Amy couldn’t move. She was sweating, still crying a little, and emotionally spent. The last several weeks of Britt’s silent treatment had taken their toll. She’d tried everything she could to get Britt to open up to her—offering to take her back to counseling, to go on a vacation, to help her with her channel, to mediatethings with Savannah—everything except help her get back together with Hunter. That was the last thing Britt needed to do, to go back to the man who had demolished her heart.
Nothing had worked, and that’s why she reached out to Daniel. But she hadn’t expected him to want to talk to Britt together, or for her to fall apart in his arms, and she hated that she’d given in to her weakness. But even now, as they looked at each other and tried to figure out their next move, her body still tingled from his touch, the faded memories of how much they’d loved each other and the passion they’d shared washing over her in waves.
She couldn’t give in to those confusing feelings, but she could agree to Daniel’s suggestion. He was right that neither of them should tell Britt what to do. Amy hated when people did that to her. “When should we talk to her?”
Relief appeared in his green eyes. “As soon as we can.”
“Right now?”
He nodded. “I’ll meet you at the house.”
She watched as he turned to leave, then leaned against her car, feeling the hot metal and glass through the thin pink cotton fabric of her T-shirt. Never in a million years did she think she’d be at the point where she needed Daniel’s help, or that he would be available and level-headed enough to offer it. And the fact that he was right blew her mind. He was showing shades of the man she’d fallen in love with, before alcohol had taken over his mind and spirit.
She shoved down her thoughts, got in her car, and sped to the house, worrying her bottom lip as she tried to figure out what to say to Britt. What she hadn’t revealed to Daniel was that Britt wasn’t just giving her the silent treatment and refusing to upload videos. She looked awful. Pale, thin, her hair uncombed and her shirts so stretched out they didn’t fit her properly anymore. Evenat her worst levels of anxiety, she had taken care of herself. This wasn’t just anxiousness. This was depression.
Her teeth clenched as she pulled into the driveway and waited on Daniel, who had always been a careful driver when he wasn’t drinking. This was Hunter’s fault, and she wanted to give that kid a piece of her mind he’d never forget. How dare he hurt her daughter like this? And once Britt was on her feet again, she would march right over to the Picketts’ and tell him exactly how she felt about him.
The engine hummed as she reined in her ire. No matter how much she wanted to put Hunter on blast, she couldn’t. For one, it would embarrass Britt. Two, it wouldn’t do any good. Hunter Pickett couldn’t care less what Amy thought about him.
Other than him being incredibly good-looking, Amy didn’t understand how Britt could fall for him. He was cocky, manipulative, a troublemaker, and a huge flirt. The short time he’d been in her class she’d seen the female students fawning over him, and he had basked in their adoration, but only if they were pretty. The plain and unattractive girls he ignored. Now that he was a grown man, he was even more stunning. And while Amy thought Britt was lovely, she wasn’t a typically beautiful woman. Coupled with her anxiety issues... What drew him to her? Was it a conquest? A joke?
Amy pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead, kicking herself for thinking Britt couldn’t attract an exceptionally attractive man on her own merits. But Hunter wasn’t an upstanding man. If he were, he wouldn’t have hurt her so deeply.
Daniel pulled up beside her and got out of his car. Together they went inside.
“She’s probably in her room,” Amy said as they entered the foyer. “I’ll get her.”
“Amy.”
She turned, disturbed by the uncertainty on his face. “What, you changed your mind?”
“No. We’re going to talk to her. But I have to tell you something first.”
Amy faced him, baffled.
“I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to say this.” He frowned. “Or if I should tell you at all. But there’s been too many secrets floating around lately. And if you found out that I knew—”
“Know what, Daniel? Just say it.”
Hesitant, he nodded. “Hunter has a past. Similar to mine.”
Her eyes widened. “He’s an alcoholic?”
“Yeah. He’s also got a record.”
“I knew it.” She threw up her hands. “I knew he was no good. Does Britt know?”
“She does, but—”
“Then thank God she’s out of that relationship.” She exhaled with relief.
“Amy, they might get back together. Hunter cares about Britt. In fact, he loves her. I doubt he’ll give up on her so easily.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You’re taking his side? Of course you are. You’re both the same.”
Anger flashed in his eyes. “No, we’re not.”
“And he’s going to hurt her over and over again,” she continued, ignoring his words. “Just like you hurt me.”
