. Mark my words. She’ll find her way to me no matter what.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure because she craves our connection too.” I hold his determined stare. “And if you loved her like you say you do, you wouldn’t have fired the security team I had in place. ”
“I fired them and got our own. She doesn’t need you protecting her. I can do it just fine.” He winces like he was zapped with a cattle prod.
“Yeah, you and the bullet hole in your chest.” It’s a dick thing to say, but he pushes buttons in me I can’t control.
He downs the remainder of his martini. “If it weren’t for you and your insane family, I wouldn’t be in this position.”
“I see Dorothy told you about my concerns.”
“She did. We discuss everything.”
“I’m not responsible for my mother.” My stomach fills with guilt, so I switch the topic. “I’m surprised you’re being this aggressive.”
“You’ve misunderstood my mood. I’m doing great. This is just me telling you how it is.” He shrugs as if he knows he can’t lose.
I grit my teeth. His confidence ignites a fire in me. If he wants to threaten me, I have something I can toss his way for him to stew on for a while.
“You know, I take it back. I’m not surprised.” The ice in my glass clinks against the side as I swirl my liquid gold. “Dorothy warned me you were in a nasty mood.”
His eyes narrow. “And when was this?”
“The other night when we had dinner together.” I flash a smirk just as Dorothy and Melanie return.
“You guys didn’t kill each other.” Melanie slides up to Jamison’s side. “I knew we were going to have fun tonight.”
“We can only hope.” Dorothy laughs nervously as her gaze jumps between Jamison and me. “But the night’s still young. Hopefully, nothing bad will happen.”
“Don’t jinx my night, Dori. I won’t stand for it.” Mel playfully slaps Dorothy’s arm.
Jamison cuts in. “Dori, I need to find a place to sit.”
“Of course, babe.” She turns to Mel. “Will you show us where that table you saved for us is?”
Dorothy fucking calls him babe ?
A piece of my heart falls off.
Melanie grabs Jamison’s hand to show him the way while I stare at Dorothy, trying to erase the babe comment from my brain.
And here I thought Jami was bad. I finish my whiskey and excuse myself. Karma obviously didn’t like me throwing my dinner date with Dorothy in Jamison’s face.
Damn, that karma payback stung like the bitch she is.
I belly up to the bar and order a double. My mind spins with ways I can win Dorothy back. But after hearing her use a pet name on Jamison, I’m not sure I stand a chance.
Did she ever use one on me?
Was I ever as important to her as she was to me?
I turn to the side, only to have them come into view at a table across the room from me. There are enough people here now I can blend in with the crowd so they don’t notice me analyzing their interaction.
She dotes on him and takes care of him until he appears comfortable, visibly softening when he does. She reaches for his hand and takes it in hers.
They share a meaningful gaze right before he reaches over and pulls her to his lips. They kiss tenderly, and my throat closes.
My dinner jab didn’t have the effect I was hoping for. The air leaks from my lungs and my chest hollows out.
If I didn’t know otherwise, I’d think they had been a couple for years. The pain of witnessing them together is like nothing I could’ve imagined. How close they are is blatantly obvious. It’s something I didn’t expect.
Everything in me wants to race over there and tear her away from his arms, then pound on him until he can’t walk. I rein it in because doing that would only sever any hope I have of getting her back.
And that can only happen if he leaves, and the board overturns her termination. I double down on my commitment to make that happen, even though my insides twist and turn.
To distract myself, I fiddle with my phone. I go to my emails and one gives me a reason to pause.
Paternity Results.
They were supposed to be back earlier in the week, but the lab called and said they were behind. My shoulders tighten as my pulse ticks up.
Should I open this now or later?
I glance back at Dorothy and Jamison. He’s sitting at their table while Melanie stands, pointing at the bar. She walks away a few moments later. Dorothy’s nowhere to be found.
I scan the area. When I don’t see her, I figure she’s gone to the restroom. I go back to the email.
If I can tell Dorothy tonight that the baby isn’t mine, maybe she would consider coming back to me. It’s not likely, but it’s one more thing that could help me.
I open the email and read the results.