Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Hunter
The Spellmans are a rowdy bunch. I realize that as I sit at the table and watch Gina’s grandparents putting more food onto her plate. Everyone’s laughing and arguing, and it feels really nice being here, just taking in the environment and all the good food.
“So, Hunter,” Gina’s grandfather leans forward, “you play golf?”
“No, sir. Not really.”
“Your grandfather and I play golf. That’s how Gina got this job.”
“I know. I heard.”
“Well, you should play golf sometime. I’d love to get to know you a bit better.”
“Yeah, maybe.” I look over at Gina, and she just shakes her head.
“Granddad, he is not going to play golf.”
“I mean, he probably has it in his blood.”
“I don’t know about that,” I say, and then tense as Tina, Gina’s sister, walks into the room with Garth behind her.
She looks tense, but there’s a smile on her face.
She’s been quite standoffish the entire day, and I don’t like the way she speaks to Gina, but I know I can’t say anything.
I look over at Garth, and he looks like a nice enough guy.
If I didn’t know the backstory, I would never have guessed that he possibly had a drinking problem.
That was until I noticed just how many times he’d gone to the fridge to grab another beer. And how his demeanor had changed.
“Hey, Gina, can I speak to you?” Tina says.
“I am eating right now. Can we chat later?”
“Not really. I wanted to tell you that I didn’t appreciate the email that you sent me yesterday, and I just want to say in front of everyone that I’m really fed up with you being jealous of me. Like, I know I’m your younger sister.”
The room is quiet, and I can’t believe that this conversation is happening.
Gina’s eyes widen at Tina’s verbal assault.
“What are you talking about, Tina?”
“I’m just saying, I know you’ve always been jealous of me because I got married and found love, and I have this great career and a great husband, who he just bought me a Mercedes.
And we’re going to Tahiti, and we’re going to upgrade to this really nice house, and you barely just moved out.
” She looks over at me and sneers. “I mean, now that you’re working with Hunter and you’re friends with him, maybe he can introduce you to some guys, and I—”
“Excuse me.” I stand up angrily. “That’s enough.”
“I’m just saying, my sister’s a bit of a loser, and she can’t get a guy—at least a guy that wants her. I mean, let’s be real. Patrick sucked.”
“That’s enough,” I growl now. I look down at Gina, and her eyes are wide, and she looks sad now.
“Now, Tina, that’s not nice,” her grandfather says, looking uncomfortable.
“What? If you would’ve seen the email… It was so hateful.”
“Tina,” Gina says softly, “I can’t believe that you would say that. My email was about the fact that—”
“I’m just saying, leave me alone,” Tina shouts. “Leave me alone, you jealous bitch.”
“Let’s leave.” Gina jumps up.
“Sure.” I grab her hand. “It was nice to meet everyone.” I look at her grandparents and parents, but Gina is already grabbing her handbag and rushing toward the front.
“Don’t leave. Gina, don’t,” her grandma calls, running after her.
“I’m not putting up with this.” Gina’s voice cracks, and she looks over at Tina. “I didn’t deserve that, Tina.” She rushes out of the front door, and I quickly open the car door for her. As soon as we get into the car, she bursts out crying.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that you saw that. I’m sorry about everything. I never should have brought you. I never should have emailed her yesterday. I knew she wouldn’t take it well.”
“But what’s going on? What did you say to her?”
“I just said to her that she might not want to face facts, but Garth is not a good guy. He doesn’t treat her well.
The way she was crying and the things she said to me that night—he has a problem with alcohol.
And I know statistics, and I don’t want her to be a statistic.
I just sent her some links and some articles, and I guess she didn’t take it well.
” She continues to cry. “I don’t mean to be a bad sister. I’m not jealous of her. I just want—”
She sniffles, and I stroke her back. “I’m sorry. You really didn’t ask to be involved in this.”
“Hey, hey. Do not apologize to me. She shouldn’t have said that to you.”
“All my life, I have felt like I was never good enough. I never do the right thing, and I don’t understand what’s wrong with me.”
“Gina. Oh, darling, you are a good sister. A good person.”
“She wasn’t completely wrong, though.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have been jealous of her. She’s so beautiful, and everyone gravitates to her.
She has so many friends, and I just feel like people don’t really see me.
I mean, Emma does. She loves me, and she’s my best friend.
But I’ve never really had a guy who just wanted me.
I’ve never had my family think that I’m amazing.
I’ve never had anyone truly love me. Everyone just sees me, and I’m just there.
I’ve never been exceptional at anything.
Not at love, not at work. I have no good hobbies. ”
“Gina, listen to me, you are a good person, you’re funny, and you’re beautiful—but those things don’t define you because you are so special and amazing.”
“I’m not, though. I’ve always wanted to be special. Tina’s special, and she knows it. I know it, and my family knows it.”
“Hey, you shouldn’t feel that way, Gina. You’re amazing.”
“And I always run.” She looks at me like she’s not even hearing me.
“I hate that about myself. I hate that I didn’t just speak up to Tina.
I hate that I didn’t tell my parents and my grandparents what’s going on.
I hate that I didn’t confront Garth. I hate that I didn’t say, look, this is fucked up, and I’m not the fucked up one in this situation—you are.
But I didn’t know how to. I didn’t know what to say.
I never know how to be in that moment and just excel.
I just… Am I a bad person? Maybe I shouldn’t have said that to her.
Obviously, she wasn’t ready to see those articles.
Maybe I scared her. Maybe I made it worse.
Maybe I put her in a position where she won’t call me next time.
And if there’s a next time, maybe it’ll be worse.
And what if he does something horrible to her, Hunter?
I would never be able to live with myself. ”
I let her ramble. She needs to get this out. I need to listen and be her support. My heart breaks for all her insecurities because she is the most special woman I’ve ever met. And I know that I love her.
“I just don’t understand. I don’t want to be the woman who always fucks up and always gets it wrong. I don’t want to be that person anymore.”
“I understand,” I say. “I really and truly understand. And I’m going to tell you this, Gina—not because you’re crying, not because you’re upset, not because your sister is a bitch and in denial, and not because your family didn’t stick up for you.
I want to tell you that you’re exceptional, and you’re wonderful.
Please do not measure your relationships by the Patrick standard. He was an asshole.”
“I know. But why did I even give him the time of day?” She groans.
“Because unfortunately, many women give assholes the time of day. I just hope that you don’t give another asshole the time of day.”
“Well, you’re not an asshole, are you?” she asks. For the first time, her tears dry up, and she offers me a small smile.
“I’m not an asshole. At least, I hope I’m not.”
“Well, you’re the guy I’m giving the time of day now.”
“Then I guess that means you’re on the right track.
And I guess that means that I need to show you that you’re special to me, Gina.
This is more than just…” I trail off because it’s hard for me to find the words.
I feel like I’m in love with her, but I don’t know how to tell her that. “So you want to go back to the house?”
“Can we just sit for a while?” she asks. “Just you and me.”
“Of course,” I say softly. “I understand how you feel.” I offer her a tissue, and she blows her nose. “I know what it’s like to not feel like enough.”
“Really?”
“So, this is something I’ve never told anyone.”
“Oh, you don’t have to tell me.” She looks panicked.
“I want to tell you, Gina. I trust you.” I was about to tell her I loved her, but I don’t.
“About two years ago, I found out that I had testicular cancer.” She stares at me with wide eyes, her jaw dropping.
She leans forward, and I see her expression change.
Change to one of concern. I hope it’s not pity. I hate to see the pity.
“Are you okay?” She blinks rapidly, like she wants to cry. “Are you…are you okay now?”
“Yeah. I went through chemo, and I got the all-clear about six months ago. But when I found out I had cancer, I was in a very high-profile relationship. And while I wouldn’t say she was the love of my life, I did think at one point we would get married. And she broke up with me.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Gina looks sad for me.
“It’s okay. In fact, she did me a favor because she showed me her true colors.
Anyway, she broke up with me, and it did a number on my ego.
The cancer, combined with the fear that I may die, made for a very trying year.
I sort of stepped back from the company and from public life.
And there were a number of reasons why I didn’t want people to know.
Number one, as the CEO, hearing that I had cancer could cause the stock to fluctuate.
It could just cause a number of unwanted stories about the family and me.
Number two, I don’t want to be the poster child for cancer or for my fiancée dumping me. ”
“That was your secret?” she says. “That you had cancer and we were celebrating that now you don’t?”