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Always. I think his force will rival his father’s someday in working a crowd, closing a deal, or spreading his influence.
I shrug. “You win.”
His brow creases, and I see his jaw flex.
“I’ll be home in a few days,” I tell him, “and I’ll leave next summer, either for college or training, and Hunter will be alone. And I’ll be alone, but it was worth it.” I pause, trying to hold back the sadness. “I’m glad it was him.”
I take my clothes and backpack off the table and leave, walking back through the house and out the front door.
Once my clothes are on, I climb on the bike and speed out of the driveway before Aro or anyone tries to catch me.
As I turn onto the highway, I catch Hunter in my rearview mirror walking out the front door and watching me go.
I cry behind the helmet, tears blurring my vision so much I have to pull over. I remove my helmet and let the tears fall.
And then I smile through the sobs.
How instinctual it was in that moment. In a single moment when he admitted he would do what hurt him most if it meant I was happy.
It was that quickly I knew… He’s the one I grabbed. Not Kade.
I never wanted to let Hunter go.
Hours later, thunder cracks across the sky, and I open my eyes, unsure if I got to sleep or when. My head pounds behind my right eye and courses up my forehead, over my scalp, and down the right side of my neck. I sit up, still fully dressed, even in my jacket and shoes as I look at the rain pattering the window through puffy eyes. The drops are small but constant.
The rocking chair above swings slowly with the wind, and I look to see my door still closed.
Standing up, I wince and rub the back of my neck as I walk to the window. Hunter’s bedroom is dark, and I don’t see his car on the street. Granted, I can’t see much of the street from this vantage point.
Walking to the desk, I grab my new phone that Hunter got me and press the button, seeing that it’s almost midnight. I forgot to put it on the charger.
I start to walk back to my bedside table, but I see something on my desk and stop.
Turning on the desk lamp, I scan the little folded-up pieces of paper, some in intricate triangles and squares like the kind we passed in class when we were younger, before we got a phone.
These weren’t here this morning. Were they here when I got in tonight? I squeeze my eyes shut against the pain in my head.I don’t remember.I was still crying a little, avoiding calls from Hunter, Aro, and Coral. I laid down on the bed, awake for a long time, running through endless scenarios in my head of how I might be able to be with Hunter and be happy, despite Kade hating us for it.
I look around, finding the room empty and nothing changed.
Someone was in here, though, and I hope it was while I was gone and not while I was asleep.
I open one of the notes, seeing it’s written in blue ink.
Library. After school. 2ndfloor. -D
Deacon? The brothers were Conor and Deacon. It could be him.
I drop it to the desk and open another.
Lift your skirt up.
I raise my eyebrows. Wow.
And then he writes,More.
It’s the same penmanship, like Hawke’s, Hunter’s, and Kade’s. Block letters, a little ragged, as if written quickly. I picture them in class, her taunting him.
I take another note and open it.
