When she reached it, she knocked several times before a light turned on in the picture window, and then the one above the porch came to life. The door opened and X was standing there, wearing striped pajama bottoms and a Simon and Garfunkel concert shirt. Maude appeared right behind him, surprisingly clad in an old-fashioned nightgown. “Britt?” they both said in unison.
She dissolved into uncontrollable sobs.
***
For the fourth time, Hunter texted Britt.
Please text me back. I know you’re mad and you have a right to be. I can explain it all if you’ll just talk to me. At least let me know you’re okay.
He set his phone back on his lap as Daniel drove them to Britt’s house. He stared out the window as the scenery zipped by, panic and dread swirling within him.
“Still no answer?” Daniel asked.
“No. I just texted her again.”
Her father blew out a long breath. “I’m worried about her.”
“Me too.” He and Daniel had searched the house and grounds looking for Britt but didn’t find her. During that time, Hunter had texted her several times. When Daniel said he was going to see if she’d gone home, Hunter insisted on accompanying him. He knew she lived in Allen, but he didn’t know her address. It was dawning on him how little they’d shared of their personal lives. Neither of them had asked too many questions, which made him wonder what else Britt was hiding.
It also dawned on him that he hadn’t told his family he was leaving or even told his father happy birthday. He rubbed his temple. They wouldn’t be happy about that.At least I didn’t make a scene this time.Maybe that would be a point in his favor... but he doubted it.
Daniel pulled up to a stop light. As they waited for it to turn green, he said, “How do you know Brittany?”
Hunter had never heard Britt use her full name, and he’d neverthought of her as a Brittany. But it fit. “Her channel,” he said, cringing inside. No matter how he spun this, it was going to make him look bad, so he explained it as straightforwardly as he could. “She thought I was a creep at first.”
“Are you?” The light changed and Daniel inched forward. Traffic on this main road was as packed as it usually was on a Saturday night.
“If I was, would I admit it?”
“Probably not.” He put on the brakes as the car in front of him stopped. “Define your relationship then.”
This was the first time he’d been put through his paces by a woman’s father, and it was wracking his already wracked nerves. “We’re dating.” Hopefully they still would be after all this was over.
“She never mentioned you.”
No surprise there. “To be honest, sir, she didn’t mention you either.”
Daniel’s jaw jerked. “I wouldn’t expect her to.”
He hadn’t anticipated that answer. “Neither of us talked about our families.”
“She didn’t know you’re Arthur’s son?”
“No.” He looked out the window again. Numerous restaurants and stores with their vibrant neon signs lined both sides of the road. “I’m sure you’ve heard stories about me.”
“Not stories,” Daniel said. “Just facts. How long have you been dating my daughter?”
“A few weeks. But we’ve known each other a little longer.” He told Daniel about the art lessons but didn’t mention how he was helping Britt with her social anxiety. “I really care about her, Mr. Branch.”
Daniel shook his head as the traffic began to move again. “It’sDaniel. Your father is my employer, Hunter. I should be deferring to you.”
“Please don’t. I can’t stand all that formality. Never could.”
Daniel nodded. “I’ve never been comfortable with it either, until I started working for Arthur. It’s easy to be deferential when you’re respected in return.”
Hunter suddenly recalled what his mother had said shortly after his arrival at the party, when she mentioned the woman who looked like Audrey Hepburn.We think highly of her father.His mother wanted to fix him up with Britt without knowing they were already together. The irony of it all was unbelievable.
Daniel turned into a middle-class neighborhood, and a few minutes later pulled into a driveway.
