Page 50 of Falling With a Spin

“Did they say anything to you?” He asks.

“Yeah, but nothing worth repeating. I didn’t even know they had him as a teacher. I’ve known their school schedule since the semester started. They must be retaking it for another teacher.” I still haven’t moved from his embrace, the warmth of his body calming me.

“Oh wait, there is more,” I laugh as I pull back, looking into his ocean-blue eyes. “I got a text from my Dad today, saying he is really excited to see me in two weeks. With everything happening I completely forgot that I'm going back home to visit.” I cover my face with my hands and shake my head.

“Are you nervous?” His voice is soft and soothing as he gently pries my hands from my face. Does he have any worry or anxiety?

Nibbling on the corner of my lip, I nod my head. “My ad and I don’t have that great of a relationship. When I was a baby, he walked out on my mom.'' I start, walking over to sit at the kitchen table. Hunter follows behind me with a plate of chocolate chip cookies. “I didn’t really understand what was going on; I was just a baby, and as I grew older, I felt as if I was the cause of them separating,” I look out the window as I continue, “because a few years later, he met someone and got married to her. It only took a short time before they were having kids. I was hurt that he left a family that he already had just to go and create a new one. It caused me to question a lot, was I not enough? Did I not make him happy? Was my love not enough for him, and did he have to go and find it somewhere else?”

“I eventually worked through it, and now I have a civil relationship with him and an amazing one with my siblings. I adore them and would do absolutely anything for them. But I haven’t felt those things since the night of the party, and when I woke up the next day, the self-worth and self-love I worked extremely hard to gain got stolen right from underneath me.”

I glance over to Hunter, and he is still watching me. After a few minutes, he gets up and pulls me into his embrace once more.

“I get why you are nervous now. I would be, too. Hell, I love my parents very much, but we don’t see each other eye-to-eye right now.” He rests his cheek on the top of my head and rubs my back. “Would you like it if I went with you?” He asks.

My body goes stiff, and he steps back from me. It’s not that I don’t want him to come because that would ease my nerves. I look up at him, and he smiles a little.

“Hunter, I would love for you to come. But I don’t want you to see me and my father argue when it gets to that point.” He takes his hand from mine and brings it up to cup my cheek.

“I know you are worried and scared. But let me be there for you.”

It feels as if my insides melted, my heart beating faster than normal as he brings his forehead to mine. I whisper, okay, and he lifts my chin, placing a soft kiss on my lips. It lights everything up inside me. I crave for more, but he pulls back.

“I will buy my ticket right now. Do you want to call your dad to let him know that you will be bringing a plus one to this little vacation?”

“Yeah, let me know how much the flight is, and I can reimburse you.” I pull out my phone to give my Dad a call.

It rings a few times till he finally picks it up. Part of me was hoping it would go to voicemail.

“Hey, little lady.” His rough voice rings through the phone.

“Hey, Dad, you are probably busy with work, so I can make this short. But I want to bring a friend with me when I come to visit. I just want to make sure that was okay before they bought their ticket.” Yes, I want him to know that I was bringing a friend, but he doesn’t need to know that said friend is a guy.

The line on the other end stays quiet. I pull my phone away to check if he is still on the other line. I hear some rough noises in the background and place the phone back to my ear.

“Emma, that's perfectly fine. I would love to meet one of your friends.” I can hear the smile in his voice and a slight jumping noise.

“Okay, thanks, Dad. I really appreciate it, and I will see you soon. Love you.” I walk back into the kitchen, giving Hunter the thumbs up so he can go ahead and buy his tickets.

“Love you too, little lady.” He says before the line goes dead.

“Well, Hunter Beckett, it looks like you will get to meet half of my crazy family here soon,” I smirk at him, and his eyes go wide.

Chapter 19

Emma

Two weeks fly by, and Hunter and I leave tonight once my shift is over; nerves have been running through me all day. I turn towards the clock that hangs from the wall: two-thirty in the afternoon. Internally groaning, I have about an hour left. I turn back towards the front just as Laney is walking in, and I give her a small smile as she rushes to the back to clock in.

“Hey girl, how are you?” She asks, throwing her hair up in a high ponytail and bringing out a few pieces to the front.

Smiling at her, I give her a quick update on how things have been the last few weeks. We don’t usually work together, but I haven’t been here much since the incident. She updates me on her situation, choosing to leave the relationship and currently living with a friend.

“I'm so proud of you. Leaving a toxic relationship like that's hard, and it can only get worse. But you are doing this for yourself, and that's what matters.” She throws her arms around me, and I stand there stunned till I give in and return the hug.

“Thank you so much. I know you didn’t have to help me, but you did.” She whispers and pulls back from me. I gave her a shoulder squeeze just as a group of people came filing in.

“I can’t believe you are leaving me for a week.” Taylor whites as she sits on my bed, watching me pack.

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