AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Alright, Preston, time to go!” I say loudly, grabbing my son by the shoulders and leading him away.
“What? You did,” he says, looking up at me when we’re out of earshot.
“I know,” I say with a chuckle. “But Mr. Wiley doesn’t need to know that.”
His eyes widen, and he nods, finally understanding. “I get it. Sorry, mom.”
“No, it’s quite alright.” I pat him on the shoulder. “You’re just an incredibly honest kid.”
On our walk back to Jingled, I check my phone. No response from Hunter. My blood starts to boil.
∞∞∞
The day winds on, and by the afternoon, Preston is slumped into a chair with a scowl plastered on his face. Meanwhile, I’m busier than ever. The line doesn’t stop, but neither does my anger toward Hunter. I check my phone between customers, and when I don’t see a reply from Hunter, my chest tightens a little more.
How dare he break a promise to my son? How dare I bring another man into Preston’s life who will only let him down? Will my brother be the only man I can truly depend on all my life? Was it the sex? Hunter got what he wanted from me, and now he’s ghosted me? Am I a terrible picker of people?
Chapter Eight Hunter
When I pull into the bazaar parking lot, it’s an hour from being over. I make my way around the event, nodding politely to everyone who stops to say hello. But my mind isn’t on any of them. Only two people matter to me right now. All I can think about is finding Everly and Preston
I spot Everly’s food truck, and based on the queue, she’s busy. Instead of lining up, I skip ahead and walk right up to the window.
“Wait your turn,” a man says, but I ignore him.
Everly’s head pops out the window, and her eyes narrow when she sees me. “Where have you been?”
“I’m sorry,” I pant. “Did you get any of my texts?”
“No, I’ve been checking all day.” She thrusts her hand out the window and hands a woman her change. “I didn’t get anything. Now go away before Preston sees you.”
“If you’ll let me explain—”
“I’m working, and there’s nothing to explain,” she tells me, her jaw clenched.
I know I’ve messed up.I turn to face the line. “Ladies and gentlemen, Jingled is sold out. Please leave the money in the jar.” I reach inside the window and slide out a tray of cookies.
“What the hell? You can’t do that,” Everly protests, but the crowd is already moving in a frenzy.
The first tray is empty in a matter of seconds, and her tip jar is overflowing. She reluctantly passes me the remaining trays one by one until she really is sold out.
With that out of the way, I attempt to reach in and take her hand. Everly wants none of it and jerks away from me. Her face is drowning in sorrow and disappointment. I’m devastated to know I’m the man who put her in this position.
“What’s going on?” Preston’s small voice asks from inside the truck.
“Hey, buddy!” I call out. “Come out so we can talk, okay?”
“No,” he says, and I look up to Everly.
She shrugs. “He makes his own decisions. If he doesn't want to see you, he doesn’t have to, and I don’t blame him. Do you know how excited he’s been all week? Do you know he told all his friends he wants to be a woodworker like you? It’s a lot of pressure for something new. I’m a package deal, but I thought you understood that when you signed up for me, you got my son too. And when you lose one of us, you lose us both.” There’s no bite in her words, only sadness.
“Please let me explain before you make up your mind?”
Everly takes a deep breath, then disappears from view. It doesn’t take long before she opens the door to the truck, stepping down and closing it behind herself. “You can talk to me. You’ve already hurt Preston enough. We don’t need you, Hunter.”
“That wasnotmy intention. I sent you a ton of messages. You didn’t get any of them?”
She crosses her arms but doesn’t say anything. “That’s what you’re going with?”
