Hunter paced in the foyer, trying not to hear the conversation in the other room, but it was impossible. Thin walls, raised voices, whatever the reason, he heard every word, and he stopped in his tracks when he heard Daniel admit he’d gone to prison for a DUI, and that had been his rock bottom. His story was so similar to Hunter’s it would have been eerie—except Hunter had heard the same stories from other people too. Alcoholics and addicts whose run-ins with the law had laid them low.
“Does Britt know?” Amy said, her voice distant but audible. “About prison? About the DUIs?”
“Yes,” Daniel replied.
“And she forgave you?”
Pause. “Yes.”
Hunter’s eyes widened. If Britt was able to forgive her father, could she forgive him too?
He pulled out his phone and went outside. The air was muggy, and the cicadas were annoyingly loud, but he had to reach Britt. No texting this time. He pulled up her number and tapped it. He would call her until she answered—
“Hello.”
He closed his eyes at the sound of her voice. “It’s Hunter.”
“I know.”
Of course she did. Her tone was flat but at least she was talking to him. “Your dad said you’re at Maude and X’s.”
“You’re with him?”
“We were looking for you...” He didn’t want to waste his time explaining the details. “Can we talk? In person?”
No answer.
After a few moments he said, “Please, Britt.”
Several more seconds passed. “Yes.”
“I can come to you.” Then he realized he didn’t have a car or his bike. He’d have to call an Uber. “What’s the address?”
She hesitated before she gave it to him.
“All right, I’ll be there as soon as I can—”
But he realized the line was already silent.
He stared at the phone, then quickly he brought up the Uber app.
The front door opened. Daniel stepped out, his expression haggard.
“Amy’s calmed down a little,” Daniel said, sounding weary. “At least she knows where Brittany is. Can I drop you off somewhere?”
Hunter held up his phone. “I was just calling an Uber.”
Daniel gave him a faint smile. “I’m a chauffeur, remember? Driving your family around is what I do.”
Hunter nodded and put away his phone. “Can you take me to Maude’s? Britt’s willing to talk.”
His face brightened a little. “Sure.”
They got into the car and were on their way, not speaking until Daniel pulled in front of a townhouse with a neatly kept lawn. He put the car in park but kept the engine running. “Full disclosure, since I’m tired of keeping secrets... I know you’ve been in trouble with the law.”
Hunter swallowed. “Yes, sir. I have.”
“And I have a feeling you heard part or all of my conversation with Amy, so you know I have too.”
