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“I don’t understand what you’re thinking, and I’m done with this conversation.” I stand, gathering the rest of the trash.
“The only thing you need to understand is that you stay away from Hunter.” Raith pushes off the table, standing across from me. “She doesn’t need the trouble, and those two kids deserve better.”
“So, that’s it. All these years, you finally are willing to admit you didn’t think I was good enough for Hunter.” I seethe at Raith, garnering stares from the rest of the partygoers.
“Don’t do this, not now.” Raith steps around the table. “I love you, man, but I will protect Hunter again.”
“How did you protect me then, Raith?” Hunter pushes by me, getting in Raith’s face.
Raith shakes his head. “We’ll talk about this later.”
“I think we need to discuss it now.” Hunter folds her arms across her body as her hands begin to tremble.
“He was leaving, Hunter. He had no intentions of telling you, and you would’ve waited on him while he was out screwing everything and anything.” Raith yells as Haven walks over to us.
“That’s enough, Raith.” Haven tugs on his arm. “Hunter’s her own woman; she can make decisions for herself.”
“Oh, yeah, she can.” Raith throws his hands toward the twins. “And we see how that works out!”
“I think it’s time for me to leave,” Hunter's words drop low and menacing, thinking no one else can hear her.
“Yeah, I think it is,” Raith mutters, surprised at his reaction.
Hunter whirls around, snatching Mia up, and taking Taylor by the hand. I rush to her side, picking Taylor up. “Let me help you.”
“He’s my brother, and this is a small town. I know what people have said about me, but the thing Raith can’t grasp is that I don’t care.” Hunter knocks a stray tear from her cheek.
I glance over my shoulder to see if Raith has decided to follow us; thankfully, he hasn’t, but I’m sure Haven’s topped him. “Is it a problem for me to help you?”
“Only for my brother and the rest of the single women in Cherry Grove.” Hunter opens her door, placing Mia in her car seat. “He acts as if I don’t know you’re not here to stay, and I don’t realize you’re not here for me either.”
My stomach knots as I think about what she must have gone through when I left the way I did. “I’d like to talk to you about that before I leave.”
“Why?” Hunter runs her hand over Taylor’s dirty little face as she takes him from my arms. “There’s no reason to feel like you need to give me an explanation now; it’s been years.”
“By the sound of it, I think it would do us good.”
Hunter buckles Taylor in and whips her head around. “You can come over once I get them bathed and in bed.”
“Alright.” I hesitate. “I won’t stay long.”
“I’ll text you once I have them settled.” Hunter closes the door, slowly walking around to the driver's side. “Just so you know, I don’t need closure. I’ve learned to live without and move on for myself.”
“Fair enough.” I hold her door open as she climbs in. “I’ll do this for me.”
“Talk in a few.” Hunter takes the door from me, closing it before pulling away. “Now, what am I going to tell Hunter?”
I climb onto my bike, firing it up as everything from the last few days replays in my mind. “I didn’t come here for this, but somehow I knew I wouldn’t get away without facing my past demons.”
The highway was lit up, so I decided to take the back way home. Driving the backroads has always been my favorite moonlight getaway; the light makes it a different world.
I pull into my driveway to see Hunter is just getting home, so I hurry over to give her a hand. “Hey. Let me help you get them inside.”
“I’m good,” she forces a smile.
“I know, but I’m going to help anyway,” I answer, jogging around to Taylor’s side. “Did you have trouble getting home?”
“No, why do you ask?” Hunter tilts her head, sending me into fits.
