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Her tone is sharp and I roll my eyes at her insistent need to be difficult. I turn to walk away. Maybe if I hid in my room for a few hours no one would notice.
"It's nice to meet you, Hunter." My mother's voice lifts above the hum of the room. She didn't say that. She couldn't have. I'm so fixated on him that I'm now hearing things.
"I'm a friend of your daughter's." There's no mistaking that tone. It's him. He's here.
I dart back around and I'm greeted with the sight of him towering over my mother's head. He peers at me, his eyebrow cocked. I shake my head trying to register what's happening. This can't be real. He can't be standing here in a sleek tailored navy suit kissing my mother's hand.
"We're not friends." I blurt out before wincing at my own choice of words.
"Technically we're..."
"Nothing." I move to stand between them. "We are nothing."
"Stop being so rude, Sadie." My mother's hand hovers just above my shoulder as if she wants to give the impression she's touching me. She never touches me.
"I'm not being rude." I stare at Hunter with my back still turned to her. "I didn't invite him."
"I brought the gift Sadie picked up for you." He dangles the gift bag from Whispers of Grace in front of her.
She snatches it greedily from his grasp. "How thoughtful of you to bring me a gift."
"It's from your daughter, not me." He corrects her in an even tone but she's ignorant of anything but the prize that awaits her inside the bag.
"These are spectacular." She turns the box into the light so the sapphire earrings sparkle. "How did you know sapphires are my favorite gem?"
"I didn't." I can hear the exasperation in his voice. "Sadie got these for you."
"I'm going to put them on right now. Don't you move an inch." She pats him on the chest and trots off towards the staircase.
"Why are you here?" I ask as I lift my eyes to his face.
"You forgot the gift at the restaurant." He reaches in his suit jacket and pulls out my credit card. "You forgot this too."
I snatch it swiftly from his grasp. "You can leave now." I seethe. I don't want him here. I don't want to be near him. I can't be.
"I just got here." He expertly scoops a wine glass from a tray being carried by a waiter. "We have a lot to talk about."
"We don't." I sigh. "You lied when we met. You lied in the restaurant the other day. Hell, you even lied about being in San Francisco. Is Hunter Reynolds even your real name?"
He chokes on the mouthful of wine he's just taken. I stand in silence watching his body heave with heavy coughs. I stand stoic hoping he'll believe my unemotional reaction is real.
"You need to let me explain." His voice is a tender whisper. I can tell he's still trying to catch his breath. "I..."
"Why?" I cut him off. "So you can lie to me again and again."
"I'm not going to lie to you." He moves closer and I catch the hint of his cologne.
I take a step back. He's like a drug. I can't be anywhere near him. I don't trust my resolve even after everything that's happened. "If I want answers, I'll find Coral's family myself."
"No." His gaze darkens slightly. "I'll answer your questions."
"I don't trust you." I snap. "See yourself out."
I tense as I feel him grab my elbow. "I'm not leaving until we talk."
"Hunter." My mother is back and in full display mode. "Come. Let's toast my birthday."
His eyes search mine for an escape route but I just smirk as I tug my arm from his grasp and slip into the crowd.
