“Don’t bother. You never meant it in the past.” Surprisingly, her chin started to tremble. “Kirk and Payne warned me not to invite you, that you would be undependable as always. But I didn’t listen. I believed your father when he said tough love would work on you. I thought you’d changed. Sawyer—”
“What about Sawyer?”
She looked away.
“Mother,” he said, a cold sensation washing over him. “What about Sawyer?”
Her gaze returned, filled with self-righteousness. “He’s been keeping me updated on yourprogress. Which you’ve proven is no progress at all.”
He stilled, remembering when Sawyer had been on the phone and was cagey about answering Hunter’s innocuous questions. He’d thanked someone for their generous check. It never dawned on him that it was from Mother.
More pieces fell into place. Sawyer’s constant interest in Hunter’s sobriety, which Hunter had thought was done out of friendship. But it was only because his mother had bought him off. He’d always thought it was strange that Sawyer, whose parents were almost as rich as his own, was fine living in a nondescript apartment and working second shift at The Warehouse. The same shift Hunter worked. “You paid Sawyer to spy on me?”
“Yes.” Her lower lip quivered, but she remained defiant. “I had to know if you were okay. And I won’t apologize for it. The only thing I regret is inviting you last night. Obviously, you’ve been hiding your true self from Sawyer.”
Hunter couldn’t believe this. Not only had she spied on him, but she automatically assumed he’d vanished last night out of irresponsibility. His hands balled into fists at his sides. She was snapping to judgment without all the facts.
He was ready to bolt. He didn’t need this, and he didn’t need them. Five more steps and he’d be out of their super mansion and their lives... forever.
But his feet wouldn’t move. Deep inside, he understood his mother’s reaction, and up until this moment he’d never fully acknowledged the damage he’d done to their relationship. In the past he’d always been too sloshed or hungover to take responsibility. It was always everyone else’s fault things went south, even though it was his decisions that mucked everything up. He’d disappointed her so many times, no wonder she was angry. She’d given him another chance, and he’d blown it.
Slowly he faced her, his fists loosening, his shoulders sagging. “I’m sorry,” he said, facing her. “I messed up last night more than you realize.”
Her mouth tightened.
“But it’s not what you think. Sawyer’s right. I’m clean, sober, and since I got out of prison, responsible. I don’t ever want to go back to jail again, and the only way I can stay out is to stay away from my vices. All of them.
“That woman you mentioned last night, the one you said looked like Audrey Hepburn?” At her nod he said, “She’s my girlfriend. Was...”
“Daniel’s daughter?” Shock registered on her face. “How—”
“It’s a long story.” He swallowed. “She didn’t know about my family or my past. I hadn’t told her yet.”
“And she found out last night.”
“Yeah. It ended up being a mess, and she broke up with me.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, exhaustion from the emotional merry-go-round he’d been riding for almost twenty-four hours finally settling in.
“Oh, Hunter.” She went to him and pulled him into her arms.
He leaned down and rested his chin on her slim shoulder. Despite the awkward height difference, he closed his eyes, soaking in her soothing embrace. When was the last time his mother had hugged him? For sure before he was a teenager. He’d started holding her at arm’s length back then.
“I’m so sorry.” She rubbed his back the way she used to do when he was little.
His eyelids stung, and he knew if he didn’t let go, he’d start to cry and that was the last thing he wanted to do, period. He carefully moved out of her embrace. “That’s why I left last night. I had to explain everything to her... including my past.” His chest felt hollow. “I should have been honest with her up front.”
“Yes, you should have.” She started twisting her diamond solitaire, something she always did when she was uneasy. “And I shouldn’t have spied on you. Or at least I should have let you know that I asked Sawyer to look out for you. Don’t be upset with him. He didn’t want to. But I can be very persuasive.”
“I’m sure the money helped,” he said, unable to keep the bitterness out of his tone.
“From what I understand, he’s using it to pay for college. He didn’t want to ride on his parents’ coattails. His mother said he’s always been independent and different from the rest of their family.”
“Sounds familiar.” He managed a slight smile. “Is Father home? I want to wish him a belated birthday.”
Mother smiled and put her arm around his waist. “He’s in his study. I told him you were here, but that I needed to talk to you first.”
They walked to the other side of the house where the study was. When Hunter stood in the doorway, his father got up from his desk. Immediately Hunter engulfed him in a huge hug.
“Happy birthday, Dad.”
