AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Let’s go home, baby.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Anya
I can’t sleep.Again. After everything that happened, I figured I would want to come home and sleep for days. But I can’t. Hunter brought me back to my apartment. Which makes sense for multiple reasons. One being that it was the closest. Two being that since the whole stalker-situation is over with, there’s really no reason for me to stay with him anymore. It sucks, because that’s all I want.
I sit up in bed, looking around at the place that doesn’t really feel like home anymore. I worked hard to make this apartment what I wanted it to be. I hand-picked the furniture and every single piece of decoration in it. At one point, this place screamedall mine. But now, it just feels empty. It’s a ridiculous thought, but I can’t seem to shake it. Hunter told me when we got here that he was going to go back and make sure Alec had everything under control. I know it took a lot for him to walk away earlier. The fact that he did it for me meant the world.
I rub my eyes in an attempt to clear the blurriness. According to what Dent told Hunter, Hastings first grabbed me with a chloroform mixture, then hit me in the side of my head with a chunk of two-by-four. It makes sense since my head is still throbbing, and my body is slow and sluggish.
It takes almost all of my energy just to climb out of bed, so I can’t help but groan when there’s a knock on my front door. I highly doubt it’s Hunter, or any of Alec’s men because they all have access without needing to knock. Which means that I’m pretty sure I know who it is. I start to make my way out of the bedroom, but confusion starts to build when I hear the lock on my front door disengage. I hear muttered voices as the door opens then after a moment Willow steps through and closes it behind her.
“Hey.” She turns to me with a jump.
“Oh, hey. I thought you would still be asleep.” I lift my shoulder, still struggling to control my body even for such a simple gesture.
“I haven’t been able to sleep much.” Her face softens and she steps to me, engulfing me in a tight hug before I even have the chance to process what’s going on.
“I was so worried.” The words come out as a choked sob and I wrap my arms around her, returning the hug. Willow and I have been best friends since we were kids. We’ve been through so much together, including her crazy-ass mother attacking us and shooting me. It was a mess, and ever since it happened, she worries about me like I’m still a child. It’s the guilt that hasn’t gone away so I understand why this whole situation was extra hard on her.
After a moment, she finally lessens her hold on me and steps back. Her hands still grip my shoulders as she looks me up and down like she might find a missing limb or something.
“I’m fine, Will.” She lets go of a long breath and nods gently.
“Good.”
Needing a change of subject, I nod toward the front door. “Who were you talking to before?”
“Oh, yeah. Zach was at the door when I got here.”
“I had a feeling.” I walk over to the door, and sure enough, Zach is standing there holding a plastic container from the cafe.
“Hey Zach.”
“Hey Anya, I- Oh my God, what happened?” His eyes arrow in on the side of my head where a square piece of gauze sits. When we got here, Hunter helped clean me up and bandage me up before putting me to bed and leaving.
“Oh, I fell.” The lie rolls quickly off of my tongue and though I don’t particularly like it, it comes easy, and I know it’s for the best. Zach gives me a scrutinizing gaze for a moment, then shakes his head.
“I don’t believe you. It was him, wasn’t it? I know he looked like trouble.” Him so quickly accusing Hunter of hurting me snaps something inside of me. It’s okay that he doesn’t believe my lie, but he doesn’t even know Hunter. He’s solely judging him on the way he looks. Sure, he may be a huge hulk-like guy, but he’s never said or done anything that would make Zach think he would hurt me.
“No Zach, it wasn’t Hunter. He’d never hurt me.” I know the words come out harsher than they needed to, but I can’t help it.
“Anya-”
“Look Zach, I appreciate your concern, I really do. But you need to stop. You have a girlfriend, and you and I are just friends.”
“We don’t have to be-”
“Yes, we do.” I always knew that Zach was into me, but he’s had a girlfriend since before I knew him, so I never worried too much about it. I’m finally seeing how inconvenient it’s been though. “I’m sorry Zach, but I’m not interested in you in that way.”
“But you want to be with him?” He sounds incredulous and in utter disbelief that I would choose anyone, let alone Hunter, over him.
“Yes, I do.” He shakes his head, not only looking surprised, but completely irritated.
“Fine, whatever.” I don’t get a chance to respond before he storms off and goes into his apartment. For a brief moment, I consider going after him and apologizing for hurting his feelings. But the truth is, I have nothing to apologize for. I love Hunter and he’s the only person I want to be with. That’s not something to be sorry for.
“So,” Willow says as I close the door. “I know Hunter told me to help you start packing, but I came straight from the office, so I don’t have boxes. I figured we can just pack up some of your essentials in your suitcase and get the rest later when we get some boxes.” None of her words compute in my brain, so I just stare at her, hoping a better explanation will come. “Anya?”
